his Court in all respects she was even astonish'd with Admiration and tho Fame uses to be lavish enough of its Tongue yet she tells him Tho more was told her than she believ'd yet half was not told her of what she found Then she made him great Presents of Gold Spices and precious Stones He likewise gave to her whatsoever she desired and so return'd into her own Country Then Solomon made two hundred Targets of beaten Gold and three hundred Shields of Gold and a great Ivory Throne damask't with Gold and gather'd Charets and Horses in great abundance and he made Silver in Jerusalem as Stones and Cedars as Sycamore-trees CHAP. XI Solomon notwithstanding all these extraordinary Gifts and Favors to him both inward and outward and God's appearing twice to him loved many Women of the Heathen Nations and took him seven hundred Wives and three hundred Concubines and did so dote upon 'em even in his old Age that they turn'd away his Heart from God so that he tolerated the publick Exercise of their Idolatrous Worship whereupon God was angry with him and threatned to rend the greatest part of the Kingdom from him in his Sons days and give it to his Servant and stirr'd up several Adversaries against him and likewise by the Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite declar'd to Jeroboam that held give him Ten Tribes and Solomon's Posterity should have but one Tribe besides the Tribe of Judah because he had forsaken him and worship'd strange Gods So Solomon having Reign'd forty years died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XII Then all the Tribes met together at Shechem and Jeroboam came along with 'em and they petitioned Rehoboam to ease 'em of their Taxes which Solomon had impos'd on ' em He takes three days time to consider of it and advises with his Fathers old Counsellors They perswade him by all means to humour the People and comply with their desires at present which would be the way to oblige 'em to him for ever after But this Counsel he lik'd not and therefore consulted with some young giddy Persons his Companions and Flatterers and they advise him to answer 'em roughly and tell 'em That his little Finger should be thicker than his Fathers Loyns and whereas his Father had chastis'd 'em with Whips he 'd chastise 'em with Scorpions And this Counsel he followed being forsaken of God and left to his own folly and rashness and answer'd 'em accordingly Whereupon ten of the Tribes immediately revolted from him and chose Jeroboam for their King and only the Tribe of Judah and Benjamin stuck unto Rehoboam Then Rehoboam raised an Army of an hundred and fourscore thousand to reduce 'em to their obedience But God sent the Prophet Shemajah to forbid 'em to fight against their Brethren but to return to their own Homes because it was Gods doing And so they did Then Jeroboam fearing lest if the People went up to Jerusalem to worship their Hearts might in time be alienated from him and they might submit to Rehoboam made two golden Calves and set 'em up one in Dan the other in Bethel for the People to worship and built High Places and ordained Priests and appointed Feasts and so chang'd and innovated the Worship of God in all the parts of it CHAP. XIII Jeroboam standing by the Altar at Bethel to burn Incense a Prophet was sent out of Judah by God to denounce Judgments against the Altar which should be executed by King Josiah who should burn the Bones of the Idolatrous Priests upon it and defile it and in token of the truth of this Prophecy the Altar should be rent in twain When Jeroboam heard this he stretch'd out his hand to lay hold on him but immediately his hand withered so that he could not pull it in to him again and also the Altar was rent in twain Then Jeroboam intreated the Prophet to pray for him that the use of his hand might be restor'd to him again which he did and his hand was heal'd whereupon Jeroboam invites him to go home with him but he refus'd being forbidden by God to eat or drink or return the same way he came Now there was an old Prophet that dwelt in that City and his Sons told him all these passages then he went after him and invited him to go back with him which he refusing as being forbidden by God the old Prophet told him That he was commanded by an Angel to bring him back but he lied to him So he went back and did eat and drink in the old Prophets House Then as they sat at Table the Word of the Lord came to the old Prophet to threaten this other for his Disobedience So as he went away a Lion met him and slew him which being nois'd in the City the old Prophet went and fetcht his Body and buried it in his own Grave and commanded his Sons to bury him there by the Prophet because all his Threatnings against those Idolatrous places should come to pass But notwithstanding all these Providences Jeroboam continued his Idolatrous practices which in the issue prov'd the ruine of him and his Family CHAP. XIV Jeroboam's Son Abijah being sick he sends his Wife in disguise to Ahijah the Prophet to enquire concerning his recovery But God told Ahijah who she was and what was her Errand So when she came to the Door he said Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam and bids her tell her Husband That because he had provok'd God by his Idolatry God would cut off all his House and his Child should die and all Israel should mourn for him because in him only of all the House of Jeroboam some good thing was found and he 'd root up Israel out of their Land because of the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin So when she came back to the Threshold of her House the Child died Thus Jeroboam Reigned twenty two years and died During his time the People of Judah under Rehoboam provok'd God with their Images High-Places Groves and the like sins So in the fifth year of his Reign Shishak King of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the Treasures of the Lord's House and of the Kings House and the Shields of Gold instead whereof Rehoboam made Shields of Brass At last he died and was buried in the City of David CHAP. XV. Rehoboam being dead Abijam his Son succeeds him walking in all the sins of his Fathers He Reigned but three years and died and Asa his Son Reigned in his sted Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord and destroyed Idolatry and depos'd his Grandmother Maacha from being Queen-regent Then there was War between him and Baasha King of Israel so he hired Benhadad King of Syria to take his part so they made a League together and Benhadad smote some of the Cities of Israel In his old Age he was troubled with the Gout in his Feet and sought to the Phisitians more than
to the Lord. He Reigned forty years and died and Jehosaphat Reigned in his stead 2 Chron. 14. 15. 16. In the days of Asa Zerah the Ethiopian came against him with an Army of a Million of Men Then Asa cried to the Lord for help and he gave him Victory over the Ethiopians so he destroyed their Cities and carried away much Spoil At their return towards Jerusalem the Spirit of the Lord came upon Azariah and he exhorted them to cleave fast to the Lord saying The Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he 'll be found of you but if you forsake him he 'll forsake you Hereupon they cleansed the Land of Idols and entred into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their Fathers and that whosoever would not do so should be put to death So the Lord gave 'em rest round about Afterwards upon the League that Asa made with Benhadad Hanani the Seer came and reprov'd him for it and because he did not trust in the Lord who had delivered the Ethiopians into his hand therefore he should have but a troublesom Reign from that time forward For this Asa was angry with him and put him in Prison and at the same time oppress'd the People In his second year Nadab the Son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel and he reigned two years and Baasha conspir'd against him and slew him and reigned in his stead and smote all the House of Jeroboam yet he continued Jeroboam's Idolatry Whereupon CHAP. XVI The Word of the Lord came to Jehu the Son of Hanani against him That because he continued in the sins of Jeroboam therefore as he had cut off Jeroboam's Posterity so he 'd cut off his Then he died and Elah his Son reigned in his stead and his Servant Zimri conspired against him and slew him and all the House of Baasha But within a few days the Soldiers made Omri King who went and besieged Tirzah where Zimri was and took it at which Zimri went into the Palace and set it on fire and burnt himself in it Then some of the People made Tibni King but Omri prevailed against him and so reigned alone He bought a Hill and built a City upon it and call'd it Samaria which was afterwards the Seat of the Kings of Israel But he walkt in the way of Jeroboam He died and Ahab his Son reigned in his stead and did evil above all that were before him and took to Wife Jezabel and worship'd Baal and built a Temple for him in Samaria and provok'd the Lord to Anger more than all the Kings before him CHAP. XVII In his time God sent Elijah to declare to him There should be no Rain for some years but according to his Word Then God sent him to the Brook Cherith where he was fed by Ravens And when that Brook was dry God sent him to Sarepta to be sustain'd by a Widow there who tho she had but a little Meal in a Barrel and Oyl in a Cruise yet that still held out and supplied her Occasions till there was plenty in the Land Afterwards her Son dying Elijah prayed unto God and restored him to Life again CHAP. XVIII After three years God commands Elijah to shew himself to Ahab and tells him he 'd send Rain So Elijah went to Ahab who as soon as he saw him said Art thou he that troubles Israel To whom Elijah reply'd I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers House in that ye have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and have followed Baalim Then he desir'd Ahab to gather all the People together to Mount Carmel and all the Prophets of Baal which was done Then said Elijah to them If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal be God then follow him Then he bids the Prophets of Baal take one Bullock and lay it upon Wood and put no Fire under and he 'd do the like with another Bullock and the God that answered by Fire should be own'd for the true God And they did so and call'd upon their God from Morning till Noon but none answer'd Then Elijah derided 'em so that they us'd all imaginable importunity but still none answer'd Then he call'd the People to come about him and he repair'd an Altar of the Lord and made a Trench about it and laid the Bullock upon it and caused Water to be poured thrice upon the Sacrifice till the Trench was filled Then he called upon God and God sent Fire which consumed the Sacrifice and Wood and Stones and lickt up the Water in the Trench Then all the People acknowledged That this was the true God Then Elijah bad 'em slay all Baal's Priests which they did Then he bad Ahab get him up because much Rain was coming Then he went up to the top of Carmel and prayed earnestly to God for Rain after which a small Cloud appeared which presently overspread the Heavens and there fell abundance of Rain And Ahab rode in his Charet to Jezreel and Elijah ran before him CHAP. XIX Ahab telling Jezabel what Elijah had done she swore she 'd have his Life by the next day whereupon Elijah went and sâ—t under a Juniper Tree in the Wilderness and prayed to God to take away his Life But God sent an Angel to encourage him who made Provision for him that he might eat and drink and he travel'd in the strength of that Food forty days together till he came to Horeb where God appear'd to him and questions with him what he did there He replied That they had forsaken God's Covenant slain his Prophets and left none but himself and they sought his Life too so that he was fain to fly for it Then God sends him to anoint Hazael to be King of Syria Jehu to be King of Israel and Elisha to be Prophet in his room and withal tells him That there were seven thousand left in Israel who had not bowed the Knee to Baal After this meeting with Elisha he threw his Mantle upon him who presently left his former employment and followed him and ministred to him CHAP. XX. Then Benhadad King of Syria came and besieged Samaria and putting very hard terms upon Ahab he calls a Councel of all the Grandees who advise him to stand out Then there came a Prophet from God to Ahab to promise him Victory which came to pass for they slew the Syrians with a great Slaughter but the King escap'd Then the Prophet came to him again and bid him prepare for another War but that he should have the Victory in that also And so it came to pass for the Children of Israel slew of the Syrians ten thousand in one day And at Aphek a Wall fell on twenty seven thousand more and slew ' em And Benhadad fled and hid himself in the City But his Servants perswaded him to send a very submissive Message to Ahab and to lay himself at his Mercy who thereupon pardon'd him and
him King over them But Abner Saul's General made Ishbosheth Saul's Son King over the rest of the Tribes Then Joab and Abner met and fought a Battel wherein Abner was beaten and Asahel pursuing after Abner Abner turned back and smote him that he died But Joab and Abishai pursued still after Abner till Abner call'd to Joab and checks him for his hot pursuit whereupon he sounded a Retreat CHAP. III. After this there was long War between David and Ishbosheth but David still waxed stronger and stronger and the House of Saul grew weaker and weaker during which time Abner went in to one of Saul's Concubines for which being reproved by Ishbosheth he was much displeased and revolts to David and promises to bring all Israel to him and accordingly perswades all the chief of the People to be for David and came himself to promise him his assistance But Joab perswaded David that he was not sincere but intended only to deceive him and therefore sent Messengers to Abner to bring him back and pretends to talk friendly with him but smote him that he died At which David was exceedingly disturb'd and clears himself from any guilt therein and makes a great mourning for him CHAP. IV. When Ishbosheth and the Men of Israel heard of Abner's Death they were much concerned and Ishbosheth's Party growing very weak two of his Captains came and slew him and carried his Head to David thinking thereby to curry favour with him but David caus'd 'em both to be slain for their treachery to their Lord and took Ishbosheth's Head and buried it CHAP. V. Then the Heads of all the Tribes came to David and made him King over all Israel and he went to Jerusalem and took the strong hold of Sion and dwelt there calling it the City of David Then Hiram King of Tyre sent him Work-men and Materials and he built him a House Then the Philistines came to make War with him but David smote 'em twice together CHAP. VI. Then David gathered all the chosen Men of Israel together and went to fetch the Ark from the House of Abinadab and they set it upon a new Cart and Uzza and Ahio drave the Cart. And David and all the People plaid afore it But when they came to Nachon's Threshing-floor the Oxen stumbled and shook the Cart whereupon Uzza put forth his Hand to hold it from falling but God smote him for his rashness and he died there Then David was afraid to bring it to his own House but lodged it in the House of Obed-Edom and God blessed Obed-Edom and all his House which being told to David then he brought up the Ark to his own City with great gladness sacrificing Oxen and Fatlings as they went along and David danced before it which Michal spying despis'd him in her Heart So they plac'd it in a Tabernacle which David had made with great joy and feasting But Michal came out to meet David and derided him for his undecent Carriage as she interpreted it for which God smote her with Barrenness CHAP. VII David being now at rest from all his Enemies bethinks himself of building a House for God and acquaints Nathan with it who encourages him thereto But that night God sends Nathan to David to tell him That not himself but his Son should build him an House Whereupon David acknowledges Gods great goodness to him and prays that his House may be blessed as he had promis'd him CHAP. VIII After this David subdues the Philistines Moabites Hadadezer and the Syrians and took the Shields of Gold from the Servants of Hadadezer and brought 'em to Jerusalem and exceeding much Brass from his Cities and dedicated to the Lord all the Treasures that he took from any of the Nations and the Presents that were sent him and God prospered him exceedingly and he administred Justice to all the People CHAP. IX David remembring the Covenant between him and Jonathan enquires after his Posterity and hearing of Mephibosheth sends for him gives him all the Land that belonged to Saul entertains him at his own Table and gives Ziba charge to manage all his concerns for him CHAP. X. David hearing that the King of Ammon his Friend was dead sent Embassadors to his Son to condole with him but he treated 'em very rudely and sent 'em away Whereupon David sent Joab against 'em to chastise 'em for their Insolence and Joab put 'em to flight and the Syrians also who came to their assistance and so again a second time whereupon they made peace with Israel and became Tributaries to ' em CHAP. XI After this David sends Joab to besiege Rabbah but himself tarried at Jerusalem and one Evening walking upon the top of his House he spy'd a beautiful Woman bathing her self so he sent for her and lay with her and she conceived and acquainted David with it who thereupon sent for her Husband Uriah from the Siege and bad him go down to his own House and refresh himself but he staid among David's Servants Whereupon David sent him to Joab with a Letter to set him in a place of danger that he might be slain which was done and David had notice of it So when the days of mourning were past he sent and took Bathsheba to be his Wife and she bare him a Son But this displeased the Lord. CHAP. XII And he sent Nathan to David who by a Parable of a rich Man that had many Flocks and a poor Man that had but one Ewe Lamb yet the rich Man took the poor Man's Ewe Lamb to dress for a Traveller that came to him causes David to pass Sentence against himself Then Nathan tells him Thou art the Man and threatned him That the Sword should never depart from his House Whereupon David confesses his sin and Nathan tells him It was pardon'd but because of the Scandal of it the Child should die which came to pass accordingly Afterwards Bathsheba bare another Son whom David called Solomon And the Lord loved him and sent by Nathan and call'd him Jedidiah Then Joab sent to David to come to the Siege of Rabbah that he might have the honour of taking it which he did and set the Kings Crown on his own Head and took much spoil and tortur'd the People and so came back CHAP. XIII After this Amnon fell in love with his half Sister Tamar and by Jonadab's Advice feigns himself sick and desires that his Sister Tamar might come and attend upon him So David sent her to him Then he took hold of her and forc'd her and ravish'd her which when he had done he turn'd her out of Doors so she went away crying and met with her Brother Absalom who quieted her and kept her in his House and hated Amnon for this but concealed it And having a Sheep-shearing he invited all his Brethren to it and in the midst of their mirth his Servants slew Amnon whereupon they all fled away and Absalom fled to his Father-in-law and was there three
Then the King of Moab sallied forth to have broken his way thro' the Quarters of the King of Edom but he was driven back then he took his Eldest Son and offered him for a Burnt-Offering upon the Wall whereupon they rais'd the Siege CHAP. IV. As Elisha was returning home a certain Prophets Widow met him and made her moan to him that her Husband had left her in debt and there was nothing to pay so that the Creditors were about to seize upon her two Sons for Bond-men Then he had her borrow empty Vessels and pour out of the Pot of Oyl which she had in the House into the Vessels till they were full and then sell the Oyl and pay the Debt Elisha was wont to come often to the House of a great Woman in Shunem who entertain'd him very kindly whereupon understanding she had no Child he calls for her and tells her that she should have a Son which came to pass This Child when was he grown up fell ill and died Then she took him and laid him on the Bed where Elisha us'd to lie and rode in all hast to acquaint him with it who went with her and went into the Chamber where the Child lay and prayed to the Lord and stretch'd himself upon the Child and the Child waxed warm and he reviv'd and he deliver'd him to his Mother At Gilgal the Pot being set on to make some Broth for the Prophets they happened to put in some unwholsom unsavoury Herb so that they could not eat of it but Elisha cast a little meal into the Pot and so made the Broth sit for use A Present being brought him of twenty Barly Loaves with them he fed an hundred Men. CHAP. V. Naaman General of the Army of the King of Syria was a Leper and hearing by an Hebrew Maid That there was a Prophet in Samaria that could cure him he procures a Letter to the King of Israel that he might be cured of his Leprosie When the King of Israel read the Letter he thought it was only a Trick to pick a quarrel with him but Elisha hearing of it sent to the King to send this person to him So when Naaman and all his Retinue came to Elisha's Door he only sent one to him to bid him go and wash in Jordan seven times and he should be cured Naaman took this for a great Affront and so went away in a Rage But some of his Servants argued the matter with him and perswaded him so that he went to Jordan and dipt himself seven times in the River and was perfectly healed Then he came back to the Prophets House and acknowledged the God of Israel to be the true God and offers him a Reward but he refused it Then he beg'd pardon for the Idolatry he had been formerly guilty of and Elisha dismis'd him with a friendly farewel But Elisha's Servant Gehazi ran after Naaman and by a Lie got two Talents of Silver and two Changes of Raiment which he hid in the House and came to his Master But his Master asking him where he had been he told another Lie and excus'd what he had done before but his Master knowing what was done told him That the Leoprosie of Naaman should cleave to him and his Seed for ever CHAP. VI. One going to cut some Timber for the use of the Prophets which grew near Jordan his Ax Head fell into the River which he was much concern'd at because it was borrow'd and complaining of it to Elisha he threw in a stick to the place where it fell and the Ax Head did swim and so he had it again The King of Syria making appointments to surprize the King of Israel at several places Elisha still warned him of 'em and so sav'd him The King of Syria thinking his own Servants had betray'd his Counsels was much troubled at it but understanding it was Elisha's doing he sent a great Company to Dothan who compass'd the City to take him which his Servant perceiving in the morning was greatly afraid But the Prophet said Fear not for they that are with us are more than they that are with them Then upon Elisha's Prayer his eyes were open'd and he saw the Mountain full of Horses and Charets of Fire round about Elisha and also those People were smitten with blindness so that he led 'em into the midst of Samaria and then opened their Eyes but he would not suffer the King of Israel to do 'em any hurt but caused great provision to be made for 'em and so sent 'em away At another time Benhadad besieged Samaria so that there was a very great Famine there and as the King passed along a Woman complained to him of her Neighbour That whereas they had agreed to boyl and eat their Children by turns this Woman having done her part the other refus'd to perform hers which the King hearing rent his Clothes and imputing all this Evil to Elisha he sent one to cut off his Head But Elisha was aware of it and bids the Company that was with him to stop the Messenger at the Door and not suffer him to come in But the King himself followed immediately after and upon discourse between 'em he said This evil is from the Lord why should I wait for him any longer CHAP. VII But Elisha told him from God That on the morrow there should be great plenty in Samaria which a Lord that was with the King hearing would not believe whereupon Elisha told him he should see it with his Eyes but not eat thereof On the morrow four Lepers venturing into the Camp of the Syrians found that they were all fled for the Lord had caused 'em to hear a noise of Charets and Horses and a great Host whereupon they fled in great hast for their Lives These Tidings the Lepers brought to the City so the King sent to discover the truth of it and they found it to be as was related So the People went out and spoiled the Camp of the Syrians whereby it came to pass that there was great plenty as Elisha foretold But the unbelieving Lord being appointed by the King to keep the Gate that the People might not all run out of the City they were so eager upon the Spoil that they trod him to death And so the Prophets words were fulfilled CHAP. VIII Elisha warns the Shunamite whose Son he had rais'd to life of a Famine that was coming so she went and sojourned in the Land of the Philistines But when the Famine was over she returned again and came to petition the King for her Land again which it seems was seiz'd upon in her absence and Providence so order'd it that at that very nick of time the King was talking with Gehazi concerning the Miracles of Elisha and of his raising a dead Child to Life whereupon spying this Woman he said This is the Woman and this is her Son So the King appointed an Officer to restore all that was hers Then
and told him he should have smitten five or six times and then he should have utterly destroyed the Syrians whereas now he should smite 'em but thrice Then Elisha died and was buried and afterwards some casting a Man into his Sepulcher assoon as he toucht the Bones of Elisha the man revived and stood upon his Feet Then Hazael oppress'd Israel but Joash overcome Benhadad the Son of Hazael and beat him three times and recovered the Cities of Israel CHAP. XIV At this time Amaziah reigned over Judah and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He slew those that had slain the King his Father 2 Chron. 25.5 c. He gathered together the Militia of Judah and Benjamin three hundred thousand choice men also he hiâ—'d than hundred thousand out of Israel But a Prophet met him and told him God was not with the Men of Israel and therefore he should send 'em back again and so he did After this he fought against the Edomites and slew ten thousand and carried away ten thousand more and threw 'em down from the top of a Rock that they were broken all in pieces But when he came from the Slaughter of the Edomites he brought their Gods and set 'em up for his Gods and served them Whereupon God sent a Prophet to him to reprove him for it but he was angry with the Prophet and said Who made thee of the King's Counsel Forbear why shouldst thou be smitten Then the Prophet told him that God would destroy him because he harkned not to his Counsel Then he sent a Challenge to Joash but was beaten and taken Prisoner and Joash came to Jerusalem and brake down part of the Wall and plunder'd the House of the Lord and the Kings House and so return'd to Samaria Then he died and Jeroboam his Son reigned in his stead Then they made a Conspiracy against Amaziah King of Judah and he fled to Lachish but they sent after him and slew him there And the People made Ahaziah his Son King in his sted Jeroboam King of Israel did Evil in the sight of the Lord yet God saved them by the hand of Jeroboam because he saw the Affliction of Israel that it was very bitter Then Jeroboam died and Zechariah his Son resigned in his sted CHAP. XV. Azâ—â—iah or Uzaiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. 2 Chron. 26 and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper for he fought against the Philistines and prevail'd God helpt him also against the Arabians and the Ammonites brought him Gifts He built Towers in Jerusalem and digg'd many Wells for he had much Cattel and Husbandry for he loved it He had a great Army of three hundred and seven thousand and five hundred and he made many Engines in Jerusalem to shoot Arrows and Stones withal and was very strong But when he was strong his Heart was lifted up to his Destruction for he went into the Temple to burn Incense himself but Azariah the Chief Priest withstood him telling him that it pertained not to him but to the Priests Then he was wroth with the Priests But God smote him with a Leprosie so he hastned out of the Temple and dwelt in a lone House and Jotham his Son was his Deputy Then he died and Jotham succeeded him In his days did Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam reign over Israel and he walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat and Shallum conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted But Menahem conspir'd against him and slew him and reign'd in his sted He walked in the ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat Then Pul the King of Assyria came against him to whom he gave a thousand Talents of Silver to settle him upon the Throne He died and Pekahiah his Son reigned in his sted But Pekah conspired against him and slew him and reigned in his sted In his days Tiglath-Pilesar King of Assyria took many Towns from him and carried the People captive to Assyria In his days began Jotham the Son of Uzziah to reign over Judah and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He built the higher Gate of the House of the Lord and Cities in the Mountains He fought also with the King of the Ammonites and prevailed against 'em and they gave him Tribute and he became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Then he died and Ahaz his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVI 2 Chron. 28. Ahaz walked in the way of the Kings of Israel and burnt his Children in the Fire wherefore the Lord deliver'd him into the hand of the King of Syria who carried away a great multitude of People to Damascus Pekah also the King of Israel prevail'd against him and slew in one day an hundred and twenty thousand because they had forsaken the Lord God of their Fathers and carried away two hundred thousand persons and took much Spoil But the Prophet Oded met them and reprov'd 'em for it saying Are there not with you even with you sins against the Lord your God therefore deliver the Captives So some of the Princes withstood them and would not suffer 'em to bring them into the City So the Captives were cloathed and fed and sent to Jericho Esay 7. Then Rezin the King of Syria and Pekah King of Israel warred against Jerusalem but could no prevail against it And the Lord commanded Esay to go meet Ahaz and bid him not be afraid of them and bad him ask a Sign but Ahaz would not Then said Esay God himself shall give you a Sign Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel But withal tells him That the Lord would bring upon them the King of Assyria who should destroy both his People and their Land Yet Ahaz sent Embassadors to the King of Assyria to come and help him against the Kings of Syria and Israel and sent him all the Silver and Gold that was in the Lords House and in his own Treasury So the King of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it and slew Rezin And Ahaz went to Damascus to meet him and seeing there an Altar he sent the Pattern of it to Urijah the Priest who made one after that fashion upon which Ahaz offered Sacrifices and removed the Brazen Altar and commanded that this new Altar should be made use of for the daily Sacrifice and shut up the Doors of the Temple and sacrificed to the Gods of Damascus Thus in time of his Distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. Then he died and Hezekiah his Son succeeded him CHAP. XVII In the days of Ahaz began Hoshea to reign over Israel and Shalmaneser King of Assyria came up against him and made him tributary But he sent Embassadors to So King of Egypt to help him which the King of Assyria hearing of put him in Prison and came and besieged
as for Josiah because his Heart was tender and he humbled himself before the Lord he should die in peace and not see the evil that should befal ' em CHAP. XXIII 2 Chron. 34. Then the King gathered the Rulers and all the people together and went up to the House of the Lord and caused the Book to be read and made a Covenant with the Lord to keep his Commandments according to what was written in that Book and then purged the Temple of all Idolatrous Relicks and made a general Reformation among ' em Then he went to Bethel and brake down the Altar and High Place and burnt the Grove and burnt the Bones of the Priests upon the Altar as it was foretold he should do And so he did likewise in all the Cities of Samaria and slew the Priests of the High Places upon their Altars 2 Chron. 35. Then he commanded and they kept a Passover in a most solemn manner so as had not been from the days of the Judges Notwithstanding the Lord turn'd not from the fierceness of his great Wrath against Judah because of the Provocations of Manasseh After this the King of Egypt went to fight with the King of Assyria at Carchemish and Josiah went out against him but he sent to him to perswade him not to concern himself in that quarrel because the War was undertaken by God's Command But Josiah would not be disswaded but went to fight with him and in the Fight he was wounded and died of his Wounds Then all the People mourned for him and Jeremy the Prophet lamented for him and the People made Jehoahaz King in his Fathers sted He did Evil in the sight of the Lord and Pharaoh depos'd him and made Eliakim his Brother King and chang'd his Name to Jehojakim who also did Evil as his Fathers had done CHAP. XXIV In his days Nebuchadnezzar came up and made him Tributary but he rebell'd against him and the Lord raised up many Enemies of the Nations round about to destroy them for the sins of Manasseh Then Nebuchadnezzar came and bound him in Fetters and carried away part of the Vessels of the Lord's House to Babylon and put 'em in the House of his God And Jehojakim died and Jehojachin succeeded him and did evil in the sight of the Lord. And the King of Babylon sent his Servants against Jerusalem to besiege it But Jehojachin render'd himself to them and they carried him to Babylon with the Vessels of the Temple and the people of the Land And the King of Babylon made Zedekiah King in his stead But God in Judgment suffer'd him to rebel against the King of Babylon CHAP. XXV Then Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem and after two years Siege the Famine prevailing it was taken but the King escap'd by night But the Chaldeans pursued and took him and brought him to the King of Babylon at Riblah where they slew his Sons before his Face then put out his Eyes and carried him bound to Babylon And soon after came Nebuzaradan and burnt the Temple and City and brake down the Walls round about and carried the rest of the People all but the poor whom he left to husband the Land and the remainder of the Vessels of the Lord's House and several of the chief Men of the City to the King of Babylon to Riblah who slew 'em there And over those that remained in the Land he set Gedaliah to be Governor But Ismael came privately and slew him Afterwards in the seven and thirtieth year of Zedekiah's Captivity Evilmerodac King of Babylon set him at Liberty and gave him a daily allowance at his own Table all his days EZRA CHAP. I. CYRUS being come to the Kingdom of Persia proclaims Liberty to the Jews to return to their own Country and build the Temple at Jerusalem and likewise gives 'em all the Vessels of Gold and Silver belonging to the Temple that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away which were great and small five thousand four hundred CHAP. II. Hereupon there returned forty two thousand three hundred and sixty besides seven thousand three hundred thirty seven Servants When they came to Jerusalem the chief of 'em gave freely for repairing of the Temple CHAP. III. Then Joshua and Zerubbabel built the Altar and offered the daily Sacrifice thereon and all other Sacrifices according to the Law Then in the second year after their return they laid the Foundation of the Temple with great rejoycing But some of the ancient Men that had seen the first Temple wept when they saw this Foundation laid CHAP. IV. The Samaritans enemies of the Jews hearing that they were about to build the Temple came and offered their assistance but the Jews would not accept of it whereupon they made Friends at Court who prevailed to hinder the Work till the Reign of Darius The chief of 'em wrote to Artaxerxes and charge the Jews with Rebellion whereupon he sends a Command that the building should cease CHAP. V. But Darius coming to the Throne the Jews were encouraged by Haggai and Zechary to set about building the Temple again which they did and were opposed again by the Samaritans who demand by what Authority they go on with this work They alledge for themselves the Decree of Cyrus This they acquaint the Emperour withal desiring that search may be made whether there were any such Decree and to send 'em his pleasure CHAP. VI. Search being made the Decree was found which Darius confirms with a severe Penalty and Curse upon the Infringers of it Then the Jews went on vigorously and finish'd the House and kept the Dedication of it and kept the Passover at the time appointed CHAP. VII Artaxerxes being come to the Throne in the Seventh year of his Reign Ezra goes to Jerusalem having a new Commission from the King to take as many more Jews with him as were willing to go and all the Gold and Silver which the King and his Princes had offered for the Service of the Temple and whatsoever else he could collect among the Jews with Authority to reform all Abuses and Disorders there to appoint such Magistrates as he thought fit to free the Priests from Taxes and to punish Offenders CHAP. VIII Ezra having gathered all his Company together that were to go with him appoints a Fast to seek direction and a blessing on their Journey Then he delivered the Vessels and Offerings for the Temple to certain Priests to take charge of 'em and carry 'em to Jerusalem So they came to Jerusalem and deliver'd the King's Commissions to his Leiutenants and Officers who further'd the People and the House of God CHAP. IX Ezra being come to Jerusalem complaine was made to him that many of the People yea of the Priests had married strange Wives of the Idolatrous Nations contrary to the Law This Ezra was mightily affected with and doe largely confess and bewail their sins unto God CHAP. X. Hereupon a great Congregation were met together and wept very
Air Clouds Abysses Precipices listen to the Voice and Command of God of the Word and of their Love O God! O Power O Love What Word What Speech and what Voice In fine this glorious and happy moment which saw the Birth of Times and Seasons being arrived the Eternal God seeing no Object out of Himself which could deserve his Love and besides this Love being incited by a holy desire of communicating it self that Nothing which has but the bare Name given it became immediately a fruitful Abyss of Essences and Nature was engendred out of it by the sole power of the Divinity Talon's Holy History cap. 1. GENESIS CHAP. I. THE World had a Beginning which was by Creation and it was made in the space of six days On the first day was made the rude Mass or Matter of all things and afterwards the Light On the second the Firmament or space from the Earth to the Highest Heavens On the third the Sea and Dry Land stockt with all sorts of Trees Herbs and Plants and more especially the Garden of Eden On the fourth he furnish'd the Heavens with their Host of Sun Moon and Stars On the fifth he stockt the Air and Waters with Fowl and Fish On the sixth he stor'd the Earth with all sorts of Creatures that live upon it and then having thus furnish'd the World in all the parts of it he made Man after his own Image and made him King of this lower World giving him Dominion over the Works of his Hands CHAP. II. On the seventh day God rested from the Work of Creation and blessed and sanctify'd it for a Sabbath-day The Man which he had made he called Adam and plac'd him in Eden forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge under pain of death He brought all the Beasts and Birds to him to give 'em Names He cast him into a deep sleep took out one of his Ribs built it into a Woman and gave her to Adam to Wife whom he was hereby taught to look upon still as part of himself He called her Name Eve CHAP. III. This first Couple being tempted by Satan in the Serpent transgress'd the Command of God and did eat of the forbidden Fruit whereupon being arraigned by God he first dooms the Serpent to a more ignominious kind of Food and Motion and especially the Devil that his Head should be broken by the Seed of the Woman the Messiah who was now promis'd to our first Parents as the Restorer of the Creation and Destroyer of the works of the Devil Then he dooms the Woman to pain in Child-bearing and to a more uneasie subjection to her Husband And lastly he dooms the Man to labour and travel in tilling and dressing the ground which was now curst for his sake and afterwards drives 'em out of Paradise CHAP. IV. To Adam and Eve were born first Cain a Tiller of the Ground then Abel a Keeper of Sheep These brought Offerings to the Lord who accepted Abel's but rejected Cain's whereupon Cain was wroth and slew his Brother Abel for which God curst him and made him a Vagabond yet set a mark upon him that none should kill him Lamech one of his Posterity was the first that transgrest the Institution of Marriage by having two Wives CHAP. V. Afterwards Adam had another Son called Seth one of whose Posterity was Enoch who was one that had much communion with God and so God translated him Soul and Body to Heaven to assure us that there is a state of happiness in another World both for Soul and Body CHAP. VI VII God being provok'd by Man's wickedness threatens to destroy all Mankind by a Flood commands Noah to make an Ark into which himself Wife and Children and some of every sort of Cattel Fowl and Creeping things entring were shut in by God and preserved when all the rest of Mankind and all on the Land were drowned in the Flood CHAP. VIII IX At length the Earth being dried God bids Noah come forth and bring out all with him whereupon Noah built an Altar and offered Burnt-offerings thereon wherewith God was well-pleased and blessed Noah and his Sons and made a Covenant with 'em that he 'd no more destroy the Earth by Water of which the Bow in the Clouds was made a Token After this Noah being drunk lay uncovered in his Tent which Cham espying tells his two Brethren of it in derision but they going backwards carried a Mantle and covered him for which Noah curses Cham and his Posterity and blesses Shem and Japhet CHAP. XI I IX All the Earth being now of one Language they consulted to eternise their memory before they were separated one from another by building a City and Tower which should reach up to Heaven but God defeats their design by confounding their Language whereupon the place was called Babel and they were scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth CHAP. X. One of Cham's Grandchildren was Nimrod who was a great Tyrant and laid the Foundation of the Assyrian Monarchy which ended in Belshazzar Dan. 5.30 31. CHAP. X XI Among the Posterity of Shem was Terah who was Abram's Father Abram took Sarai to Wife and they came to Haran with their Father Terah who died there CHAP. XII Then God appears to Abram and calls him from Haran to go to Canaan and promises to make him a great Nation and that in him all the Families of the Earth should be blessed accordingly Abram goes into Canaan with Lot his Nephew to Sichem where God appeared to him and promis'd to give that Land to his Seed A Famine coming upon that Land Abram goes into Egypt to sojourn where he denies his Wife and Pharaoh takes her but finding that she was Abram's Wife he sends her to him and away they go CHAP. XIII And came to Bethel But Abram's Cattel and Lot's being so numerous they could not continue together and therefore agreed to part Abram gives Lot his Choice who chooses the Plain of Jordan towards Sodom and Abram continued in Canaan God renews his Grant of Canaan to him and his Seed which he promis'd should be as the dust of the Earth Then Abram came to Mamre CHAP. XIV After this there rose war between the King of Elam and the Kings of Sodom and the other Cities of the Plain wherein the King of Elam had the better and plundered Sodom and Gomorrah carrying away Lot among others and his Goods News whereof being brought to Abram he pursues after them with his trained Servants and recovers all again At his return Melchesideck King of Jerusalem and Priest of the true God meets him with Bread and Wine and blesses him to whom Abram gave the Tenth of all the Spoils he had taken and then restores all to the King of Sodom without reserving any thing to himself CHAP. XV. After this God appears again to Abram promising to be his Shield and exceeding great reward and upon Abram's bemoaning the want of a Child to be his
Signet and Bracelets as a Pledg of the reward he promis'd her and goes away with ' em Afterwards being found to be with Child her Father-in-law Judah was acquainted with it who thereupon sentences her to be burnt But she producing the Staff Seal and Bracelets Judah acknowledges his Fault and acquits her When she fell in Travel she brought forth Twins the eldest of which was Pharez who was one of Christs Ancestors CHAP. XXXIX Joseph being sold to Potiphar and behaving himself with great prudence was made Ruler over all his House and being a goodly Person his Mistress fell in love with him and tempts him to lie with her which he constantly refusing at length watching a fit opportunity she laies hold on him to force him to it But he made a shift to get away leaving his Upper Garment in her hands Hereupon she accuses him to her Husband that he had made an attempt upon her Chastity which he believing without more ado cast him into Prison But God inclin'd the Keepers Heart to shew him kindness and he committed the Government of the Prisones and management of all his Affairs to Joseph and God prospered all that he did CHAP. XL. During his Imprisoment two of the Kings chief Officers were committed to Prison the chief Butler and the chief Baker One night they dreamt each of them a Dream which in the morning they told to Joseph and he interpreted them to 'em and the event made it good CHAP. XLI After this the King himself dreamt a Dream of Seven Fat Kine and seven Lean Ones which eat up the Fat Ones And another Dream of seven full Ears of Corn and seven thin ones which devour'd the seven full Ones These Dreams he related in the Morning to the Magicians and Wise Men but they could not understand the meaning of ' em Then the chief Butler acquainted the King how Joseph had expounded his Dream and his Fellow 's to them So Joseph was sent for to whom the King relating his Dreams he expounded them and likewise gave him prudent advice thereupon The King finding Joseph a Personage of such extraordinary Sagacity and Prudence made him Ruler over his House and over all the Land of Egypt and gave him an honourable person to be his Wife Hereupon Joseph travels all over the Land and appoints Officers and prepares Granaries and in the seven years of plenty laid up vast quantities of Corn in the store-Store-cities During this time he had two Sons Manasseh and Ephraim Then came the years of Famine and Joseph supplied both the Egyptians and Neighbour Countries with Corn. CHAP. XLII Jacob hearing there was Corn in Egypt sends all his Sons but Benjamin thither to buy Corn who coming before Joseph made a lowly Obeysance to him according to his Dream ch 37.5 but they knew him not tho he knew them He question'd them about several things spake roughly to 'em charg'd 'em to be Spies and imprison'd 'em three days but at last lets 'em go and sends 'em all away but one whom he detained as an Hostage till they brought their youngest Brother Benjamin with their Sacks full of Corn and their Mony in every Mans Sack When they came to their Father they relate all these passages to him and emptying their Sacks found every Mans Mony in his Sack which they were concerned at for fear of some design therein against ' em But Jacob would not hear of letting Benjamin go CHAP. XLIII The Famine continuing Jacob spake to 'em to fetch more Corn out of Egypt and upon their importunity suffers 'em to take Benjamin along with ' em They carry also a Present and double Mony When they came before Joseph and he saw Benjamin with 'em he caused 'em to be entertained at his House and Simeon to be brought out to 'em and when he came home he treated 'em very courteously especially Benjamin CHAP. XLIV And commanded their Sacks to be filled again with Corn and every Man's Mony put into his Sack and his Drinking Cup to be put into Benjamin's Sack so they departed But presently Joseph sends his Steward after 'em to charge 'em with stealing his Cup and makes search for it and finds it in Benjamin's Sack whereupon they all came back to Joseph's House and Judah relates to him what passed between their Father and them concerning Benjamin's coming with 'em and that if they should now return without him it would certainly break their Fathers Heart and bring down his Grey Hairs with Sorrow to the Grave CHAP. XLV Upon this affecting Discourse Joseph was so overcome with tenderness of affection that he could refrain no longer but makes himself known to them saying I am Joseph Which struck 'em with such surprize and terror that they had not power to speak a word But he encourages 'em and ascribes all they had done to him to the Providence of God for their good and bids 'em hasten to their Father to acquaint him that he was not only alive but Lord of all Egypt and therefore he should come down immediately and he 'd sustain him and his Family the five remaining years of the Famine And then he embrac'd his Brother Benjamin and kiss'd him and accomodated them with Waggons and all necessaries for their Journey and bids 'em not to fall out by the way They being come to their Father and relating these passages to him he was ready to faint and swoon away with the Surprize and could not believe ' em But afterwards upon further Discourse and sight of the Waggons he was satisfied saying It is enough Joseph my Son is yet alive I 'll go and see him before I die CHAP. XLVI Jacob having received this Message removes towards Egypt with his whole Family At Beersheba God appears to him and encourages him to go into Egypt promising to make him a great Nation and to bring up him and his Posterity again out of that Land Then Jacob sends Judah before him to Joseph who comes to meet his Father and instructs his Brethren what to say to Pharaoh to encline him to grant 'em the Land of Goshen for their dwelling CHAP. XLVII Joseph presents his Father and some of his Brethren to Pharaoh who questions 'em about their Occupation and gives order to appoint 'em the best part of the Land viz. Goshen for their Abode So he plac't them in Rameses and provided for 'em and likewise supplied all the Land of Egypt and Canaan with Corn first for Mony then for their Cattel and lastly for their Bodies and Lands After this Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years and drawing towards his end he sends for Joseph and obliges him by Oath not to bury him in Egypt but to carry him to Canaan and bury him with his Fathers CHAP. XLVIII Jacob being sick Joseph comes to visit him and brings his two Sons with him that they might receive their Grandfathers Blessing which Jacob having notice of sits up and tells Joseph that his two Sons
to stand still over Gibeon which it did for about a whole day But the five Kings fled and hid themselves in a Cave which Joshua being told of he sent for 'em and made the great Officers set their Feet upon their Necks in token that they should deal so by all their Enemies Then he commanded 'em to be hang'd till the Evening Afterwards he took several other Towns with the Kings thereof and then returned to the Camp to Gilgal CHAP. XI Divers other Kings joyning together to fight against Israel God delivers 'em into their hands and they smote 'em till they left none remaining They also took their Cities and slew the Inhabitants but took the Spoil for themselves CHAP. XII A Rehearsal of the Kings that Moses took on the other side Jordan and of the thirty one Kings that Joshua took on this side Jordan CHAP. XIII Tho much of the Land was yet unconquer'd yet God bids Joshua divide it all among the Nine Tribes and an half CHAP. XIV Caleb challenges a certain share in the Land by the promise of Moses which Joshua allowed and gave him Hebron for his Inheritance CHAP. XV. The Borders of the lot of Judah are set down among which was the Inheritance of Caleb who promis'd his Daughter Acsah to whomsoever should take Kinjath-sepher This Othniel perform'd and obtain'd her for his Wife She beg'd of her Father some Land that had Springs in it so he gave her the upper Springs and the nether Springs The Children of Judah could not wholly drive the Jebusites out of Jerusalem CHAP. XVI The Borders of the Lot of the Children of Joseph viz. Ephraim and ch 27. Manasseh CHAP. XVIII The Tabernacle is set up at Shiloh and there being seven Tribes that had not yet received their Inheritance certain Persons are appointed to describe the remaining part of the Land into seven parts for which they cast Lots before the Lord in Shiloh for Benjamin and ch 19. for Simeon Zebulon Issachar Asher Nepthali and Dan. Then they allotted an Inheritance to Joshua CHAP. XX. Six Cities of Refuge are set out CHAP. XXI Forty eight Cities are given by Lot to the Levites So they possess'd all the Land that God promis'd 'em and had rest CHAP. XXII Then Joshua call'd the two Tribes and an half and blessed them and sent them away and they went homewards but when they came to the Borders of Jordan in Canaan they built there a great Altar which when the other Tribes heard of they gathered together to make war with 'em but first sent Phineas and ten Princes to 'em to expostulate with 'em as if they intended thereby to apostatize from God But the two Tribes and half replied That the design of that Altar was not for Sacrifice or Offerings but for a witness between 'em That tho they dwelt without Jordan yet they were of the same People and worship'd the same God with the Israelites on the inner side Jordan Which when Phineas and the Princes related to the Congregation they were very well pleas'd and called the Altar Ed i. e. Witness CHAP. XXIII Joshua being old calls for the Rulers of the People and exhorts 'em to obedience as they desire God should continue with 'em and that as God had fulfilled his Promises to a tittle to them so if they should depart from him and serve other Gods then he 'd bring all sorts of Evils upon â—em and they should be rooted out of the Land CHAP. XXIV He further gives 'em a brief Narrative of God's signal Providence and singular Benefits to them and their Fathers from his first calling of Abraham to the present time and thereupon earnestly exhorts 'em to fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth declaring his own fixt resolution That both himself and his Family would serve the Lord which the People likewise engage themselves to do So Joshua made a Covenant between God and the People that day and wrote it in the Book of the Law and set up a great Stone in testimony thereof After which he died being an hundred and ten years old and Eleazar died also and Joseph's Bones were buried in Shechem according to his commandment JUDGES CHAP. I. AFter Joshua's Death the Tribes of Judah and Simeon make War with some of the Cannanites and flew ten thousand in Bezek and took their King Adonibeâ—ek and cut off his Thumbs and great Tâ—â—â— which he acknowledges as a just requital from God for having served seventy Kings in that manner Afterwards they fought against others of the Canaanites and slew three Giants at Hebron and took several places because God was with ' em The Children of Joseph also took Luz or Bethel and slew all the Inhabitants except one Man and his Family that shew'd him the entrance into the City But yet many of the old Inhabitants remained still among the Tribes of Ephraim Manasseh Asher and Nepthali whom they could not drive out CHAP. II. An Angel reproves the Israelites for making Leagues with the People of the Land and sparing their Altars and thereupon threatens not to drive 'em out Then the People lift up their Voice and wept so the place was called Bochim Afterwards they forsook the Lord and served Baal and Ashtaroth then God delivered them into the hands of Spoilers and they were greatly distrest but upon their Repentance God rais'd up Judges who deliver'd 'em yet they soon returned to Idolatry again And thus they did time after time therefore God left many of the Canaanites among ' em And CHAP. III. The Children of Israel dwelt among 'em and made Marriages with 'em and served their Gods Then God delivered them into the hand of Cushan â—ishathaim Eight Years But when they cried to the Lord he raised up Othniel who prevail'd against Cushan Rishathaim so the Land had rest Forty Years Then they did evil again and the Lord strengthned the hand of Eglon King of Moab who smote 'em and rul'd over 'em eighteen years but when they cried to the Lord he raised up Ehud who being sent with a Present to Eglon smote him with a Dagger and slew him and afterwards raised an Army and slew about ten thousand Moabites whereupon the Land had rest eighty years And after him was Shamgar who slew six hundred Philistins with an Ox Goud and delivered Israel CHAP. IV. Then they did evil again and God sold 'em into the hand of Jabin whose Captain was Sisera and he oppress'd 'em twenty years and they cried to the Lord. Now Deborah a Prophetess judged Israel at that time and she called Barak and sent him against Sisera but he would not go except she went with him So they went together and ten thousand Men with 'em and Sisera came with nine hundred Charets of Iron and a great Host But the Lord discomfited them before Barak who slew 'em that there was not a Man left only Sisera escaped on his Feet and fled to the Tent of Heber the Kenite and
Dagon their God but the next morning Dagon was fallen on his Face to the Earth So they set him up again but the next morning he was fallen again and his Head and Hands broke off and also God smote the Men of Ashdod and the parts adjoyning with Hemorroids So they carried the Ark to Gath and God smote them also with Hemorroids Then they sent it to Ekron but they desired it might be sent to its own place again for the hand of God was heavy upon ' em CHAP. VI. Then the chief of the Philistines consulted with the Priests and Diviners what they should do with the Ark who advis'd to send it back with a Trespass-Offering viz. Five golden Hemorroids and five golden Mice which they did and put them in a Coffer and set the Ark and Coffer in a new Cart drawn with two Milch-Kine who took the strait way to Bethshemesh which when the Men of Bethshemesh saw they rejoyced and the Levites took down the Ark and the Coffer and they clave the Wood of the Cart and offered the Kine for a Burnt-Offering â—o the Lord. But the Lord smote fifty thousand of the Men of Bethshemesh for peeping into the Ark so they sent to the Men of Kirjath-jearim â—o fetch it And CHAP. VII The Men of Kirjath-jearim brought the Ark to the House of Abinadab where it remain'd twenty years Samuel exhorts the People to put â—way their false Gods and repent of all their â—ins so they fasted and wept in Mizpeh Then â—he Philistines hearing they were there came up â—gainst them whereupon they desire Samuel to cry unto God to save 'em which he did and God heard him for as he was offering a Burnt-Offering the Lord thundred against the Philistines and discomfited them So they were subdued all the days of Samuel and he judged Israel all his days and went every year in Circuit to several Cities to administer Justice among ' em But CHAP. VIII Samuel's Sons whom he made Judges under him were corrupt whereupon the Elders of Israel came to Samuel and desir'd him to make 'em a King as other Nations had But this displeased Samuel and he pray'd to God for direction God tho he interpreted it as a rejecting of himself yet permits Samuel to comply with their desire but withal bad him acquaint 'em what manner of usage they must expect from a King and how he 'd employ his Power to tyrannize over 'em and oppress 'em yet still they persist in their desire so God bids him yield to their Importunity CHAP. IX Now Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin had a goodly Son whose Name was Saul and Kish having lost his Asses sent his Son to seek ' em He having sought 'em in many places without success at last came to Samuel to enquire of him after ' em Now God had told Samuel the day before that there would come to him a Man of Benjamin whom he should anoint to be King So Samuel meeting with him invites him to a Feast with the chief of the City and set him in the uppermost place and afterwards walk'd abroad with him Then CHAP. X. Samuel took a Vial of Oyl and anointed him to be King and told him the Asses were found and that in his return homewards he should meet a company of Prophets and the Spirit of the Lord should come upon him and he should Prophecy with 'em and that he should go to Gilgal and tarry there seven days till Samuel came to him to tell him what he should do All which came to pass accordingly so that it was said Is Saul also among the Prophets Then Samuel called the People together to Mizpeh and sets 'em to cast Lots to find out who should be their King and the Lot fell upon Saul but he had hid himself and could not be found But God told 'em he was hid among the Stuff so they sent and fetch'd him and proclaimed him King But some Mal-Contents despis'd him and brought him no Presents but he took no notice of it CHAP. XI After this Nahash the Ammonite came up and besieged Jabesh-Gilead Then the Rulers sent a Message to him That if they had not Relief within seven days they would deliver the City up to him Saul hearing of this sent to call all the People to him and they came all unanimously Then he sent word to Jabesh-Gilead That to morrow he 'd come and relieve ' em So they came early in the morning and fell upon the Ammonites and quite routed 'em so that two of 'em were not left together Hereupon all the People went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul King there before the Lord and sacrificed Sacrifices of Peace-offerings and rejoyc'd together CHAP. XII Hereupon Samuel expostulates with 'em concerning their desire of a King and first testifies his own Integrity that he had not misbehav'd himself in his Government of 'em nor given 'em occasion to desire a Change And to convince 'em of their sin in desiring a King he call'd upon God and he sent unusual Thunder and Rain whereupon they were greatly afraid and acknowledged their sin But Samuel encouraged 'em and told 'em God would not forsake his People neither would he cease to pray for 'em only bids 'em be sure to fear God But saith he If you still do wickedly you shall be consumed both you and your King CHAP. XIII Jonathan having smitten a Garrison of the Philistines they raise a great Army to fight with Israel so that the People were afraid and hid themselves but Saul was with his Life-guard at Gilgal and tarried seven days for Samuel according to his appointment and when Samuel came not and the People began to steal away from him he offered a Burnt-offering and as soon as he had made an end of offering Samuel came and rebuk'd him sharply for not staying the full time that God had commanded which if he had done God would have establish'd him upon the Throne for ever but now his Kingdom should not continue for God had sought him another one after his own Heart whom he would make King and Samuel departed from him Then the Philistines sent out several Parties which spoiled the Israelites and suffer'd 'em not to have any Weapons nor Smiths to make any CHAP. XIV Then Jonathan and his Armour-bearer went over to a Garrison of the Philistines and by a Sign gathered that God would deliver 'em into their Hands And accordingly Jonathan and his Armour-bearer slew several of 'em which caus'd an extraordinary trembling all over the Host so that they fell a killing one another which the Watchmen perceiving Saul and the People with him got together to pursue them and Saul that they might not be diverted from the pursuit adjur'd 'em not to eat any thing till the Battel was ended But Jonathan not hearing the Oath and being faint eat some Hony but the People durst not do so and therefore were very faint and when they came to eat were so greedy
advises Bathshebah to go and acquaint the King with it and claim his Promise That Solomon should succeed him and while they were talking he 'd come in and second her So Bathshebah went unto David and told him that notwithstanding his Promise That her Son Solomon should sit upon the Throne Adonijah had made himself King without his privity but yet all people expected that he should appoint his Successor While she was speaking Nathan came and told him the same things Then David renewed his Oath to Bathshebah That Solomon should sit upon his Throne and accordingly gave order that Solomon should be set upon his own Mule and Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet should anoint him King over Israel and proclaim him with sound of Trumpet and then set him upon the Throne And so they did and the People rejoyced with such shouting that the Earth rang again which when Adonijah and his Company heard they were all afraid and dispers'd themselves and Adonijah went and took hold on the Horns of the Altar and capitulated with Solomon who upon condition of his good behaviour promis'd him indemnity and so dismiss'd him CHAP. II. Then David charg'd Solomon to walk in the ways of God and keep his Commandments that he might prosper and God might confirm the Kingdom to him and his Seed after him He gave him a charge also concerning Joab that because he was guilty of Blood he should not let his hoary Head go down to the Grave in peace That he should shew kindness to the Sons of Barzillai That he should remember Shimei's cursing of him in the day of his distress and in his Wisdom reward him for it So David died and Solomon sate upon the Throne Then Adonijah came to Bathshebah and prays her to ask Abishag for him of her Son Solomon which she did But Solomon looking upon it as a seditious motion sends Benajah to him who put him to death He put out Abiathar also from being High Priest and confin'd him to his Country House at Anathoth These passages being related to Joab he knowing his own guilt fled to the Altar and there he was slain Then he call'd for Shimei and confin'd him to Jerusalem and that if he pass'd over the Brook Kidron he should die So he dwelt there many days At last two of his Servants running away to Achish King of Gath he went thither to fetch 'em back again which being told Solomon he puts him in mind of all his former wickedness and his own gentle dealing with him which he having abus'd he commands him to be slain CHAP. III. Solomon married Pharaoh's Daughter He loved the Lord and offered at Gibeon a great High Place a thousand Burnt-Offerings and there God appeared to him and bid him ask what he would So he ask't an understanding Heart to judge the People and to discern between good and evil wherewith God was so pleased that he gave him not only an extraordinary Understanding above all that were before or after him but also such Riches and Honour as none else had Then came two Women to him which had each of 'em a Son one of which dying they both lay claim to the living Child whereupon Solomon commanded the living Child to be divided between 'em which one of 'em yielding to but not the other Solomon thereby gathered which was the right Mother and assign'd the living Child to her which Decision made him renown'd all over Israel CHAP. IV. Solomon had twelve Officers who served each Man his Month and made Provision throughout all Israel of what was needful for the maintaining his Court after a most splendid and magnificent manner For he spent daily almost an hundred Quarters of Wheat Thirty Oxen an hundred Sheep besides Deer Fowl and the like And God gave him a most comprehensive knowledg of all things both Divine and Humane so that he was wiser than all Men and spake three thousand Proverbs and a thousand and five Songs and of all Animals and Vegetables so that People came from all parts of the Earth to hear his Wisdom CHAP. V. Solomon designing now to build the Temple sends to Hiram King of Tyre to furnish him with Timber of Cedar and Fir and Workmen for it and in lieu thereof Solomon furnishes him with Wheat and Oyl yearly so they had Timber and Stones for it CHAP. VI. In the fourth year of Solomon's Reign they began to build the Temple which was about thirty six yards long twelve yards broad and eighteen yards high with a Porch of about seventy two yards high All the materials were fitted and prepared afore hand so that no noise of Tools was heard about it It was seven years in building CHAP. VII Solomon built also an House for himself and a Porch for Judgment and several other Houses both for himself and his Queen Pharaoh's Daughter Then he sent and fetcht Hiram from Tyre who made all manner of Vessels and Utensils for the Temple of Gold Silver and Brass as the Molten Sea the Lavers c. and the Pillars CHAP. VIII All things being thus fitted and finish'd Solomon assembled all the Nobility and Gentry to fetch up the Ark out of Sihon and carry it into its place within the Holy of Holies And when it was set there the Glory of the Lord fill'd the House Then Solomon blessed God for performing his Word unto David in giving him a Son to build an House to his Name and prays for the continuance of his mercy to him and that he 'd hear Prayers upon any occasion whatsoever made in or towards that place Then he offered a Sacrifice of two and twenty thousand Oxen and an hundred and twenty thousand Sheep and they kept the Feast of Dedication a Fortnight together and then the People went to their own Homes CHAP. IX After all this God appeared again to Solomon and told him he had hear'd his Prayer and would do as he desir'd and that he 'd establish his Throne for ever upon condition of his Obedience but in case of Disobedience he 'd cut off Israel out of the Land and destroy the Temple At the end of twenty years Solomon gave Hiram King of Tyre twenty Cities in the Land of Galilee but he did not like 'em and so return'd 'em to him again whereupon he repair'd and enlarg'd 'em and caused the Children of Israel to dwell in ' em He repair'd also several other Cities and built Store-Cities and did all that he desir'd And he had a Navy which went to Ophir for Gold CHAP. X. The Queen of Sheba hearing of Solomon's extraordinary Wisdom came to hear and try him with hard Questions She came with a very great Retinue and many rich Presents and discours'd with him about all things she desir'd satisfaction in and he resolv'd all her doubts and gave her full satisfaction in every thing When she had viewed and consider'd all particulars about him his Buildings his Furniture his Attendants and the magnificence of
made a League with him and sent him away Then a Prophet was sent to him who by a Parable of a Prisoner taken in Battel and escaping from him to whose custody he was committed makes him first pass Sentence against himself and then denounces Judgment against him for letting the King of Syria go CHAP. XXI After this Ahab was very earnest to buy Naboth's Vineyard of him but he refusing Ahab was much displeased and would eat nothing which Jezabel observing and understanding the reason of contrives to write Letters to the Rulers of Jezreel to proclaim a Fast and suborn Witnesses who should accuse Naboth of blaspheming God and the King and so put him to death Which being done Ahab went to take possession of the Vineyard But God sent Elijah to denounce Judgments against him which when Ahab heard he humbled himself for which God respites part of the Judgment from his days to his Sons CHAP. XXII After this Ahab making War with the King of Syria engages Jehosaphat to assist him but Jehosaphat was desirous to know the Mind of God in it and therefore would have him send for some Prophet Hereupon Ahab sends for all the Prophets of Baal who promis'd good Success But Jehosaphat not being satisfy'd with this desires that some Prophet of the Lord might be enquir'd of So he sent for Micajah and he at first in a way of derision answers as the Prophets of Baal had done But being requir'd to speak in good earnest he then foretells that Ahab should be slain and the People scattered which came to pass for he was slain by an Arrow as he was sitting in his Charet and his Charet being wash'd in the Pool of Samaria the Dogs lickt up his Blood as they had done the Blood of Naboth according to the threatning of the Prophet So Ahab died and his Son reigned in his stead In his time Jehosaphat began to reign over Judah and he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord 2 Chron. 17. So the Lord was with him and establish'd his Kingdom He was very zealous and couragious in the ways of the Lord for in the third year of his Reign he sent some choice Priests and Levites all over his Kingdom to teach the People the Law of God and with them several Princes to countenance 'em Whereupon God so bless'd him that all the Nations round about him became Tributaries to him 2 Chron. 20. After his return from the expedition with Ahab Jehu the Prophet reproves him for his joyning with him Then he set Judges throughout all the Land and charg'd 'em to execute Judgment and Justice impartially 2 Chron. 20. After this the Moabites and Ammonites made War with him whereupon he proclaimed a Fast to ask help of the Lord and himself prayed to the Lord against them before all the People Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel who bids 'em not be dismaid for God would fight for 'em against their Enemies Whereupon Jehosaphat encourag'd the People saying Believe in the Lord so shall you be establish'd believe his Prophets so shall you prosper So the Lord made their Enemies to rise up and slay one another so that when the Men of Judah came they found 'em all dead Bodies and took abundance of Spoil and great Riches from ' em After this did Jehosaphat joyn his Navy with the Navy of Ahaziah a wicked King of Israel Then he died and Jehoram his Son reigned in his stead In the seventyeth year of Jehosaphat Ahaziah the Son of Ahab began to reign over Israel and he served Baal according to all that his Father and Mother had done II. KINGS CHAP. I. AHAZIAH having fallen thro' a Lattice and hurt himself sends to Baalzebub to enquire concerning his recovery But God sent Elijah to meet the Messenger and to tell him that he should not recover The Messengers returning with this Message Ahaziah enquires what manner of Man he was and by their description of him concludes it to be Elijah so sends a Captain with fifty Men to fetch him When they came to him he call'd for Fire from Heaven and consum'd 'em all and so he did a second time Then a third Captain being sent he falls down before Elijah and begs him to spare his Life and the Life of his Men So the Angel bad Elijah go with him who reprov'd the King for sending to Baalzebub and told him he should surely dye which came to pass and Jehoram his Son reigned in his stead CHAP. II. God intending to take up Elijah into Heaven by a Whirl-wind Elijah bids Elisha tarry there where he was because he must go on an Errand God had sent him about But Elisha would not leave him so they came to Jordan and Elijah with his Mantle smote the Waters and they were divided so that they pass'd over on dry ground Then Elijah bad Elisha ask what he should do for him who said Let a double portion of thy Spirit be upon me which Elijah promis'd he should have if he saw him when he was taken from him At last as they went on a Charet and Horses of Fire parted them asunder and Elijah was taken up into Heaven by a Whirlwind which Elisha saw and cried My Father my Father the Charets of Israel and the Horsemen thereof But Elijah's Mantle fell from him which Elisha took up and divided the Waters of Jordan with it as his Master Elijah had done which when the young Prophets saw they owned him for their Master in the room of Elijah The Waters about Jericho being naught Elisha threw Salt into 'em and heal'd ' em Afterwards going up from Bethel he was revil'd by some Children but he curs'd 'em in the Name of the Lord and there came two Shee-Bears and tore forty two of them CHAP. III. Jehoram King of Israel continued the Idolatry of Jeroboam but not of his Father and Mother in serving Baal The King of Moab refusing to pay his yearly Tribute Jehoram gathered together his Forces and invited Jehosaphat to his assistance to those two Kings and the King of Edom went to the War against Moab and being in the Wilderness they were all ready to perish for want of Water But hearing that Elisha was in the Army these three Kings went to him but he slighted the King of Israel and told him That if it had not been for Jehosaphat he would not have taken any notice of them but out of respect to him he tells them That the Vally should 〈◊〉 full of Water and also that God would deliver the Moabites into their hands And so it came to pass in the Morning that the Vally was filled with Water which appeared to the Moabites like Blood so that they concluded these Kings and their Armies had slain one another and therefore they rose up to the Spoil But when they came to the Camp of the Israelites the Israelites put 'em to flight and beat down their Cities and besieged Kitharaseth
Samaria and took it and carried the People into Assyria for their Idolatry and other sins they had been guilty of and brought other from Babylon and other places to dwell in the Cities of Samaria But God sent Lions among 'em for their wickedness Then the King of Assyria sent a Priest to them to teach 'em how to serve the Lord. But they all served their own Gods and set up their Images in their High-Places So they served the Lord and their own Gods too and so continued to do CHAP. XVIII 2 Chron. 29. Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. He destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and brake in pieces the Brazen Serpent because the People burnt Incense to it He also opened the Doors of the Temple and brought in the Priests commanding 'em to sanctifie the House of the Lord which they did Then he gathered the Rulers together and offered Sacrifices according to the Law and prais'd the Lord with the Words of David and Asaph 2 Chron. 30. Then he sent Letters to all Israel and Judah and those of the twelve Tribes to come and keep the Passover at Jerusalem which he earnestly exhorted 'em to So they kept the Passover in the Second Month and because many did eat otherwise than was written Hezekiah pray'd for 'em and the Lord harkned to him and heal'd the people Then he encouraged the Levites to teach the people and perform their Duties and he gave to the Congregation a thousand Bullocks and seven thousand Sheep and the Princes gave 'em a thousand Bullocks and ten thousand Sheep So there was great Joy and the Priests blessed the people and their Prayer came up to Heaven 2 Chron. 31. Then they destroyed all the Monuments of Idolatry and so returned home Then he appointed the Priests and Levites to wait in their Courses and commanded the People to pay 'em all their dues which they chearfully did And he appointed Officers to dispose of the Titles And all this he did with sincerity and diligence So God was with him and prospered him Ch. 18.11 c. 2 Chron. 32. After this Sennacherib King of Assyria took several Cities of Judah then Hezekiah repaired the Walls of Jerusalem and encouraged the People saying With him is an Arm of Flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels Then Sennacherib besieged Lachish and Hezekiah sent to buy his peace with him and gave him all the Gold in the Lords House and in his own Treasury yet Sennacherib continued his Siege and sent a great Army against Jerusalem under the command of Rabshakeh who revil'd and blasphem'd the Lord as if he were not able to deliver them out of the hands of his Master He spake also to the people that they should not suffer themselves to be deluded by Hezekiah to hold out the Siege but to yield to him and they should enjoy their Lives and Fortunes But the people answered him not a word But some went to Hezekiah and told him what Rabshakeh had said CHAP. XIX When Hezekiah heard it he went into the House of the Lord and sent to Esay the Prophet to pray for ' em Then Esay bids 'em not to be afraid of his words for God would send a Blast upon him and cause him to return and fall in his own Land Then Sennacherib sent Messengers again to Hezekiah with Letters full of Blasphemy and Hezekiah spread the Letter before the Lord and pray'd to be delivered out of his Hand Then God sent Esay with a Message to Hezekiah to tell him that his Prayer was heard and that they should have occasion to despise Sennacherib and laugh him to scorn notwithstanding all his pride and boastings for he would turn him back by the way by which he came So that Night the Lord sent an Angel which slew an hundred fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians Then Sennacherib returned with shame to his own Land and dwelt at Niniveh and as he was worshiping in the House of his God his two Sons slew him Thus God saved Hezekiah and Jerusalem and many brought Gifts to the Lord and Presents to Hezekiah and he was magnified in the sight of all Nations CHAP. XX. In those days Hezekiah fell sick of a mortal Disease and God sent Esay to him to bid him set his house in order for he should die Upon this Hezekiah prayed earnestly and wept Then God sent Esay again to tell him that he would heal him and add fifteen years to his Life and that he would defend and deliver the City and that he should lay a Cake of Figs on the Sore So he recovered and for a Sign that he should recover and go up to the House of the Lord within three days he caused the Shadow to go back ten degrees upon the Dial of Ahaz Then the King of Babylon sent Messengers and Presents to him to congratulate his Recovery wherewith he being puff'd up shew'd 'em all his Treasures Whereupon Esay was sent to him to tell him That all these things should be carried to Babylon and some of his Seed should be Eunuchs to the King of Babylon To which Ezekiah replied Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken So he died and Manasseh his Son succeeded him CHAP. XXI 2 Chron. 33. Manasseh did worse than all the Kings that were before him for he restored Idolatry built Altars for all the Host of Heaven in the Courts of the Lord's House used Enchantments dealt with familiar Spirits and shed abundance of innocent Blood wherefore the Lord threatned to wipe Jerusalem as a Man wipes a Dish and tells 'em he was bringing such Evils upon Jerusalem and Judah that whosoever hears it both his Ears shall tingle And accordingly the Captains of the King of Assyria took Manasseh and carried him to Babylon And in his Affliction he humbled himself greatly before God and prayed and he was intreated of him and brought him again unto Jerusalem Then he made a thorow Reformation and repaired the Altar and commanded the People to serve the Lord. He died and Ammon his Son succeeded him He did evil as his Father had done but did not humble himself like his Father but trespass'd more and more Then his Sons conspired against him and slew him in his own House and Josiah his Son reigned in his sted CHAP. XXII 2 Chron. 33. Josiah while he was young about sixteen years old began to seek after the God of David his Father and took care to have the Temple repair'd And as they were cleansing it Hilkiah the High Priest found the Original Copy of the Law written by Moses and sent it to the King who caus'd it to be read before him and was much affected with it especially with the threatnings against Idolatry and sent to Huldah a Prophetess to enquire of the Lord for him who answer'd That God would bring great Evils upon 'em for all their sins but
much for this sin and Shecaniah proposes that Ezra by his Authority should engage 'em in a Covenant to reform this Miscarriage who thereupon summons 'em all to Jerusalem and enjoyn 'em to confess their sin and put away their strange Wives which was done accordingly NEHEMIAH CHAP. I. NEhemiah understanding by some that came from Jerusalem of the great Distress his Countrymen were in there and that the City lay in a ruinous condition still was exceedingly affected with it and thereupon fasts and mourns and prays unto God on their behalf And CHAP. II. Being Cupbearer to Artaxerxes when he came to bring Wine to the King he took notice of his sadness and ask'd him the Cause of it he answer'd Because the City the place of his Father's Sepulchers lay wast The King enquired further Whether he had any request to make to him upon that occasion Then he desir'd to be sent with Authority to build the City which the King granted and gave him a Warrant to take what Timber he had occasion for out of the King's Forests This their Enemies hearing of were troubled at But Nehemiah when he came to Jerusalem viewed the Walls by Night to see what repairs were necessary and then took order for it But their Enemies scoff'd at ' em CHAP. III. Then they fell to work about repairing the Walls and several Persons took their several shares CHAP. IV. This very much disturb'd Sanballat and the Samaritans who fell a scoffing at 'em for it and conspir'd together to make 'em cease by force But Nehemiah set a Watch to prevent their attempts and armed the Workmen and gave 'em directions how they should govern themselves in case of an Assault CHAP. V. Complaint was made to Nehemiah of great oppression of the poorer sort by their Creditors and Usurers whereupon Nehemiah was very angry with 'em and requir'd 'em to restore what they had so injuriously taken from their poor Brethren which they promis'd to do and to encourage 'em to deal mercifully and kindly with their Brethren he tells 'em That he might have requir'd the same Allowance that former Governors had yet he forbore to require it that he might not be chargable to 'em nay he kept great Hospitality for the entertainment of those that came to his Table CHAP. VI. Their Enemies hearing that the Walls were repairing endeavoured by several Contrivances to terrifie Nehemiah but none of 'em took effect but they proceeded and finish'd the Wall CHAP. VII The City being thus secured Nehemiah appoints that the Gates should not be opened till the Sun was up and that they should be shut in due time and that Watch should be kept continually Then he took an account of the Genealogies of the Priests and People and they all made an Offering for repairing the Temple and City CHAP. VIII After this they held a solemn meeting for Reading and expounding the Law to the People which they were exceedingly affected with and fell a weeping for their transgressions of it But Nehemiah and Ezra comforted them and bad 'em rejoyce for the goodness of God to ' em And then they kept the Feast of Tabernacles according to the Law CHAP. IX Then they kept a solemn Fast confessing their sins and the sins of their Fathers and the Levites made a religious acknowledgment of God's goodness and their own wickedness and also made a solemn Covenant with God ch 10. to which all the chief among 'em seal'd and engaged themselves to a stricter Obedience to the Law and particularly against mixt Marriages and for Sanctification of the Sabbath and for the better payment of their dues for the maintaining the Service of God in the Temple CHAP. XII They kept the Feast of Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem with great gladness and solemnity And CHAP. XIII Read in the Law whereupon they separated the mixt multitude from 'em and Nehemiah reformed other abuses casting out the Houshold stuff of Tobiah the Ammonite out of the Chambers of the Temple causing them to bring their Tithes and Offerings to the Temple for the maintenance of the Levites reforming the profanation of the Sabbath and causing them to put away their strange Wives for all which he prays God to remember him for good ESTHER CHAP. I. AHasuerus to shew the Glory of his Kingdom and magnificence of his State made a Royal Feast for all his Princes and Nobles which lasted almost half a year and after that for all the People there present for seven days more Queen Vashti likewise made a Feast for the Ladies On the last day of the Feast the King sent for the Queen to come to him that the People might see and admire her Beauty but she refus'd to come Whereat the King being much displeased consulted with his wise Men what penalty was fit to inflict upon her One of them answered Since this example might be so prejudicial to the Authority of all Husbands to prevent the Evil thereof he advis'd she should be put away and another taken in her room which was done and Proclamation made that every man should bear rule in his own House CHAP. II. Vashti being thus put away enquiry was made among all the fair Virgins for one fit for the King Among others Esther is pitch'd upon and brought to the Apartment to be prepared for the King's Company where she found acceptance with the Governor of the House who presently gave her all things requisite And when her turn came to go to the King she pleas'd him so that he Crown'd her Queen instead of Vashti and made a splendid Feast and gave royal Gifts for the greater Solemnity of the Wedding After this Mordicai Esther's Cousin-German being one of the King's Porters became acquainted with a Conspiracy which two of the King's Chamberlains made against him to take away his Life which he discovered to Esther and she to the King who caus'd 'em both to be hang'd and this good Service of Mordecai to be recorded in the Chronicles CHAP. III. After this the King advanc'd Haman to be his chief Favourite and Minister of State to whom therefore all the people shew'd more than ordinary Reverence only Mordecai refus'd to do him any honour he being an accursed Amalekite which Haman taking notice of contriv'd the Destruction not only of him alone but of the whole Nation of the Jews And for the more successful effecting of it he cast lots to find out the most lucky time and then addresses himself to the King to get leave and authority to put his design in execution which the King presently granted and gave him his Ring to seal what Decree he pleased for this purpose So the Decree was written and seal'd and sent abroad to all Countries to kill and destroy all the Jews throughout all the King's Dominions on the thirteenth day of the twelfth Month. CHAP. IV. When this Decree was publish'd Mordecai and the Jews were in extream distress and Mordecai sent a Copy of it to