7.24 c. For John prophesied Christ to be come pointing him with his finger unto the People saying Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World whereas all the other Prophets did but prophesie of his coming long before he came Matth. 14.3 Finally John using his liberty in rebuking Vice without any accepting of Persons reproved King Herod for keeping his Brother Philip's Wife for the which he was cast into Prison and soon after lost his Head Read the story of Herod the Tetrarch and of Herodias John the Evangelist Matth. 4.21 was the Son of Zebedee and Brother to James and called from his Fisher-boat to be an Apostle of Christ John 13.23.19.26.21.20 and was of all other most entirely beloved of Jesus who commended his Mother unto him at the hour of his death He wrote his Gospel against Cerinthus and other Hereticks and chiefly against the Ebionites which did affirm that Christ was not before Mary whereby he was constrained to set forth the Divine Birth of Christ In the time of the Emperor Domitian he was exiled into an Isle called Patmos where he wrote the Revelation and after the death of Domitian in the time of Pertinax he returned to Ephesus remaining there till the time of Trajanus and did raise up and set in order many Churches in Asia and did three-score years after the death of Christ and was buried at Ephesus John Mark Act. 12. ult When Paul and Barnabas had been at Jerusalem to distribute the Alms sent by the Antiochians in their return they brought this Man John sirnamed Mark with them to Antioch And when the Holy Ghost had separated Paul and Barnabas from the other Disciples to the intent that they should go and spread abroad the Gospel among the Gentiles and those that were far off they took this John Mark with them to be their Minister and Companion who bare them company from Antioch until they came to Pamphilia Act. 13.5 c. and farther would he not go but left them there and returned to Jerusalem again notwithstanding the Apostes went forth and fulfilled their office And when it came in their minds to go and visit these places again wherein they had sowed the Word of God Barnabas gave counsel to take John with them which had been their Minister before to whose mind Paul would not consent forasmuch as John of his own accord had forsaken them at Pamphilia before they had finished their work And so reasoning and disputing about this matter the contention was so sharp between these two Holy-men that the one forsook the others company And so Barnabas taking John Mark with him sailed into Cyprus Jonadab was the Son of Shimeah David's Brother 2 Sam. 13.3 and a very subtil Man He loved Amnon his Unkle David's Son above the rest of all his Brethren Of the counsel he gave to Amnon concerning his Sister Thamar Read the story of Amnon Jonadab Voluntary or Willing Jonas the Son of Amittai was an holy Prophet Jonas 1. cap. 2 King 14.25 commanded of God to go to Niniveh that great City to tell the People of their wickedness who * The Mother of this Prophet was the poor Widow of Sarepta whose Meal and Oil Elias encreased and restored her Son from death to life again notwithstanding perswaded himself by his own reason that he should nothing profit there seeing he had so long Prophesied among his own Country-men the Jews and done no good at all Wherefore he minding to flye to Tarsus got him to Joppa where he found a Ship ready payed his fare and went with them And being on the Sea a tempest rose so vehemently that the Mariners were sore afraid crying every Man unto his God and to lighten the Ship they cast all the Wares into the Sea which nothing availed Then went the Master of the Ship down under the hatches and finding Jonas fast asleep awoke him saying O thou sleeper what meanest thou arise and call upon thy God that we perish not And when no remedy could be had they agreed to cast Lots that thereby they might know for whose cause they were troubled and so doing the Lot fell on Jonas They seeing that said Tell us for whose cause we are thus troubled And what thine occupation is And what thou art And whence thou comest and whither thou goest And what Country-man thou art of what Nation I am said Jonas an Hebrew born and fear the Lord God of Heaven which made both the Sea and dry Land and am fled from his presence And when they heard that they were more afraid than before and said what shall we do unto thee that the Sea may cease from troubling of us Take me quoth Jonas and cast me into the Sea and ye shall have rest for I wot it is for my sake that this evil is come upon you Nevertheless the Men being loth to commit such a deed assayed with rowing to bring the Ship to Land And when they saw the Sea so troublous against them that it would not be they cryed unto the Lord and said O Lord let us not perish for this Man's death neither lay thou innocent bloud unto our charge For thou O Lord hast done even as thy pleasure was And so they took Jonas and cast him into the Sea which incontinent was calm and still And a certain great Fish prepared of the Lord received Jonas and swallowed him up into his body where he lay in prayer three Days and three Nights And being then cast out again on dry Land The Lord commanded him straight-way to go to Niniveh and do as he had charged him And when he came to the City was entered a days Journey in the same he cryed out saying There are yet forty days and then shall Niniveh be overthrown But when his Prophecie came to none effect by reason of the Peoples great repentance he was sore displeased and in his prayer said O Lord was not this my saying I pray thee when I was yet in my Countrey and the cause of my flying to Tarsus that thou wast a merciful God full of compassion long suffering and of great goodness and wouldest repent thee of the evil And now O Lord forasmuch as I am found false in my sayings take I beseech thee my life from me for I had rather dye than live And so Jonas got him out of the City and made him a Booth on the East side thereof And as he sat under the shadow of his Booth to see what should become of the City the Lord caused a wild Vine to spring over his Head to give him more shadow to defend the heat of the Sun from him whereof Jonas was very glad But on the next morrow when he perceived the Vine withered away and that for lack of the shadow thereof he waxed faint thorow the fervent heat of the Sun which burned him so sore he wished in himself that he
Land where she remained these seven years of dearth which being ended she returned home again And when she came to her House another having possession thereof withheld it from her wherefore she went to the King to make her complaint at which time it happened the King to be talking with Gehazi the servant of Eliseus the Prophet The Sbunamite is restored to her house and Land again who was declating unto the King what great and notable deeds his Master Eliseus had done and among all declared of a dead Body which he had raised up from death to life and as he was telling of these things unto the King the Woman came with her Son and required her House and Land again And when Gehazi saw the Woman he said O my Lord and King this same is the Woman that I told your Grace of even now and this is her Son that was raised from death Then the King commanded her House and Land to be restored her again with all the Rent and Profits thereof from the first day she left it till that present time Finally when the time drew nigh 2 King 13.14 c. that Eliseus the Prophet should dye Joash King of Israel came to visit him and as he stood before him and considered what a loss he should have of that good Man which had been so great a defence unto his Realm the tears ran down his cheeks and he said O my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the Horsemen of the same And when the Prophet saw the King he bad him take his Bow and Arrows in his hand and make him ready to shoot The Prophet put his hands upon the King's hand and caused a Window to be opened Eastward which was toward Syria and bad the King shoot and he shot The Arrow of the Lord's deliverance said Eliseus and the Arrow of deliverance from Syria For thou shalt smite Syria in Aphck till thou have made an end of them Now take thine Arrows in thine hand said the Prophet and smite the ground and he smote thrice and ceased Then was the Prophet angry that he had smitten the ground no oftner for if said he thou hadst smitten five or six times thou hadst smitten Syria until thou hadst made an end of them whereas now thou shalt smite them but thrice and so Eliseus dyed and was buried The same year came the Moabites into the Land of Israel and as some of the Israelites were burying of a Man and had spied the Souldiers they cast the Man into the Sepulchre where Eliseus the Prophet was buried and when the dead Man was let down and touched the Body of Eliseus he revived and stood up upon his Feet as lively as ever he was Elizabeth Luk. 1.24 c. was the Wife of Zachary the Priest and came of the Daughters and Posterity of Aaron She was long barren but at last she conceived by Zachary her Husband according as the Angel of God had said unto him And being great with Child Mary the Wife of Joseph which was also conceived by the Holy Ghost came to visit Elizabeth her Cousin who had no sooner heard the salutation of Mary the Mother of God but the Babe sprang in her Belly whereupon she was filled with the Holy Ghost and cried out with a loud voice saying Blessed art thou among Women and blessed is the fruit of thy Womb And whence happeneth this to me that the Mother of my Lord should come to me For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears the Babe sprang in my Belly for joy And blessed is she that believed for those things shall be performed which were told her from the Lord. And when the time was come that Elizabeth should be delivered she brought forth a Son which her Neighbours and Kinsfolks would have named Zachary after his Father but Elizabeth would none of that but said his Name should be John Elizabeth the Oath of God or the fulness of God Elkanah the Son of Jeroham an Ephraite born 1 Sam. cap. 1. had two Wives the one named Hannah and the other Peninnah By his Wife Peninnah he had Children But by Hannah he had none It was his manner every Festival day to go up and pray and to offer unto the Lord of Hosts in Shilo where the Ark of the Lord was at that time And in one solemn Feast day among all other as he offered unto the Lord he gave unto Peninnah his Wife and to her Sons and Daughters portions but unto Hannah whom he loved he gave a worthy Portion And on a time when he saw his Wife Hannah weep in the House of the Lord for sorrow she could have no child he said Hannah why weepest thou and why is thy heart so troubled that thou canst not eat Am not I better to thee than ten Sons as though he should say Is it not enough for thee that I love thee no less than if thou hadst children This he said to comfort her And at the last God gave him a Son by her named Samuel after whose birth he went up to offer unto the Lord and to give him thanks But Hannah would not go with him until she had weaned her Son Elkanah the Zeal of God and the possession of God Epaphroditus Phil. 2.25 was a certain godly Brother whom the Philippians sent to Paul being in Bonds at Rome with their charitable relief Who being there ministred unto him in his need and was so faithful a fellow-souldier with Paul in setting forth the Gospel of Christ and put himself in such hazard that he fell sick and was like to have dyed Now Paul to comfort the Philippians which were full of sorrow and heaviness for Epaphroditus their Apostle because they heard he was sick was the more desirous after his recovery to send him home again in the company of Timotheus with his Epistle that they might be the less sorrowful and rejoyce the more at his coming willing them to receive him with a loving Christian affection in all joyfulness and not to make much on him only but on all such as were like unto him Epaphroditus Pleasant Epaphras Col. 4.12 was a faithful Servant by whose labour and preaching the Colossians heard the Gospel and believed it and being in Prison with Paul at Rome prayed for those Colossians that they might be perfect and filled in all the will of God after true knowledge He bare a fervent mind to them of Laodicea and them of Hierapolis Epaphras Frothing Epenetus Rom. 16.5 was the first that Paul brought to the Christian Religion among them of Achaia unto whom Paul had him saluted Epenetus Worthy of praise Ephraim Gen. 48. 〈◊〉 c. was the youngest Son of Joseph and born in Egypt His Mothers Name was Asuath the Daughter of Potipher Priest of On and his eldest Brother was Manasses which two being brought before their Grandfather Jacob to receive his blessing
or Couch whereon the Queen fate and besought her grace for his life And when the King came in again and found him with the Queen he said Will he force the Queen also before me in the house Which word was no sooner gone out of the Kings mouth but Haman's * It was the manner of the Persians when one was out of the Kings favour to cover his face face was covered and so had out and hanged upon the Gallows which he had prepared in his own house for Mardocheus Read the story of Esther and of Mardocheus Haman Troubling or making burly burly or preparing Hanani was a Prophet sent of God to Asa King of Juda declaring unto him 2 Chron. 16 7 c. how greatly he had displeased the Lord for making a Covenant with Benhadad King of Syria and for doing his message was cast into Prison Read the story of Asa Hanani Gracious or Merciful or Giving Hananiah the Son of Azur was a false Prophet Jer. 28. cap. which prophesied unto the People of Israel that God would break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon from the neck of all Nations within the space of two years and in token thereof took the yoke from the Prophet Jeremies neck and brake it But Jeremy the true Prophet of God reproved the false prophecie of Hananiah saying That in stead of the yoke of wood which he had taken from his neck the Lord would put a yoke of Iron upon the necks of all these Nations that they should serve the King of Babylon and that the false Prophet Hananiah himself should dye the same year which things came truly to pass as Jeremy had spoken Hananiah Grace of the Lord. Hanun was the Son of Nahash King of the Ammonites 2 Sam. 10.1 unto whom David most gently sent to comfort him upon the death of his Father which gentleness was most ungently and unthankfully taken of the Lords and Councellors of the young King Hanun Who perswaded the young King that David had not sent to comfort him upon the death of his Father But had rather sent a sort of spies under the colour of friendship to seek the means how to destroy his Cities and whole Realm Upon the which false and unhonest surmise of his wicked Counsellers Hanun caused the one half of every Mans Beard to be shaven and their Garments to be cut off hard by the Buttocks and so sent them home again to David with much shame and disgrace Ingratitude punished Upon which occasion David became his utter enemy and made such sore War against him that in conclusion Hanun was taken and lost his Regal Crown which David put upon his own Head and wore it before Hanun's face and carried away all his Treasure and Jewels took his People whereof some he sawed in two pieces over other some he caused Carts new and sharp shod with Iron to be driven some he took and shred their flesh as Cooks do Pye-meat and cast other some in hot burning Ovens Thus was Hanun rewarded for his ingratitude Hanun Faithful or true a Schoolmaster and the Mothers Son or Child Hazael 2 King 8 8 c. was a certain great Man which served Benhadad King of Syria which Benhadad fortuning to fall sick sent Hazael to Eliseus the Prophet to know whether he should recover of his disease or no. And when the Prophet saw Hazael he could not look him in the face for shame but cast his Head aside and wept Then Hazael marvelling at the Prophets behaviour towards him demanded of Eliseus wherefore he wept I weep quoth the Prophet to see the great evils that thou shalt do to the Children of Israel Thou shalt break down their strong Cities and set them on fire and slay their young Men with the Sword and dash the brains out of the sucking Children and rent in pieces the Women with Child Then said Hazael dost thou make thy Servant a Dog that I should lack so much humanity and pity to do these things Well said the Prophet thou shalt do as I have said for the Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be King of Syria And so Hazael departed home to the King his Master and told him that he should recover for so the Prophet had said unto him But on the next morrow when Hazael saw his time he took a thick * Under the pretence to refresh or ease him he stifled him with this cloth 2 King 8. 28 2 Chron. 22. cloth and dipt it in Water and spread it so on the King's face that he dyed After whose death Hazael raigned in his stead And being stablished in his Kingdom he made War with Joram King Ahab's Son and was a cruel adversary to Israel all the days of his life Hazael seeing God Helkiah was the High-Priest in the days of Josias 2 King 22.8 who in repairing the Temple of the Lord chanced by the providence of God to find the Book of the Law * The Copy that Moses left them as appeareth 2 Chron. 34.14 the which he sent to the King by Shaphan the Scribe which he read unto him Helkiah the Lords portion or part the Lords lenity or gentleness Heliodorus being in great favour with Seleucus 2 Mac. 3. cap. King of Asia and Steward of his House was sent to Jerusalem to fetch away the treasure out of the Temple which one Symon the Governour thereof had betrayed unto the King And being come to Jerusalem he was lovingly received of Onias the High-Priest into the City But when Heliodorus had uttered the cause of his coming and that his Commission was to bring the Money unto the King there was no small fear thorowout the whole City For then all men from the highest to the lowest were so oppressed with sorrow and heaviness that they knew not what to do but fell to prayer lifting up their eyes to Heaven and calling upon him which had made a Law concerning stuff given to keep that he would safely preserve the same which was there committed in custody And while the Priests and People were thus lamenting and crying upon God and on the other side Heliodorus personally with his Men of War about the Treasury There appeared an Horse with a terrible Man sitting upon him deck'd in Harness of Gold which Horse smote at Heliodorus with his fore-feet to beat him from the place Also there appeared two fair and beautiful young Men in goodly apparel which stood on each side of Heliodorus and scourged him so long that he fell down to the ground as dead and so was carried out of the Temple without speech or hope of life whereby the great power of God was manifest and known Then certain of Heliodorus friends besought Onias to call upon God to give him his life who was even at that time giving up the ghost Then Onias lest the King should suspect the Jews had done him some harm called upon God and obtained his life
look if Toby were dead that he might bury him before day light And when it was told him they were both sound and fast asleep he praised God and caused his Men to fill up the Grave again and made a great Feast to all his Neighbours and Friends And gave to Toby the half of all his Goods and made him a sure writing for the other half that remained to be his also after his death And at the day of their departure delivered the Goods and taking his leave said The holy Angel of the Lord be with you in your Journey and bring you forth safe and sound that ye may find all things in good case with your Elders and that mine eyes may see your Children before I die and so kissed them and let them go Raguel a Shepherd of God Rathumus 3 Esd 2. cap. with other Officers under Artaxerxes King of Persia writeth unto him against the Jews on this wise Sir thy Servants Rathumus the story writer Sabellius the Scribe with other Judges of the Court in Celosyria and Phinehes Be it known and manifested to our Lord the King that the Jews which are come up from you to us into the rebellious and wicked City begin to build it again and the Walls about it and to set up the Temple a-new Now if this City and the Walls thereof be set up again they will not only refuse to give Tributes and Taxes but also rebel utterly against the King And for so much as they take this in hand now about the Temple we thought it not meet to pass over such a thing but to shew it unto our Lord the King And to certifie him thereof To the intent that if it might please the King to cause it to be sought in the Books of old and thou shalt find such warning written and shalt understand that this City hath always been rebellious and disobedient that it hath subdued Kings and Cities and that the Jews which dwelt therein have ever been a rebellious obstinate unfaithful and fighting People for the which cause this City is wasted Wherefore now we certifie our Lord the King that if this City be builded and occupied again and the Walls thereof set up a-new thou canst have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice And when Rathumus and the other had received the King's answer they got them to Jerusalem with an Host of Men and made the Jews cease from their building which was not begun again until the second year of King Darius Rebecca Gen. 24. cap. was the Daughter of Bethuel and Sister to Laban As she went on a time with a Pitcher upon her Head to the common Well without the City to draw Water it chanced Abraham's servant to stand by the Well with ten Camels lying thereabout And when the Maid had filled her Pot and set it upon her Head ready to go away the Man desired to drink a little of her Water who forthwith set down her Pot and gave him drink And when he had drunken she poured out the rest into the Water trough and ran again to the Well and drew Water for his Camels until they had all drunken their fill Then the Man in hope the Lord had made his Journey prosperous took out a Golden ear-ring and two Bracelets of Gold and gave them to the Maid demanding whose Daughter she was I am quoth she the Daughter of Bethuel the Son of Milcah which she bare unto Nahor Then tell me I pray thee is there room in thy Father's House for us to lodge in Yea quoth she there is both Room and Lodging and also Litter and Provender enough for your Beasts Blessed be God quoth he that hath dealt so mercifully with my Master and hath brought me the right way to my Master's Brothers House Then Rebecca hearing him speak of her Fathers Brother ran home and told all things what the Man had said And as Laban beheld his Sister and saw the Ear rings and Bracelets upon her Hands he ran out to the man and with gentle entertainment brought him into the House and saw his Camels drest and provided for and also set Meat before him to eat But the Man would not eat before he had declared the cause wherefore his Master had sent him which being done and his request granted he ate and made merry and tarried all night And on the morrow as the Man made haste to go his way the Damosel was called forth to know whether she would go with the Man or no and being content to go with the Man he would not tarry but took the Maid and had her to Isaac his Master's Son whose Wife she became And being twenty years without a Child at last she conceived with two and when she felt them strive within her womb she made her moan to God saying Seeing it is so why am I thus with child God made her answer saying There are two manner of People in thy womb two Nations shall be divided out of thy bowels And the one Nation shall be mightier than the other And the elder shall be servant to the younger And so when her time was come to be delivered she brought forth two Twins the one named Esau and the other Jacob. Which two became mighty Men but Rebecca loved Jacob better than Esau and to prefer him before the other she said Hear me my Son Jacob I have heard thy Father say to thy Brother go and kill some Venison and make me meat thereof that I may eat and bless thee before the Lord before I dye Now therefore my Son hear my Voice in that which I command thee Get thee to the Flock and bring me thence two good Kids that I may make meat of them for thy Father such as he loveth and thou shalt bring it him to eat that he may bless thee before his death Then said Jacob My Brother Esau is a rough Man and if my Father shall happen to feel me I shall seem unto him as if I went about to deceive him and so shall I bring a curse upon me and not a blessing Well said Rebecca upon me be thy curse my Son only hear my Voice and go and fetch me them And when he had brought the Kids and that she had drest the Meat and made it ready she fetcht out certain Raiment of Esau's and put it upon Jacob and covered his hands and the smooth of his Neck with Goat-skins and put the Meat in his hand to carry to his Father by which policy of Rebecca Jacob had his Brother's blessing And when she heard how his Brother threatned to kill him for stealing away his blessing she told it Jacob saying Thy Brother Esau threatneth to slay thee therefore my Son hear my voice Make thee ready and get thee to Laban my Brother at Haran and tarry with him a while until thy Brother's fierceness be asswaged and that his wrath be turned away from thee and he forget the things which thou
men believing her went after and sought and when they could not find them returned home again Then Ahimaaz and Jonathas were let out of the Well who went to David and did their message â—8 cap. as they were commanded After this when Absalom was slain Ahimaaz desired of Joab the Captain that he might bear news to the King of Absalom's death Nay said Joab thou shalt be no messenger this day because the King's Son is dead but Cushi shall go Then I pray thee quoth Ahimaaz let me go with Cushi And wherefore quoth Joab art thou so desirous to go seeing for thy tidings thou shalt have no reward whatsoever I have quoth he I pray thee let me go Then go said Joab And Ahimaaz ran a nearer way than Cushi and so got before him And as they were coming the Watch-man spied them and said to the King I see two men running hitherward and me-think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the Son of Sadock Oh said the King he is a good man and bringeth good tidings And so Ahimaaz came to the King before Cushi and fell down before him and said Blessed be the Lord thy God which hath shut up the men that list up their hands against my Lord the King Is the young man Absalom safe said the King Ahimaaz answered When Joab sent Cushi and me thy servant I saw much a-do but I wot not what it was Well said the King stand still Then Cushi came and said Good tidings my Lord the King for the Lord hath delivered thee this day out of the hands of all that rose against thee Is the young man Absalom safe quoth the King The Enemies of my Lord the King said he and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt be as that young man is And so the King departed and mourned for his Son Ahimaaz Erother of Counsel Ahimelech the Son of Ahitob the Son of Phinehes 1 Sam. 21. the Son of Eli was Priest of the City of Nob in whose time it chanced David being persecuted of King Saul to flye unto him for succour at whose coming with so few waiting on him Ahimelech was fore astonied and asked him wherefore he came so alone Then David bearing him in hand that the King had sent him of a secret business which might not be known desired Ahimelech to give him of such things as he had in store that he and his men might be refreshed and go about the King's affairs Then Ahimelech believing that all had been well between the King and David gave him of the * The Hebrews had three kinds of Bread as Lyra writeth The first Shew-bread which was set before the Lord. upon the propitiatory seat and thereof might no man eat but the Priests only The second bread offered upon the Altar of Holocaust which was for the Levites to eat The third was common bread and of that might all men eat hallowed bread because he saw his necessity great and had no common Bread under his hand Then David desired Ahimelech to lend him either Spear or Sword for I brought quoth he neither weapon not harness the King's business required such hast and by and by he fetcht out the Sword of Goliah and gave it to him Now * 22. cap. for this great kindness which Ahimelech had shewed to David Doeg a Servant of King Sauls accused him to his Lord of Treason And being brought before the King with all the Priests of the Lord it was objected against him how he had conspired with David the King's enemy and asked counsel of God for him and aided him both with victual and weapon To the which Ahimelech answered and said Oh King who is so faithful among all thy servants as David is or had in more honour in all thy house Is he not the King's Son-in-law and doth whatsoever thou commandest him have I not at other times as well as now asked counsel of God for him Let not my Lord the King impute any such wickedness to me or to my Fathers house for truly thy servant knew nothing of all this that thou layest to my charge either less or more Well quoth the King thou shalt surely dye And so was this innocent Man put to death with lxxxiv Priests more and the City of Nob destroyed Ahimelech a Kings Brother Ahijah 2 King 11. was a Prophet born in Shilo and chancing to meet with Jeroboam the Son of Nebat without the City of Jerusalem in the plain Fields having a new Cloak upon his back he caught the Cloak from him and rent it in twelve pieces delivering ten pieces thereof to Jeroboam saying Thus will the Lord rent the Kingdom out of the hands of Solomon because he hath forsaken the Lord and served strange Gods and give ten Tribes unto thee Therefore take heed when thou art King that thou walk in the ways of the Lord thy God for so long as thou keepest his statutes and holy commandments so long will the Lord prosper thee in the Kingdom Read more of this Prophet in the story of Abia the Son of Jeroboam Ahijah Brother of the Lord. The Father of King Baasha was called Ahijah 1 King 15. of the house of Isachar Aholah and Aholibah were two Sisters Ezech. 23. under whose names is set forth the fornication that is to say the Idolatry of Samaria and Jerusalem * The Bible note Aholah signifieth a mansion or dwelling in it self meaning Samaria which was the royal City of Israel and Aholibah signifieth my Mansion in her whereby is meant Jerusalem where Gods Temple was Aholibama was the Daughter of Ana Gen. 36. and Wife to Esau who brought him forth Children which became great Men in the World Aioth the Son of Gera Judg. 3. was the second Judge of the Hebrews a Man of great strength and valiant of courage and had equal strength and aptness in both his hands He slew Eglon King of the Moabites on this wise When Eglon had long warred on the Jews and taken from them divers Cities and kept them in much misery this Aioth came to him to Jericho bringing unto him certain Presents which liked him well and desired to speak with him privily which was granted and all others being commanded to withdraw Aioth stroke Eglon to the heart twice The last time with such puissance that the Knife with the hilt remained in the wound and so leaving him dead departed without suspicion and came unto his People declaring what he had done who being glad armed them and fell upon the Moabites and slew of them ten thousand and drave all the residue out of their Country And so the Jews being delivered by the wisdome and vertue of Aioth after made him their Judge and Prince Who governed them lxxx years in peace and died a very old man in much honour Aioth Praising or confessing Alexander 1 Mac. 1. This King at 2 Sapper in Babylon was poysoned
of Shinar into a far Country where he inhabited which Countrey took its name of him and was called Assyria and there he builded a City which afterwards was called Niniveh Assur Blessed or Travelling Asubah 1. King 22.42 was Mother to Jehosaphat King of Juda and daughter to Shilhi 2 Chron. 20. Asubah Forsaken Asubah 1 Chron. 2.18 Wife to Caleb the Son of Hesron bare unto him three Sons Jesher Shobab and Ardon Athalia 2 King 11. 2 Chron. 22. Athalia in the 2 King ca. 8. is called both the daughter of Achab and the daughter of Amri which saith Lyra is meant thus After the death of Amri her natural Father she was brought up with Achab her Brother and so in process called his daughter or else by immitating his manners in all kind of Idolatry was the daughter of Amri and wife to Joram King of Juda. When Joram died her Son Ahaziah succeeded whom she enticed to all wickedness and after his death she ruled and killed all the rest of the seed of Joram only Joash excepted which was stollen away and hid from her And when she had ruled the Land most cruelly vi years In the vii year Joash was brought forth by Jehojada the Priest and proclaimed King She hearing that ran into the Temple of the Lord with her cloaths rent crying out treason treason But at the commandment of Jehojada the Captains and Souldiers took her out of the Temple and slew her Athalia Time for the Lord. Azariah the Son * 2 King 15.1 c. of Amaziah King of Juda began his reign in the xxvii year of Jeroboam King of Israel and was 16. years old when he was made King And so long as he gave ear to Zacharias the Prophet and walked uprightly so long did the Lord prosper him with great Victories both of the Philistines and Arabians and made the Ammonites also tributaries unto him He ‖ Azariah is in the same Chapter called also Vzziah repaired Jerusalem He loved husbandry well and had great plenty of Cattel At length he became so mighty that in his strength his heart arose to his destruction For in his pride he went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incense which although he seemed to do of a zeal and good intent yet forasmuch as he usurped the Priests Office he was justly resisted of Azariah the Priest and plagued of God who smote him with such a Leprosie that he went out of the Temple a Leper and so remained all the days of his life He raigned LII years and was buried in a part of the same Field where his Predecessors lay but not in the same Sepulchres because he was a Leper Azaria Help of the Lord. B. BAAL the Son of Reaia was a Prince of the Reubenites 1 Chron. 5.5 and * In the days of Pekab King of Israel carried away with other his Kinred into the Land of Assyria by Tiglath Pileser King of the Assyrians Baal an Idol or a Ruler 2 Kings 15. Baanah with his Brother Rechab 2 Sam. 4. cap. the Sons of Rimmon were two Captains in the Host of Ishbosheth King of Israel who when Abner their chief Captain was dead went into the House of Ishbosheth seeming saith Lyra they had gone to fetch Wheat for the King saith he had great store of Wheat which he sold to Merchants a-far off wherefore these two disguised themselves like Merchants that came to buy and so entring into the House they found where their Lord and Master lay upon his Bed in the heat of the day fast a-sleep * There is nothing so vile and dangerous which the wicked will not enterprise in hope of lucre and favour and slew him and took his head and carried it to David thinking for the same to have had a great reward But for their most shameful and trayterous act they were both put to death and their Quarters hanged over the Pool in Hebron Baanah In affliction Baasha the Son of Ahijah 1 King 15.27 c. 16.1 c. conspired against Nadab King of Israel and reigned in his stead In the third year of Asa King of Judah began Baasha to reign over Israel and walked most wickedly in all the ways of Jeroboam 1 King 10.14 whose House and Posterity notwithstanding * God stirred up one Tyrant to punish the wickedness of another he utterly destroyed and left not one alive for so it was prophesied that God would stir him up one which was this Baasha for that purpose And now for as much as Baasha whom God had exalted even out of the dust would still maintain Jeroboam's Idolatry and cause his People to sin he sent him word by the Prophet Jehu that as he had rooted out the whole Posterity of Jeroboam so should his be served likewise Great War was between Baasha and Asa King of Juda. 2 Chron. 16. And for to stop the passage of Juda that none should pass out nor in safely Baasha went to build a strong hold called Rama which he was fain at length to leave unfinished and to lose all his cost and pains to go against Benhadad which had broken covenant with him He reigned xxiv years and was buried in Thirza which was a place where the King remained leaving Ela his Son to succeed him in whose days the foresaid Prophecy of the rooting out his Posterity took place Baasha in folding together or pressing together or to search out and take away Bachides 1 Mac. 7.9 cap. was a Man of great power in the Dominion of Demetrius the Son of Seleucus And being the Kings faithful friend he sent him with a great Host against Judas Machabeus to revenge him of the injury he had done unto his People and in the end slew him After whose death many of the wicked Jews turned to Bachides whereof he made some Lords and Rulers of the Land which of envy outed the friends of Judas and brought them into great vexation and trouble When Bachides had given this overthrow to Judas he sought how he might kill Jonathas also whom the Jews had appointed in his Brothers room And meeting with Jonathas about the border of Jordan there was a great Battel fought between them in the which Bachides lost a thousand of his men After which conflict Bachides by occasion of Alcimus the wicked Priests death departed for that time so that Jonathas lay at rest two years after till a sort of ungodly men conspired against him how they might bring Bachides upon him unawares which matter being between them and him concluded Bachides returned with a great power but ere he came Jonathas had gotten knowledge of the Treason and put certain of the chiefest Conspirators to death Then when Bachides came and had besieged the City of Bethbessen long and saw he was not able to resist the power of Jonathas he was marvellously displeased with those wicked counsellers which had caused him to travail
his servants went and said O King we have heard say that the Kings of Israel be merciful Kings let us therefore put Sackcloth about our Loins and Ropes about our Necks and go and humble our selves before Achab and see if he will save thy life Benhadad did so and was pardoned and never troubled Israel more in Achab's days But afterward in another King's days he came again and besieged Samaria so long till an Asses head was sold for fourscore silver pence and the fourth part of a Cab of Doves dung for five sicles and till Women were constrained to eat their own Children Finally Benhadad fell sick and sent his servant Hasael to Elizeus the Prophet which was come to Damascus to know whether he should recover his Disease or no and having his answer of the Prophet he returned and slew his Master Benhadad as in the story of Hazael ye shall see how Benhadad the Son of a Sound or of Noise and Crying Benjamin was the youngest Son of Jacob Gen. 35.18 c. Of the Sons of Benjamin Read Gen. 46.21 his Mother was Rachel who dyed in travail and therefore called his name Benoni the Son of sorrow But Jacob his Father called him Benjamin Son of the right hand 1 Chron. 7 8. His Brothers name of Father and Mother was Joseph who loved Benjamin above all the rest of his other Brethren as in his story appeareth Benjamin Son of the right hand Berjesus Act. 13.8 which by interpretation is as much to say as the Son of Jesus was a Jew born and a great Sorcerer which Name he had taken upon him to deceive the People whereas his right name was Elymas which word in the Syrians Language betokeneth an Enchanter and a false Prophet also This false Sorcerer was got into the City of Paphos and there being crept into favour with Sergius Paulus Ruler of the Countrey withstood the Doctrine of Barnabas and Paul seeking by all means to turn the Rulers heart from the Faith in Christ But Paul being full of the Holy Ghost perceiving the devilish and subtile craft of this Sorcerer looked stedfastly upon him and said O full of all subtilty and mischief the child of the Devil and enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the streight ways of the Lord Now therefore behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind and not able to see the Sun for a season And when Paul had pronounced these words the Enchanter was stricken with blindness so that he as one amazed wandred up and down seeking for some Man to lead him by the hand Berjesus a Sorcerer or Conjurer Berzillai was a Gileadite born 2 Sam. 17.27 who considered the necessity of David so much being fled out of his own Realm for fear of his own Son Absalom into the Wilderness of Mahanaim that he brought all things necessary for Beds Meat Drink and Cloth out of Roglim to refresh him and his Men and provided so for him all the while he lay there that he lacked nothing and at his return again he helped also to convey both the King and all his Men over Jordan Then David seeing the great kindness of Berzillai was much desirous to have him home with him to Jerusalem promising that all the days of his life he should eat and drink with him at his own Board and fare no worse than he fared To whom Berzillai being a very old Man said O my Lord I am a Man of four-score years of age and cannot discern between good and evil neither yet tast any thing that I do eat or drink wherefore if I should then go with my Lord the King I should be but a burthen unto him Therefore I beseech thee let thy servant turn back again that I may dye in mine own Country and be buried in the Grave of my Father But here is thy servant Chimeam my Son let him go with my Lord and do unto him whatsoever it shall please thee And so David and Berzillai kissed each other and departed but Chimeam went with David who did not only recompence his Fathers kindness in him so long as he lived but at the day of his death declared to Solomon his Son the great fidelity he had found with Berzillai in the time of his exile charging him therefore to shew no less favour to the Sons of Berzillai for their Fathers sake than ever he himself had done Berzillai Made of Iron or as hard as Iron Bethsheba was the Daughter of Eliam 2. Sam. 11.3 and Wife to Urias which was with Joab in the King's Wars On a time as Bethsheba was washing her self in her privy Garden alone it chanced King David to look out at a Window in his Palace and saw her whose beauty so ravished the King that forthwith he sent for the Woman and committed adultery with her and so sent her home again Then shortly after she perceiving her self with child sent the King word thereof who then partly to hide his own fault and partly to save the Woman from danger of the Law sent for Urias to come home But when David saw that Urias would not company with his Wife Bethsheba he returned him back again to Joab with a Letter which caused Urias quickly to be dispatched out of his life after whose death Bethsheba became David's Wife and brought forth the child conceived in adultery which lived not long but dyed After that 12.24 she conceived again and brought forth Solomon Lastly when David was fallen into extreme age and that she saw Adonijah the Son of Agith begin to aspire to the Kingdom of his Father yet living she went by the counsel of Nathan the Prophet who had taught her her Lesson unto David her husband And making her humble obeysance unto the King as he sate in his Chamber and Abishag the Shunamite ministring unto him he said unto her what is the matter She answered my Lord thou swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine Handmaid saying assuredly Solomon thy Son shall reign after me and he shall sit upon my Seat And behold now is Adonijah King and thou my Lord the King knowest it not He hath offered Oxen fat Cattel and many Sheep and hath called all the Kings Sons and Abiathar the Priest and Joab the Captain of the Host But Solomon thy servant hath he not bidden And now my Lord O King the eyes of all Israel wait on thee that thou shouldest tell them who ought to sit on the Seat of my Lord the King after him for else when my Lord the King shall sleep with his Fathers I and my Son Solomon shall be sinners The Queen had no sooner done speaking but the Prophet Nathan came and confirmed her words Whereupon the King assured Bethsheba that Solomon her Son should be that day proclaimed to reign in his stead The Queen then humbling her self with thanks desired of God that her Lord King David might live
2 Mac. 10. chap. 12. a certain Captain named Dositheus had almost taken him if rescue had not been thorow the which he escaped and fled into Moresa and was never seen more Read the story of Dositheus Gorgias Terrible H. HADAD 1 King 1 1â— 14 c. being but a little Boy born in the Land of Edom and sprung of the King of Edoms seed what time as David went about to destroy all the Men Children in Edom fled with certain Edomites of his Fathers servants into the Land of Aegypt Where in process he gat such favour with Pharaoh King of the Land that he gave him great possessions and married him to the Queens Sister who bare unto him a Son called Genubath which Child was brought up in King Pharaoh's House among his Children But when tidings was brought to Hadad of the death of David and Joab he went to the King and besought him to let him depart into his own Countrey again Why said the King what hast thou lacked here with me that thou wouldest now so fain return home again Nothing said Hadad but that I have a mind to see my Countrey and therefore I pray thee let me go And so he departed out of Egypt from Pharaoh for * The Lord had reserved this Idolater to punish and scourge his People for their sins the Lord had stirred him up to be an adversary to Solomon who had turned his heart from the Lord his God and served strange gods And so Hadad reigned over Syria and abhorred Israel sore and vexed them so long as Solomon reigned Hadad Joy Hadarezer 1 Sam 8.3 c. 10.16 the Son of Reob King of Zoba had long War with Thoi King of Hamoth And at the last as he went to recover the Borders by the River Pherar David met with him and took 1700 Horsmen of his Host and twenty thousand Footmen and cut off the hoofs of all his Chariot-Horses saving an hundred which he reserved to himself And took away his shields of Gold and brought them to Jerusalem And took out of his Cities exceeding much Brass whereof Solomon afterward made all the Brasen Vessels in the Temple of the Lord. Again when this Hadarezer with all the Kings that served him went to rescue Hanon King of the Ammonites against David he lost 700. Chariots and 4000. Footmen and his Captain-General slain Then the Kings which served Hadarezer being so discomfited made peace with David and served him and never would help the Ammonitâ—s more Hadarezer Beautiful help Ham Gen. 9.18 was the second Son of Noe. Who on a time seeing his Father lye unseemly discovered in his Tent laughed him to scorn And in derision and contempt of his Father brought Sem and Japhet his two Brethren to see the uncomely sight But they moved with shamefastness and honesty covered their Fathers secrets and would not look upon them And when Noe was awaked out of sleep and perceived what Ham had done He would not curse him whom the Lord had blest but said to * Of this Canaan came the Canaanites that wicked Nation who were also cursed of God Canaan his Son which had also as some suppose derided his Grandfather Noe Cursed be Canaan a servant of servants shall he be unto his Brethren Ham Indignation or Heat Haman was the Son of Amada Esther 3. cap. and served Ahasuerus King of Persia who so highly promoted him that every Man bowed the Knee to Haman and did as much honour unto him in a manner as they did to the King himself And being thus exalted above all other Princes about the King and honoured of all men there was notwithstanding a certain Jew born named Mardocheus which would neither bow nor bend unto him as others did which being marked of Haman he took so great indignation against Mardocheus that he sought his utter destruction and purchased a licence of the King for ten thousand talents of Silver to have him and all the Jews destroyed in one day But while the Writings were a making and Posts sent into all Quarters for the Jews dispatch Mardocheus gat knowledge of all Haman's wicked intents and purposes and found the means to have the same uttered unto Queen Esther Who then to save Mardocheus and all the Jews did hazard her self to go to the King and found the means to bring him and Haman to a Banquet which she had prepared Now was Haman so proud and joyful of the Queens favour that he went home to his House and called all his friends together making great boast to them of his glory riches and authority But chiefly what special favour Queen Esther bare unto him above all Men insomuch she had invited no Man to her Banquet with the King save only him And to morrow quoth he I must be there again But yet all this doth not satisfie me so long as I see Mardocheus the Jew sitting at the King's Gate Then said Zares his Wife Let there be a pair of Gallows made of 50. Cubits high and speak to morrow unto the King that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon And so Haman following his Wives counsel caused the Gallows to be prepared and on the morrow gat him to the Court and standing there waited when the King would call for him that he might speak to dispatch Mardocheus The King who the night before had looked the Chronicles and found out the fidelity of Mardocheus sent for Haman and said What shall be done to the Man whom the King would honour Then Haman thinking the King had gone about to honour none but him said Let the Man whom the King intendeth to bring to honour be arrayed in such Royal Apparel as the King useth to wear and set upon the King's Horse with the Crown Imperial upon his Head and command one of the King's Princes to carry him about the streets of the City with a proclamation before him saying Thus shall it be done to the Man whom the King pleaseth to bring to honour Then said the King take the Rayment and the Horse and go thou to Mardbeheus the Jew which sitteth at my Gate and fail not to do unto him all that thou hast faid Then went Haman about the King's commandment and performed all things according to his mind which being done he gat him home with an heavy heart to his Wife and friends declaring unto them what things had happened unto him Then said they If Mardochens be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before him And while they were thus talking a Messenger came for Haman to go with the King to the Banquet at the end of which Banquet Esther opened all the wickedness of Haman before the King who took the matter so grievously that he rose from the Board and went into the Garden in a great anger Then Haman perceiving a mischief towards him went and fell down at the Beds-feet
which unlawful marriage John Baptist spake so much to Herod's reproof that she fearing lest John would make Herod break off the incestuous marriage counselled her Daughter which danced before him to ask the Head of John Baptist And so by the wicked device of this unchast Woman John lost his Head Herodias signifieth that that the word Herod before doth Hesron Gen. 46.9 Num. 26.6 was the Son of Reuben and of him came the Kindred of the Hesronites Hesron the Arrow of rejoycing Hesron 1 Chron. 2.9 the Father of Caleb being come to the age of threescore years took to Wife the Daughter of Machir who bare unto him a Son called Segub Hezekiah 2 King 18. and 19. cap. the Son of Ahaz was xxv years of age when he began his reign over Juda. He was the godliest Prince that ever reigned before or after among the Kings of Juda. He cleansed his Country from all Idolatry and brake down the brasen Serpent which Moses had set up as soon as he saw it abused He brought in again the true honouring of God and renewed the Passeover He had such a sure trust and confidence in God that at his Prayer the Angel of the Lord slew in one Night of the Assyrians which were come to destroy Jerusalem an hundred fourscore and five thousand and smote the rest into such a fear 20. cap. that they ran away After this he fell sick and was admonished by the Prophet Esay to set his house in order for he should surely dye Then he turned his face to the wall and made his petition to God saying Oh Lord remember I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart have done that which is good in thy sight and speaking these words he * He wept not so much for his own death as for fear that Idolatry should be restored which he had destroyed wept very sore The Lord then moved with his tears returned the Prophet again to comfort him with these news that he should receive his health and be able the third day to go up to the House of the Lord and that he had added to his days xv years more and to assure him of this his promise he would cause the Sun to return his course ten degrees backward At this time Berodach sirnamed Baladad King of Babylon sent to Hezekiah Ambassadours to signifie unto him how glad and joyful he was of his recovery which kindness was so greatly esteemed of Hezekiah that he thought he could not do them too much pleasure but made them privy to all his treasure silver and gold and whatsoever he had in his House or in any other part of his Realm he * Because he was moved with ambition and vain glory and seemed also to rejoyce in the friendship of him that was God's enemy the Lord was displeased shewed it freely unto them Wherefore the Lord not content there with commanded Esay the Prophet to go and tell Hezekiah That forasmuch as he had made the messengers of Babylon privy to all the commodities of his Land The days should come that all things which he had in his House and whatsoever his Fathers had layed up in store before him should be carried to Babylon Then Hezekiah knowing the Prophet to be the true messenger of God humbled himself and said Thy word O Lord is welcome unto me but yet I shall desire thee not to send those evils in my days but rather peace and truth He raigned xxix years and died Hezekiah the strength of the Lord or the Lords holding Hymeneus 1 Tim. 1.20 after he had tasted of the word of God and been a Professor of the same he fell away and became an utter enemy and a spiteful railer against the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ denying the chiefest point and foundation of the Gospel which is 2 Tim. 2.17 that the Resurrection is past wherewith he destroyed the Faith of many Persons For the which errour and other his railing and jestings against the truth of GOD's Word Paul excommunicated him that he thorow correction might be ashamed of his fault and turn again to Christ Hymeneus a Marriage-song or Bride-song Hiram 2 Sam. 5.11 King of Tyre favoured David so much that he hearing that David went about to build him an House sent him both Timber and Workmen to finish the same Also when Solomon after the death of David his Father sent to this King for Wood and Timber to build the Lord's Temple 1 King 5 cap. cap. 9.11 c. he praised God that had sent David so wise a Son to sit in his Seat and granted him Timber of Cedar Firr and other precious Wood so much as he would desire Wherefore Solemon to gratifie Hiram again sent him twenty thousand Quarters of Wheat and twenty Butts of Oyl and gave him also twenty goodly Cities which Cities Hiram called the Land of Cabul forasmuch as when he saw them they pleased him not After this Hiram gave to Solomon six-score Talents of Gold and sent him Ships and Men who had knowledge of the Sea to go with his Navy into the Countrey of Ophir which Ships brought unto Solomon * In the 2 Chron. 8.18 is mention made of 30. Talents more which seem to have been employed for their charges four hundred and twenty Talents of Gold Hiram The height of Life Hiram 1 King 7.13 This Man was a certain Widow's Son dwelling in the Countrey of Tyre and of the Tribe of Nepthali and did so excel in all manner of Workmanship that Hiram King of Tyre sent him to Solomon to work and finish all things that pertained to the Temple of the Lord which Solomon went about to edifie Hobab Num. 10 10. was the Son of Raguel whose * Some think that Raguel Jethro Hobab and Keni were all one Kimehi saith that Raguel was Jethro 's Father So Hobab was Moses Father in-law Company Moses his Father-in-law would so fain have had into the Land of Canaan that he intreated him on this wise saying We are now going to the place which the Lord said that he would give us therefore I pray thee go with us and we will do thee good for the Lord hath promised good unto Israel Then Hobab made answer saying I will not go but I will depart to mine own Countrey and Kindred Nay quoth Moses I pray thee forsake us not but go with us and be our guide for thou knowest our camping places in the Wilderness and whatsoever goodness the Lord shall shew unto us the same will we shew unto thee But all this could not move Hobab but that he would depart And so returned home into his own Countrey again Hobab Beloved Holofernes Jaâ—… 2. cap. was the Chief and most terrible Captain of all Nabuchodonosor's Host sent of him to subdue all the World Jaâ—â— 14 cap. And coming to the City of Bethulia where all
in a Book which is called Ecclesiasticus or the wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach Iesus otherwise called Justus was a Jew born Col. 4.11 and one of Paul's Workfellows in preaching and setting forth the Kingdom of God whom he commended to the Colossians desiring them that if he or any such did come unto them they should receive and entreat them with all gentleness Iethro the Priest of Midian had seven Daughters Exod. 4.18.18 cap. of the which one was called Zipporah whom he married to Moses And when that Jethro had heard of all the mighty deeds which God had done for Moses and how he had delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt from the Bondage of Pharaoh and brought them thorow the red Sea he met Moses in the Wilderness and brought to him his Wife and two Children which he had sent back before at whose coming Moses was exceeding glad Then as Jethro abode with Moses and saw the great pains he took in judging the People from Morning to Night he said unto him What is this that thou dost unto the People Why sittest thou thy self alone and all the People stand about thee from morning unto even When the People quoth Moses have any matter they come unto me and I judge between one and another and declare unto them the Statutes and Laws of God Thou dost not well quoth Jethro for thou both weariest thy self The counsel of Jethro Moses Father-in-law and the People that is with thee The thing is of more weight than thou art able to perform alone Therefore hear my counsel and God shall prosper thee Be thou for the People to God-ward and report the causes to him Admonish them of the ordinances and laws and shew them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must do Moreover seek out among the People men of courage and such as fear God true dealing men hating covetousness and appoint them to be Rulers over thousands over hundreds over fifties and over tens And let them judge the people at all seasons and every great matter let them bring it to thee but all small causes let them judge themselves and so shall it be easier for thee when they shall bear the burthen with thee If thou shalt do this thing and God so command thee thou shalt be able to endure and all the People shall go quietly to their place Jethro Excellent or remaining or searching forth or a little cord Ioab â— Sam. 2. cap. was the Son of Zerviah David's Sister and the chief Captain of all David's Host In the first Battel he made against Abner King Saul's Captain he was the Victor and put Abner to flight and of malice afterward by treason slew him for the which deed David was sore offended 3.27 23 c. that he besought God to avenge it on Joab and that his House and Posterity might always be plagued with the bloody-flux leprosie feebleness of Body the Sword or Famine for the death of Abner Joab also was the death of Absalom â— Sam. 38.15 and slew him as he hanged by the hair of his head upon the bough of a tree And when it was told him of the great lamentation the King made for Absalom his Son he went unto him and said Thou hast this day shamed the faces of all thy servants 19.5 c. which this day have saved thy life and the lives of all thy Sons and Daughters and the lives of thy Wives and Concubines in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends For thou hast declared this day that thou regardest neither thy Princes nor servants Therefore I do perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had been slain this day that then it had pleased thee well Now therefore up and come out and speak comfortably unto thy servants for I swear by the Lord except thou come out there will not tarry one Man with thee this Night and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that fell on thee from thy youth hitherto 20. cap. Also in persecuting of Sheba which had made a new insurrection against David he met Amasa his Aunts Son by the way and * Lyra supposeth that Joab slew Amasa of envy because David had made an oath in the Chapter before that Amasa should be his Captain in Joab's stead slew him and leaving him dead on the ground he followed Sheba and besieged him in a City called Abel where the Governess of the City being a wise Woman cried unto Joab demanding why he went about to destroy that City which was a Mother of Israel and to devour the Inheritance of the Lord before he had offered peace To whom he answered saying That he went about no such matter but I come quoth he for Sheba the Son of Bichri deliver me him and I will be gone and as soon as the head of Sheba was thrown over the Wall to Joab he departed Finally after the death of David who had ordained Solomon to Reign in his stead Joab took part with ddonijah Solomon's Brother which usurped the Kingdom and went about with all his power to stablish him in David's seat But when he heard Solomon proclaimed by David's authority he fled to the Tabernacle of the Lord out of the which he would not depart but catching hold on the * The holiness of the place ought not to save the wilful murtherer Exod. 21.14 corners of the Altar said he would even in that place dye Then Solomon hearing thereof commanded Benaiah to go and kill him even there for the bloud of Abner and Amasa which he had shed causlesly And so was Joab slain in the Tabernacle and carried out and buried in his own House in the Wilderness Joab willing or voluntary Joanna Luk. 8.3.24.10 the Wife of Chuza Herod's Steward was a godly Woman and ministred unto Christ of her substance while he lived And after he had suffered his Passion she went with other Women to seek him at his Sepulchre And being told by the Angels that he was not there returned to the Apostles to bring them tidings of his Resurrection which seemed to them but feigned things and therefore believed them not Joanna the grace of the Lord or the Lord's gift or the Lord's mercy Joash 2 King 11. 12. cap. the youngest Son of Ahaziah King of Juda was stollen away from the hands of Athaliah his Grandmother by his Sister Jehosheba Wife to Jehojadah the High-Priest and hid in the Lords house and brought up in the Chamber where the Priests and Levites lay the space of six years and in the seventh year Jehojadah brought him forth and proclaimed him King who in all things sought the Lord so long as Jehojadah lived He repaired the Temple He slew Mattan the Priest of Baal and brake down his Altars with many other good things 2 Chron. 24. But after the death of Jehojadah he fell so far
down the Hill altars and burnt the Bones of the Priests of Baal and left no wicked thing undestroyed nor Monument standing in the Cities of Manasses and Ephraim or other places of his Realm where any abomination had been committed He kept a Passeover in the eighteenth year of his raign the like never seen and repaired the Temple Finally he made War upon the King of Egypt in the which he was wounded with a Dart at a place called Magiddo whereof he dyed Whose death was much lamented for like unto him was never none before nor after Jehoahaz his Son succeeded him Josias the Lord's Fire or the Lord burning Iotham 2 King 15.32 2 Chron. 27. the Son of Azariah or Uzziah at the age of xxv years began his Reign over Juda in the second year of Pekah King of Israel and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord in all points as did his Father Azariah save that * He went not into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incense as his Father did contrary to the word of God which is spoken to the commendation of Jothan he came not into the Temple of the Lord neither caused the Hill-Altars to be taken away by which occasion the People ceased not to do wickedly He builded the sumptuous Gate of the Temple and many Cities Castles and Towers in the Mountains of Juda and other places He subdued the Ammonites who payed him three years together an hundred talents of silver ten thousand quarters of Wheat and so much of Barley He reigned xvi years and was buried in the City of David leaving Ahaz his Son to enjoy his place Jotham Perfect Ioshua Num. 27.18 c. the Son of Nun was first called Osea which name Moses changed and called him Joshua who was Moses Minister and ordained of God to rule and govern the People after him Exod. 17.9 c. He discomfited King Amalek while Moses held up his hands and prayed He was one of those Searchers which were sent by Moses to search the Land of Canaan Num. 13. cap. 14.6 c. and to bring the People word again what manner of Countrey it was at whose return the People were ready to stone both him and Caleb for well reporting of that Land wherefore the Lord being angry with the People sware that none of them all should see that good Land but Joshua and Caleb After the death of Moses Joshua 1. cap. the Lord encouraged Joshua to invade the Land of promise and gave him commandment to exercise himself continually in reading the Book of the Law called Deuteronomy Which he duly observed and read it to the People that they thereby might the better learn to love and fear God and to obey him the Lord's Minister He destroyed the City of Jericho only reserving Rahab and her Houshold He burnt the City of Lodi and hanged the five Kings of the Ammorites on five Trees at whose discomfiting it rained stones from Heaven by the which more were slain than with the Sword and the Sun also stood still in his place and prolonged the day till Joshua had utterly discomfited his enemies He slew in all first and last xxxi Kings and brought the Children of Israel into the Land of promise and divided the Land to the Tribes of Israel He dyed at the age of an hundred and ten years in whose stead Juda was made Governour of the Lord's Army Joshua the Lord Saviour Isaac was the Son of Abraham by his Wife Sarah and a figure of Christ Gen. 21.2 3.22 cap. for when his Father went to * 26. cap. offer him up in sacrifice and coming to the Altar and place where he should dye he willingly offered himself to death that his Father might in him fulfil the Lord's will But being preserved of God till he came to the age of forty years he then took to Wise ‖ 25.20 Rebekah the Daughter of Bethuel his Fathers Brother who being long barren at the last by the pleasure of God brought forth Esau and Jacob at one birth After this * Some say that Isaac was sacrificed of his Father in the xiii year of his age but Josephus affirmeth it to be done in the xxv year there fell such a Dearth and Famine in his Country that he departed into the Land of the Philistines where Abimelech was King And as he remained in Gerar the Lord appeared to Isaac bidding him to remain still in that place and not to remove into Egypt and he would multiply his Seed as the Stars of Heaven and bring it so to pass that all Nations of the Earth should be blessed therein And so Isaac removed not But for so much as he doubted of the fear of God to be in that place he durst not avouch Rebekah to be his Wife but said she was his Sister Read the story of Abimelech King of the Philistines for the plainer declaration of this matter And now while Isaac remained in the Country of Gerar God so encreased him with abundance of Cattel and Riches that the Philistines began to envy and hate him and stopped all the Wells which his Father Abraham had made that he should have no commodity thereby But notwithstanding he digged up the Wells again and called them by the same names that his Father had given them before and became so mighty that Abimelech made a League with Isaac who feasted the King and departed friends 27.1 c. Finally with Age he became blind and so was deceived in giving his blessing to Jacob which he thought to have first bestowed on Esau but both by the will of God being blessed of their Father Isaac he fell sick and dyed at the age of an hundred and lxxx years and was buried in Hebron Isaac Laughter Ishbosheth 2 Sam. 2.10.4 cap. the Son of King Saul at the Age of forty Years began his Reign over Israel Whose only stay and upholder of his Kingdom was Abner after whose death two of his own Captains slew Ishbosheth by treason in his own house after he had reigned two years Read the story of Baanah Ishbosheth a Man of shame Ishmael Gen. 16.12 was the Son of Abraham and Agar and had his name given him of the Angel before he was born Of Ishmael came the Nation of the Ishmaclites which after were called Saracens For when his Mother Agar fled from Sarah her Mistress an Angel found her saying Return to thy Mistress again for thou art with Child and shalt bear a Son and because the Lord hath heard thy tribulation thou shalt call his name Ishmael He will be a wild Man and his hand will be against every Man and every Man's hand against his And so she returned and brought forth Ishmael at whose birth Abraham his Father was lxxxvi 17.23 years old And at the Age of xiii years was Ishmael circumcised and the year following both he and his Mother cast out of his
sirnamed Thaddeus John 14.12 When Christ said unto his Disciples that he would shew himself unto them and not unto the World Judas asked him the cause why he would shew himself unto them Jude 1. cap. and not unto the World He made an Epistle in the which he admonsheth all Churches generally to take heed of Deceivers The last part of this history I find in the arguâ—ent before the Episde of Jâ—de Geneva which went about to draw the hearts of the simple People from the truth of God whom he setteth forth in their lively colours shewing by divers examples of the Scriptures that horrible vengeance is prepared for them Finally he comforteth the faithful and exhorteth them to continue in the Doctrine of the Apostles of Jesus Christ Iudas Iscariot Matth. 10.4 the Son of Simon of Canaan one of the Apostles of whom it was afore-hand written to be the Son of perdition had a great conscience in the precious Ointment that Mary poured upon Christ's Head John 12.4 that it was not sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor but to sell his Master for thirty pence Matth. 26.14 c. and to be guide to them that took him and to betray him with a kiss he had no conscience at all until he saw his Master condemned and then he repented and had the thirty pence again unto the High Priests and Elders cap. 27.3 c. saying that he had sinned in betraying the innocent bloud and so departed in great desperation and hanged himself Act. 1.18 whose Body burst asunder in the midst so that all his Bowels gushed out Iudas of Galilee rose up after Theudas Act. 5.37 what time the whole World was taxed by the commandment of Augustus Caesar and taught the People that for as much as they were dedicated unto God they ought not to pay Tribute to Emperours which were worshippers of false Gods whereby he drew to his faction a great part of the Commons who at the last were all brought to nought and Judas himself slain Iudas a Citizen of Damascus Act. 9. to whose house the Lord sent Ananias to seek Saul of Tharsus who was hosted there Iudith the Daughter of Merari Judith 8. cap. was a beautiful Woman unto the which was joyned such vertue and godliness that all Men spake good of her Her Husbands name was Manasses who at the day of his death left her great riches She dwelt in the City of Bethulia and was a Woman of great Chastity Now during the time of her Widowhood it chanced Holofernes to come and besiege the City of Bethulia of whom the Jews were so afraid that they wist not what to do but commit themselves to God for he had destroyed all their water Conduits so that they must either be forced to starve or yield Then ran the People to Osias the High-priest crying upon him to yield and give over the City to Holofernes lest they should all perish who exhorted them to tarry five days longer for the mercy of God and if he helped them not in that space he would do as they had said Then Judith who all this while had kept her house in prayer and fasting hearing what promise Osias had made to the People sent for him and all the Elders of Bethulia and said How happeneth this that ye have promised to deliver the City to the Assyrians unless within these five days the Lord turn to help you what Men are ye that ye tempt the Lord your device obtaineth no mercy of God but rather provoketh him to wrath and displeasure Will ye set the mercy of the Lord a time and appoint him a day at your will exhort the People to repentance and prayer and put them in remembrance of this That with much tribulation the Friends of God are tryed and that all these things which we now suffer are far less than our sins have deserved And that this correction is come upon us as to the servants of God for the amendment of our lives and not for our destruction Now hear my device I pray you and beseech the Lord to bring it to good end Ye shall stand this Night in the Gate of Bethulia and I will go out with Abra my Maiden Pray ye unto the Lord that within the days that ye have promised to deliver up the City he will visit Israel by my hand But inquire not of me the thing I have taken in hand for I will not declare it till God have finished the act Then every Man went their ways and Judith departed home to her secret closet where she made her hearty prayers unto God for the Peoples deliverance Which being done she cast off her mourning Garments and decked her self most bravely to allure the eyes of all Men that should behold her which she did not for any voluptuousness or pleasure of the flesh but of a right diseretion and vertue And so going out of her house with Abra her Maid she came to the Gate of the City where the Elders stood waiting her coming And as they beheld her wonderful beauty which God at that present had given her they were marvellously astonished She then commanding the Gates to be open took her leave of the People who most heartily besought the Lord to be her defence and well to perform the device of her heart that they might safely and joyfully receive her presence again And so committing her to God shut the Gates and looked over the Walls after her so long as they could see her And as she was going down the Mountains the first Watch of the Assyrians took her demanding what she was and whither she went I am quoth she a Daughter of the Hebrews and am fled from them because I know that they shall be given unto you to be spoiled Wherefore I am going to the Prince Holofernes to tell him all their secrets and how he shall win the City without the loss of one Man And when the Men had pondered her words and considered well her beauty they put her in good comfort of her life brought her to Holofernes whose Majesty so abashed Judith that she fell down as one almost dead for fear But being revived again Holofernes demanded the cause of her coming to whom she made answer on this wise saying O my Lord if thou wilt receive the words of thine Handmaiden and do thereafter the Lord shall bring thy matter to a prosperous effect For as thy servant Achior gave counsel unto my Lord to make search whether they had sinned against their God or no It is manifest and plain that their God is so angry with them for their sins that he hath shewed by his Prophets that he will give them over into the enemies hand Wherefore they are sore afraid and suffer great hunger and at this present for lack of water are in a manner as dead Men and in this extremity brought to kill their Cattel
took her from David and gave her to * Look in the history of Psaltei how he used Michal David's Wise Psaltei the Son of Lais to Wife with whom she remained till the death of Saul and then was restored again to David by Abner's means Finally when David came dancing before the Ark of God in his shirt to the City of David it chanced Michal to look out at a Window and beholding the King how he leaped and danced before the Ark she began to despise him in her heart and meeting him after all things were done she said O how glorious was the King of Israel this day which was uncovered to day in the eyes of the Maidens of his Servants as a Fool uncovereth himself And for thus despising of David the Servant of God the Lord plagued her with Barrenness that she never had Child Michal who is perfect Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 4.4 the Son of Jonathan was lame in his Feet by reason his Nurse by misfortune in his infancy let him fall to the Ground out of her Arms and was brought up and nourished after the death of his Father in the House of Machir 9. cap. 4 c. till David coming to his Kingdom took him from thence and restored him to all the Land of King Saul making Ziba his Servant chief Overseer and Receiver of the Lands and to see Micah his Master's Son well brought up and cherished for so much as Mephibosheth should remain with him and eat and drink at his own Board Now after this when David was brought into so great affliction trouble by reason of Absalom his Son Mephibosheth remained still at Jerusalem and never removed 2 Sam. 16.1 2 c. But Ziba his Servant went after David with a present and by false report of Mephibosheth his Master got his Land from him And when the King was returned and come to Jerusalem again 19.24 c. then Mephibosheth who had neither washed his Feet nor dressed his Beard nor washed his Cloaths from the time the King departed until he returned in peace went out to meet him and when the King saw him he said Wherefore wentest thou not with me Mephibosheth He answered My Lord O King my Servant deceived me for thy Servant said I would have mine Ass sadled to ride thereon for to go with the King because thy Servant is lame Therefore Ziba hath falsly accused thy Servant to my Lord the King but my Lord the King is as an Angel of God Do therefore what it pleaseth thee for all my Fathers House were but dead Men before my Lord the King and yet didst thou set thy Servant among them that did eat at thine own Table What right have I to cry any more unto the King Then said David why speakest thou yet in thine own cause I have said Thou and Ziba divide the Land between you Yea said Mephibosheth let him take all seeing my Lord the King is come home in peace Mephibosheth shame or confusion from the mouth Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 21.8 the Son of Rizpah King Saul's Concubine was by the Gibeonites with his Brother Armoni hanged for their Father's offence Miriam Exo. 6.20 was the Daughter of Amram and Jochebed and Sister to Aaron and Moses When her Brother Moses had brought the Children of Israel thorow the red Sea Exo. 15.20 Miriam the Prophetess took a Timbrel in her hand with other Women following in like sort and began joyfully to sing and dance Their Song was this Sing ye unto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriously The Horse and his Rider hath he overthrown in the Sea After this she grudged against Moses Num. 12.1 10. because he had taken an Ethiopian Woman to his Wife wherefore the Lord smore her with Leprosie Then Moses partly for pity and partly at the intercession of Aaron his Brother besought the Lord to heal her who made him answer saying If her Father in anger had spit in her Face should she not have been ashamed seven days Let her be shut out of the Host seven days which being done she was restored and received in again Finally when Moses and the Children of Israel were come to Kadesh Num. 20.1 there she died and was buried Miriam exalted or reaching Meshach first called Mishael Dan. 1.7.3 cap. was one of Daniel's Companions and one of the three which was cast into the hot burning Furnace and miraculously preserved Meshach prolonging or drawing to him or compassing the waters or hedging Mithridates was King Cyrus's Treasurer 3 Esd 2. at whose commandment he delivered all the holy Vessels of Gold and Silver pertaining to the House of the Lord to Salmanassar the Deputy in Jewry The number of which Vessels was five thousand eight hundred and three score Mithridates dissolving the law Mnason was a certain godly Man Act. 21.16 and a Cyprian born who had of long time believed the Gospel in whose House Paul was lodged at Jerusalem Mnason a searcher out or promising or remembring Moses the Son of Amram and Jochebed Exod. 2. cap. was miraculously preserved at his birth For whereas Pharaoh the King of Egypt had straitly commanded the Midwives Moses signifieth preserved from the water that whensoever they saw an Hebrew bring forth a Man-child they should cast it into the River yet Moses being born and a proper Child was notwithstanding the King's Commandment kept secretly three Months And when his Parents could hide him no longer they closed him in a Basket made of Reed or Bulrushes dawbed with slime and pitch and laid him in the River And as the Child's sister stood looking what should become of him it came to pass that King Pharaoh's * Her name was Termuth Daughter came a walking by the River side who seeing the Basket floating upon the River caused one of her Folks to take it up And when she had opened the Basket and saw the Child she had pity upon it and caused the Maid his sister to fetch her a Nurse who went and brought his own Mother And so the Child being nursed and brought up in Pharaoh's house was instructed from his Childhood in all manner of cunning and wisdom of the Egyptians and became mighty in words and deeds saving in his speech he had an impediment And when he was full forty years old it came in his heart to go and visit his Brethren the Children of Israel whom Pharaoh vexed without all measure And as he saw an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew How that Moscs's impedment of speech came The King on a time for his Daughter's sake took the Child in his arms and set the Crown upon his Head which Moses as it were childishly playing hurled to the ground and with his Foot spurned it At the which the Priest cried out saying that this was he of whom it was prophesied that he should destroy Egypt Then Termuth excused the Child alledging his infancy and lack of
Israel Pilate was Lieutenant of Jewry Matth. 27. Mark 14. Luke 22.23 John 18 19. when Annas and Caiaphas were the High-Priests who with the Scribes and Elders of the Jews sat in Council upon Jesus now betrayed unto them by Judas how and by what means they might dispatch him out of the way But having no Authority to condemn or put him to death they brought him bound unto Pilate the Temporal Judge saying how that they had found him perverting the People and forbidding Tribute to Caesar and calling himself a King Pilate hearing this demanded of him whether he were a King or no. Jesus neither denying nor affirming that he was made answer that Pilate himself had said so Then Pilate said unto all his Accusers how that in examining of Jesus he could not see that he had offended in any such thing as they had charged him withal The People then more vehemently affirmed how that he had with his teaching and preaching which he first began in Galilee moved all Jewry to follow his doctrine When Pilate perceived the Man to be of Galilee and that his matter pertained to Herod's jurisdiction he sent him forthwith to Herod lying at Jerusalem Who of a long time had been desirous to see him But when as Herod had demanded many things of him and could have no answer again he despised and mocked him and so returned him back again to Pilate clothed all in * Commonly this was a robe of honor or excellency but it was given to Christ in mockage white And from that day forth Pilate and Herod were evermore friends who before were enemies Then Pilate for so much as Herod had sent Jesus back again and done nothing unto him and that neither he nor Herod could find any thing in him worthy of death would have chastened Jesus and so let him go But the High-Priests laid so many things against him that Pilate after he had reasoned a little with Jesus concerning his Kingdom and other things went and sat in judgment knowing right well in his conscience that the Priests of very envy had delivered Jesus unto him And being set down upon the Judgment Seat his Wife sent to him saying Have thou nothing to do with that just Man for I have suffered many things this Day in a Dream by reason of him Which counsel of his Wife nor yet his own knowledge did any thing the more move him to defend the innocency of Christ but asked of the People which of these two they would have quit Barabbas or Jesus and they said Barabbas What shall I then do quoth he with Jesus which is called Christ They all said let him be Crucified What evil or great offence hath he done quoth Pilate that deserveth death The People being much more eager than they were before cryed out amain to have him Crucified When Pilate saw this that he could not prevail against them he took Water and washed his hands saying I am innocent of the bloud of this just person in the which saying he bare witness of his innocency Pilate murthered the Galileans as they were sacrificing and so their bloud was mingled with the bloud of the Beasts which were sacrificed Luke 13.1 before he condemned him And so delivering Jesus to the Souldiers they scourged him and arrayed him in Purple with a Crown of Thorns upon his Head In which sort Pilate brought him forth again and said to the People Behold I bring him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in him And when Jesus appeared before them Pilate said Behold the Man which he spake in mockery because that Christ had called himself a King And when the High-Priests and Officers saw him they cryed out Crucifige Crucifige Then said Pilate take him to you and Crucifie him for I can find no cause of death in the Man They answered again and said It is not lawful for us to put any Man to death but we have a Law and by our Law he ought to dye because he made himself the Son of God When Pilate heard this he was afraid and went again into the Judgment-Hall and demanded of Jesus what he was but he made him no answer Then Pilate said Why speakest thou not Dost thou not see that it lyeth in my hands either to kill or save thee To that he made answer and said Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the more sin and from that time forth Pilate sought by all means to deliver him But the Jews cryed upon him saying If thou let him go thou art not Caesar's friend for whosoever maketh himself a King speaketh against Caesar When Pilate heard them say so he brought Jesus forth and sat him down in the Judgment-Seat saying unto the People Behold your King They cryed away with him away with him crucifie him What quoth Pilate shall I crucifie your King To that the High Priests made answer and said We have no King but Caesar At that word Pilate delivered Jesus to be crucified and being brought to the place of execution and spread upon the Cross Pilate caused this Title to be set over his Head Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews This Man Pilate as Eusebius saith was at the last deposed and banished to Lions in France where he slew himself which was written in Hebrew Greek and Latine that all Nations might understand it With the which writing the High-Priests were offended fore and would have had Pilate to correct it and not to write him King of the Jews but that he said I am King of the Jews Well quoth Pilate what I have written that have I written Priscilla look Aquila Ptolomy King of Egypt had a fair Daughter named Gleopatra 1 Mac. 10. the which he gave to Alexander the Son of noble Antiochus in Marriage which was solemnly and with great Royalty finished in the City of Ptolemais But notwithstanding this great Bond of Amity now knit between them Ptolomy afterward withdrew his favour from Alexander and sought by all means how he might defeat him of his Kingdom And thinking to bring his purpose now better to pass while Alexander himself lay out of his Realm he prepared a great Host and took his Journey into Syria where into every City as he came he was honourably received according to Alexander's commandment And being his Father in-law was nothing suspected of Treason But Ptolomy meaning nothing else left in every City whereinto he was received certain Men of War to fortifie and keep the same And when he had gotten the Dominion of all the Cities upon the Sea-coast he joyned himself in League with Demetrius and took his Daughter from Alexander and gave her to Demetrius Raising up a slander upon Alexander how he went about to kill him And so his malice and unsatiable covetousness being openly known he got him to Antioch where
threw it over the Wall to Joab and so the commotion ceased Sheba vanity or little accounted of or uproar Sceva Act. 19.14 was a Jew born and the chief Priest among the Jews This Man had seven Sons who for lucre sake and to purchase unto themselves a great name thereby attempted to cast out evil spirits by invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus as Paul did saying unto the Man possessed We conjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preacheth that ye depart out of the man To whom the spirit answered and said Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are ye And as soon as he had spoken these words the man in whom the evil spirit was ran upon them and got the upper hand on them In so much that they had much ado to escape with their lives and scarce got at the last naked and wounded out of the house And this example of the Sons of Sceva being bruted abroad among the Jews and Gentiles many which believed came to Paul and confessed their offences And beside that divers other which had used such curious crafts of Conjurations brought their books and burned them before all men the price whereof were counted at fifty thousand * A silverling was in value about a groat sterling or more Silverlings Shelah the youngest Son of Judah Gen. 38.5 11. being grown to perfect age and not given to Thamar in marriage according to his Father's promise was the occasion of Thamar's playing the Harlot with Judah her Father-in-law Shelah dissolving Selah Gen. 11.12 c. the Son of Arphaxad of the generation of Shem was the Father of Eber whom he begot when he was thirty years of age and lived after the birth of Eber four hundred and three years Which make in the whole four hundred and xxxiii years Shem Gen. 9.18 23.11.10 He is called also Melchisedeck And did first build the City of Salem which after was called Jerusalem the eldest Son of Noah received praise of his Father because he covered his nakedness as he lay uncovered in his Tent. Shem at the age of an hundred years begot Arphaxad two years after the Flood and lived after five hundred years Shimei the Son of * 2 Sam. 16.5 c. Gera of the kindred and house of Saul dwelt in a City called Bahurim And as it chanced David to flee thither for fear of his Son Absalom this man came out against him cursing and railing out of measure with such spiteful words as these Come forth come forth thou bloud shedder and man of Belial The Lord hath brought upon thee now all the bloud of the house of Saul in whose stead thou hast raigned The Lord hath delivered the Kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy Son And behold thou art come to thy mischief because thou art a murtherer And for all this would David suffer no man to do him harm So that Shimei went on still cursing and railing and hurling of stones and dirt at David like a mad-man But when the time came that David should be restored to his Kingdom again then Shimei that in his adversity was his most cruel enemy was now in his prosperity one of the first that met him to bring him home again And being passed over Jordan he fell down flat before David saying Oh let not my Lord impute wickedness unto me nor remember the thing that thy servant did wickedly when my Lord the King departed out of Jerusalem that the King should take it to heart for thy servant doth know how that I have done amiss And therefore behold I am the first this day of all the house of Joseph that am come to go down to meet my Lord the King So David forgave him Here he saith he was of the house of Joseph and before he saith he was of the house of Saul Of the Fathers side saith Lyra he was of the house of Joseph that is to say of the tribe of Ephraim but of the mothers side he was of the house of Saul But when the time of Davids departure out of this world drew nigh among all things which he spake to Solomon his Son he remembred Shimei saying Behold thou hast here with thee Shimei the Son of Gera the Son of Gemini of Bahurim which cursed me with an horrible curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim but he came to me at Jordan and I swre unto him by the Lord that he should not dye But thou shalt not count him as unguilty for thou art a Man of wisdom and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him His hoar head shalt thou bring to the grave with bloud And so Solomon being set in his Kingdom called Shimei and said Build thee an house in Jerusalem and dwell there And see thou pass not from thence any whither for be thou sure that the day thou goest out and passest over the River of Kidron thou shalt dye and thy bloud shall be upon thine own head Shimei thanked the King and dwelt in Jerusalem the space of three years and then it chanced two of his servants to run from him to Achish King of Gath whereupon Shimei sadled his Ass and went for his servants and brought them home again Then Solomon hearing of his doings commanded Benajah to put him to death for the wickedness he had done to his Father David Shimei bearing or obedient Sennacherib King of Assyria was a mighty Prince 2 King 18.13 which seeing that Salmanasar his Predecessor had conquered the King of Israel and made them Tributaries thought it good to set upon the King of Juda who at that time was the godly and most noble Ezechias And when Sennacherib had gotten into his hands all the chief Cities of Juda and Benjamin save only Jerusalem he besieged that also with such might and power that Ezechias was fain to submit himself to the mercy of Sennacherib offering him tribute so much as he would demand Upon which offer Sennacherib promised Ezechias that if he would pay him three hundred talents of silver and one of gold his land should be safe and in quiet which promise he kept truly till the mony were payed But as soon as he had received the money he sent back again three of the greatest Captains he had to make fresh War against Ezechias And when they had pitched their Tents about Jerusalem they sent for Ezechias to come and speak with them who fearing his own life sent three of his Noble-men unto them to know the matter And when they had heard all the blasphemous words of Rabshekah 2 King 19. they returned and told them to Ezechias Who hearing those evil news rent his cloaths and put on sackcloth and fell prostrate upon his face and prayed unto the Lord to help him and to have mercy upon his people and beside that he sent to Esay the Prophet desiring him to pray unto the Lord for them whose Prayer the Lord
he should not see death until he had seen Christ with his fleshly eyes which he had seen many a day before with the eyes of his faith And when the time came that the Child Jesus should be brought into the Temple by his Parents Simeon by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost came into the Temple a little before them and when he had seen all things done by the Priest according to the law he of a godly zeal took the Babe in his arms also and said Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy promise For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel And when he had blessed the Babe he said to Mary the Child's Mother Behold this Child is set to be the fall and uprising again of many in Israel and for a sign which is spoken against And moreover the sword shall pierce thy soul that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened Simeon hearing or a perfect hearing Simon the second Son of Mattathias 1 Mac. 2. was a Man of great wisdom and the High Priest among the Jews He helped much his Brother Judas and Jonathas in the Wars and after the death of Judas he discomfited Bachides and was made Captain over the Jews after the apprehension of Jonathas and overcame Antiochus But in the end he was of Ptolomy his Son-in-law most traiterously murthered Simon of the Tribe of Benjamin 2 Mac. 3. being a Ruler of the Temple what time as Onias was the High Priest went about to work much mischief in the City of Jerusalem And when he saw that he could not overcome Onias and the other Priests that resisted him he got him to Apollonius which then was Governour of Celosyria and Phenice and told him that the Treasury in Jerusalem was full of innumerable money which did not belong to the provision of the sacrifice and that it were possible that these things might come to the King's hands But when this betrayer of the money and of his own natural Countrey saw the great Plague that fell on Heliodorus which was sent for the money and that his cursed device could take no place then he fell to railing and slandering of Onias reporting of him that he had moved Heliodorus to that malicious enterprise yea so much increased his malice against the godly man Onias that malice of Simon compelling him thereunto complained on Simon to Seleucus the King to have him reformed Simon Matth. 27.32 of Cyrene the Father of Alexander and Rufus was compelled to bear Christ's Cross when he went to his passion It was the custome to make him that was condemned to carry his Cross And forasmuch as Jesus was not able to do it for weakness they took Simon as he came out of the field and made him to bear it after Jesus Simon Luk. 7.36 40. a certain Pharisee invited Jesus to his Table And Jesus sitting at meat with him there came in a certain Woman with an Alabaster Box of Ointment who stood behind him weeping and began to wash his Feet with tears and to wipe them with the hairs of her Head That done she kissed them and anointed them with her sweet Ointment Then Simon which had well marked all her doings spake within himself saying If this man were a Prophet he would surely have known who and what manner of Woman this is which toucheth him for she is a sinner To whose thought Jesus answered and said Simon I have somewhat to say unto thee say on Master quoth he There was a certain Creditor which had two debtors the one ought five hundred pence and the other fifty And when they had nothing to pay he forgave them both which of them therefore tell me will love him most Simon said I suppose that he will love him best to whom he forgave most Thou hast truly said quoth he Then Jesus turning unto the Woman said to Simon Seest thou this Woman I entred into thine house and thou gavest me no Water to my Feet but she hath washed my Feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her Head Thou gave me no kiss but she since the time she came in hath not ceased to kiss my Feet Mine Head with Oil thou didst not anoint but she hath anointed mine Head with Ointment Wherefore I say unto thee that many sins are forgiven her for she * Love canseth not remission of sins but remission of sins causeth love loved much to whom a little is forgiven will love a little Simon Magus Act. 8.9 c. which had of a long time seduced the People of Samaria with his sorcery and witchcraft was had in so great estimation among the multitude even from the highest to the lowest This Simon Magus was of so great estimation in Rome that Images were erected to him as a God that they counted him God's fellow and to work all things by his power so much were they given to follow the illusions of Satan more than the truth of God But when Simon had heard the preaching of Philip and seen his miracles and the number of People converted to the Faith of Christ he was forced himself also by the majesty of God's word to confess the truth And so to cover his hypocrisie dissembled to believe and was baptised and continued with Philip. But after this when Peter and John were come from Jerusalem and had laid their hands on the People by the which the Holy Ghost was given Simon coveting to have that gift as well as they offered the Apostles money to give him the power to do the same To whom Peter said Thy money perish with thee because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this business for thy heart is not right in the sight of God Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God that the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive that thou art full of bitter gall and wrapped in iniquity Then said simon pray ye unto the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken fall on me And so they left him full of malice and devilish poyson tyed in the bonds of Satan Of Simon the Son of Onias whose praise is set out Ecclus. 50. Simon one of Christ's kinsmen Matth. 13. Simon the Tanner with whom Saint Peter hosted many a day Act. 9.43.10.6 Simeon surnamed Niger which was one of the Prophets and Teachers in the Congregation of Antiochia Act. 13.1 Simon the Cananite surnamed Zeletes and one of the twelve Matth. 10.4 Luke 6.15 Syntyche Philip. 4.2 was a certain Christian Brother to whom Paul sent salutations from Rome exhorting him and Euodias to be of one accord in the Lord. Sisinnes 1 Esd 6. cap. the under Sheriff in Syria and Phenice with
be now shut that no man can see us and we burn in lust towards thee therefore consent and lye with us if thou wilt not we will bear witness against thee that a young Man was in the Orchard with thee and therefore thou sentest away thy Maidens Then Susanna sighed and said If I do follow your minds it will be my death and if I consent not unto you I cannot escape your hands It is better for me to fall into your hands without the deed doing than to sin in the sight of the Lord. And with that cryed out with a loud voice and the Elders cryed out against her which clamour on both parties was so great that it was heard among the Servants without which ran to the Orchard door and burst it open to see what the matter was And when the Servants had heard the Elders report of Susanna they were greatly ashamed for there was never such a report made of Susanna before And so on the next morrow the two Elders full of mischievous imaginations declared the matter to Joachim her husband to bring her to death And when she was come with her Father and Mother her Children and all her kinred to be judged according to the law she stood before the two wicked Judges with her Face covered who commanded to take the Cloth from her face that at the least they might be satisfied with her beauty which thing being done the Judges stood up and laid their hands upon the head of Susanna saying As we were walking in the Orchard alone this Woman came in with her two Maidens whom she sent away from her making fast the Orchard door after them Then started there up a young Fellow which lay hid in the Garden and went unto her lay with her Then we which stood in a corner seeing this wickedness ran unto them and saw them as they were together but we could not hold the fellow for he was stronger than we and got open the door and leaped out And when we demanded of her what fellow it was she would not tell us This is the matter and we be witnesses of the same Then Susanna cryed out and said O everlasting God thou searcher of hearts thou that knowest all things before they come to pass thou wotest that they have born false witness against me And behold I must dye whereas I never intended any such thing as these Men have maliciously imagined against me And as she was led toward the place of execution the Lord of Heaven which heard her prayer raised up the spirit of a little Child called Daniel who cryed with a loud voice saying I am clean from the blood of this Woman And when the People heard that they stayed to know of the Child what he meant by his words O ye Children of Israel said he are ye such fools that without examination and knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a Daughter of Israel return again to Judgment for they have born false witness against her Then the People went back again and the Elders took Daniel and set him among them in Judgment Who when he had commanded the two false witnesses to be severed that he might examine them he called the one before him and said O thou that art old in a wicked life now thy sins which thou hast committed afore time are come to light Tell me under what Tree thou sawest this Woman and the young fellow together he said under a Mulberry Tree Now verily quoth Daniel thou hast lied and art worthy of death in that thou hast oppressed the innocent and hast let the guilty go free contrary to the words of the Lord which saith The innocent and righteous see thou slay not Then he called the other and said O thou seed of Canaan but not of Juda Beauty hath deceived thee and lust hath subverted thine heart Thus have ye dealt with the Daughters of Israel and they for fear consented unto you but the Daughters of Juda would not abide your wickedness Now tell me under what Tree didst thou take them companying together He answered under a Pine Tree Now verily said Daniel thou hast lied also against thine head The Messenger of the Lord standeth waiting with the Sword to cut thee in two and so to destroy ye both And with that the whole Assembly cryed with a loud voice and praised God which so miraculously had preserved Susanna that day And so fell upon the two wicked Judges and according to the law of Moses put them both to death Susanna one of those godly Women which followed Christ and his Apostles relieving them with her substance as much as lay in her power T. THADDAEUS Matth. 10.3 was one of the twelve Apostles Thaddaeus praising or confessing Tertullus Act. 14.1 2 c. was a certain Oratour which Ananias the High-Priest had brought with him to inform Felix the Ruler against Paul And when Paul was brought forth Tertullus began to accuse him saying Seeing that we live in great quietness by the means of thee and that many good things are done unto this Nation through thy providence we acknowledge it wholly and in all places most mighty Felix with all thanks Notwithstanding that I be-not tedious unto thee I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy courtesie a few words For we have found this man a Pestilent fellow and a mover of debate unto all the Jewes throughout the World and a maintainer of the Sect of the Nazarites And hath alsogone about to pollute the Temple whom we took and would have judged according to our law But the chief Captain Lysias came upon us and with great violence took him away out of our hands commanding his Accusers to come unto thee Of whom thou mayst if thou wilt inquire know the certainty of all these things whereof we accuse him Tertullus a false reporter or a teller of tails a lyar Terah was the Son of Nahor the Son of Serug Gen. 11.24 25 26 c. He at the age of seventy years begot Abraham but he had before by another Wife Nahor and Haran All the days that Terah lived were two hundred and five years Terah Smelling Look in the story of Abraham Tertius was the name of him that wrote the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans while Paul indited it Rom. 16.22 saying on this wise I Tertius salute you which wrote this Epistle in the Lord. Tertius a Latine word Thamar 2 Sam. 13.1 2 c. the Daughter of David was so beautiful a young Woman that Amnon her Brother fell sick for her love And when she had visited Amnon at her Fathers commandment and drest him certain meat and brought it into his Chamber he began to force her to lye with him Then she seeing that said Nay my Brother do not force me for no such thing ought to be done in Israel commit not this folly For whither shall I be able to go with my shame
Men were slain 1 Mac. 13. After this Tryphon went into the Land of Judah with a great Host having Jonathan with him in ward And when he had knowledge that Simon stood up in the stead of his Brother Jonathan and that he would come against him he sent word to Simon that whereas he kept Jonathan his Brother in ward it was but for mony he ought in the King's account and other business he had in hand Therefore if he would send him an hundred Talents of Silver and the two Sons of Jonathan to be their Father's surety he would send him home again But Simon knew his dissembling heart well enough Yet nevertheless lest he should be a greater enemy to the People of Israel and say another day that because he sent him not the Money and the Children therefore is Jonathan dead he sent him both the Money and the Children Then Tryphon having the Money and Children kept Jonathan still and shortly after put both the Father and his Children to death Now Tryphon to bring his long intended purpose about on a time as he walked abroad with the young King he most traiterously slew him and possessed the Realm and crowned himself King of Asia and did much hurt in the Land Finally 15. cap. Tryphon was so hated of all men that when Antiochus the Son of Demetrius came upon him the most part of his own Host forsook him and went to Antiochus who never left persecuting of Tryphon till he made him flee by Ship where he was never seen more Tryphon a delicate and fine man Trophimus was an Ephesian born Act. 20.4 who went with Tychicus out of Asia to Troas to make all things ready against Paul's coming and abode there till Paul came from thence they went with Paul to Jerusalem where certain Jews which were of Asia moved the People against Paul complaining of him 21.28 c. that he had brought Greeks with him to pollute the Temple because they saw Trophimus with him in the City whom they supposed Paul had brought into the Temple Tubal Gen. 4. was the Son of Lamech by his Wife Adah And was the first that invented the Science of Musick by the strokes and noise of the hammers of his brother Tubalcain which was a Smith and the first finder out of Mettal and the working thereof Jubal was his brother by Father and Mother and Tubalcain only by the Father for Zillah was his Mother Tubal born or brought or worldly Tubalcain Worldly possession V. VASHTI Estter 1. was a very fair Woman and Wife to Ahashuerus otherwise called Artaxerxes King of Persia And because she would not come to the King when he sent for her a Law was devised and made by the seven Princes of Persia and Media That forasmuch as it could not be chosen but that this deed of Queen Vashti must needs come abroad into the ears of all Women both Princes and others and so despise their Husbands and say Thus and thus did Vashti to Ahashuerus by which occasion much despitefulness and wrath should arise The King should therefore put her away and take another to the end that all other Women great and small should hold their Husbands in more honour And so she was divorced from the King and Esther received in her place Vashti Drinking Vrban Rom. 16.9 was a certain faithful Christian Brother to whom Paul sent greetings saying Salute Urban our helper in Christ Vriah 2 Sam. 11. the Hittite was a Man always for the most part imployed in the Kings Wars with Joab the King 's Captain-General This Uriah had a fair Woman to his Wife called Bathsheba whom King David in his absence had got with Child And when the King had knowledge that the Woman was conceived he sent for Urias to come home Who being come to the King and had told him of all things concerning Joab and his Men of War The King bad him go home to his house and repose himself there a while with his Wife And so Urias being departed from the King went not home to his Wife but lay without the King's Gate he and all his Men that night And when on the morrow the King had knowledge thereof he sent for Urias and demanded why he went not home To whom he said The Ark of Israel and Juda dwell in Tents and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord abide in the open Fields shall I then go into mine house to eat and drink and lye with my Wife By thy life and by the life of thy soul I will not do this thing Then he was commanded to tarry a day or two more and the King wrote a Letter to Joab the Tenour whereof was this That he should set Urias in the fore front of the Battel where it was sharpest to the intent he might be slain And so Urias departed from the King carrying his own death with him and was soon dispatched out of his life Urias the light of the Lord. Vriah 2 King 16.10 11 c. was the High-Priest in the time of Abaz King of Juda. And having the pattern of an Altar sent unto him by the King from Damascus to make him the like against his coming home Uriah consented to the King 's wicked mind and made the Altar and did whatsoever the King would have him to do without any regard to the Laws of God Vzzah and Ahio were the Sons of Abinadab which waited upon the new Cart whereon the Ark of God 2 Sam. 6.3 4 c. which was taken out of their Fathers house to be carried to the house of Obed was laid And forasmuch as Uzzah of a good intent put forth his hand to stay the Ark when the Oxen stumbled the Lord smote him for his fault that he dyed even before the Ark. Z. ZABULON Gen. 30.19.49.13 was the sixth Son of Jacob and Leab Of whom his Father prophelied before his death saying Zabulon shall dwell by the Sea side and he shall be an haven for ships his border shall be unto Zidon Zabulon a dwelling Zachary Luke 1. cap. was a certain godly Priest in the days of Herod King of Jewry which came of the course or Family of Abiah And walked so perfectly in the Ordinances and Laws of the Lord that no Man could justly complain of him But he had no Child by his Wife Elizabeth for she was barren And when his course came to burn incense evening and morning according to the law he went into the Temple And as he was in prayer an Angel appeared unto him saying Fear not Zachary for thy Prayer is heard And thy Wife Elizabech shall bear thee a Son and thou shalt call his name John c. Whereby said Zachary shall I know this for I am old and my Wife old also I am Gabriel quoth the Angel which am sent unto thee to shew thee these glad tidings And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able
to speak until the day that these things be performed And so Zachary remained speechless until the time came that his Wife brought him forth a Son And when the Child should be circumcised great controversie was there about his name Some would have him called Zachary some by one name some by another and his Mother would have him called John but to that would none agree because there was none of the kindred so named Then they made signs to Zachary how he would have his Son called And he calling by signs for writing tables wrote therein His name is John Whereat they all marvelled And immediately the mouth of Zachary was opened so that he spake and said Praised be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People c. Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam King of Israel 2 King 15.8 began his Raign in the eight and thirtieth year of Azariah King of Juda and walked in the sins of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat as did others before him He had not raigned six Months ere that Shallum conspired against him and slew him even in the face of the people raigned in his stead This Zachariah was the fourth and the last King of the generation of Jehu which the Lord had promised should sit on his seat after him when he said Thy Children unto the fourth generation after thee 10. cap. 30. shall sit on the seat of Israel Zarah Gen. 38.29.30 was one of the two Twins which Thamar bare unto Juda at one birth who proffering to come forth before his Brother put forth his hand and when the Midwife had tyed a red thread about it he pluckt in his hand again and then his Brother came out first whom they called Pharez and then he with the red thread about his hand whom they called Zarah Zachariah the Son of Jehojada 2 Chron. 24.20 was an holy Prophet This Prophet is also called the Son of Barachias Matth. 23.35 because his Progenitors were Iddo Barachiah and Jehosala And when he saw Joash King of Juda whom his Father had trained from his youth up in the fear of God with all his People declined from the Lord to the worshipping of Idols and would not hear the Lord's admonition sent by his Prophets to call them home again he stood up before the People and said Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord Surely it shall not prosper because ye have forsaken the Lord he also hath forsaken you For the which the King not regarding the kindness of Jehojada his Father commanded the People to stone him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. And as he suffered his Martyrdom he desired the Lord to revenge his death and to require his bloud at their hands Zaccheus Luke 19.2 3 c. was a Publican and chief receiver of the King's Tribute among them He was a very low man of stature And being much desirous to see Jesus what manner a Man he should be made great means to see him And when he saw the prease so great that he could not he ran before knowing which way he would come and climbed up into a wilde Figg-Tree And when Jesus saw him in the Tree he said Zaccheus come down quickly for to day I must abide at thy house And Zaccheus came down received him joyfully And shewing forth the true fruits of repentance said Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have done any man wrong I restore him four-fold To whom Jesus said again This day is salvation come to this house forasmuch as thou art also become the Son of Abraham Zaccheus pure neat or clean Zerbiah 1 Chron. 2.16 was David's Sister Her three Sons were Joab Abishai and Asahel Zedekiah 2 King 24 17. cap. 25. the fourth Son of Josiah was one and twenty years old when Nabuchodonosor made him King of Juda in the stead of Jehojachin his Brother's Son And made him take an oath of the Lord faithfully and truly to serve the Chaldeans in token whereof he changed his name from Mataniah to Zedekiah This King suffered sin and wickedness so much to raign in his Land as well among the Head-Rulers and Priests as among the common sort that God was forgotten his Word despised and his Prophets misused Jer. 37. cap. Wherefore the Lord stirred up the Chaldeans with whom he had broke his League which came and destroyed the City of Jerusalem and the holy Temple of God with fire as the Prophet Jeremy had said and took Zedekiah the King his Army being dispersed in the plain of Jericho and brought him to the King of Babylon who first destroyed both his Sons before his face and then pulled out the eyes of Zedekiah and so carried him to Babylon bound with two Chains where he dyed his People remaining in bondage until the days of Cyrus which was about three-score and ten years Zedekiah the Justice of the Lord or the Lord's judgment Zedekiah 1 King 22.24 the Son of Chenaanah was one of the false Prophets which deceived Ahab And when Michajah the true Prophet of God spake against them this Zedekiah smote him on the Cheek saying When went the spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee Well said Michajah Thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt go from Chamber to Chamber to hide thee Zelophehad the Son of Hepher the Son of Gilead Numb 26.33 the Son of Machir the Son of Manasses the Son of Joseph had five Daughters who forasmuch as their Father dyed in the Wilderness without Male-issue and was none of those that rebelled against the Lord in the Congregation of Chore 27. cap. they required of Moses to have a possession among their Fathers brethren lest the name of their Father should be utterly taken away from among his kindred Whose request God allowed and bad Moses give them a possession among their brethren and to make a law that whosoever dyed without a Son his Inheritance should turn to his Daughter If he have no daughter to his brethren If he have no brethren to his Fathers brethren If his Father have no brethren then it should turn to the next of the kin Two of sundry Tribes And also to stablish their inheritance that it should not be removed through marriage into another Tribe should not marry together an order was taken that no Tribe should marry with another Tribe but every Tribe should marry with whom he list among his own Tribe and Kindred And so the Daughters of Zelophehad were married to their Father's Brothers Sons which were of the kindred of Manasses the Son of Joseph by which means their inheritance remained still in the Tribe and kindred of their Father Zenas was first an Interpreter of Moses Law Tit. 3.13 and afterward became an earnest Preacher of the Gospel of Christ Of whom Paul writeth to Titus Bishop of Crete
hast done unto him and then will I send and fetch thee away from thence for why should I be deprived of you both in one day And when she had given her Son this counsel she went to Isaac her Husband and said I am weary of my life for fear of the Daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a Wife of the Daughters of Heth such a one as these are or of the Daughters of the Land what good shall my life do me And so by the counsel of Rebecca Jacob was sent to Laban his Mother's Brother where in process he got him a Wise and purchased the love of Esau his Brother again Rebecca Fed. Rechab Jer. 35.6 was the Father of Jonadab Which Jonadab made a Law that the Rechabites should never drink Wine their Wives nor their Children neither yet build House nor sow Seed nor plant Vineyards but should always dwell in Tents Which commandment they kept and obeyed truly And this their obedience Jeremy layeth before the Jews to their great reproach for that they were not so ready to obey the will and commandment of God their heavenly Father as the Rechabites were to obey their Father Jonadab Rechab a Rider Of Rechab the Son of Rimmon read the story of Baanah his Brother Rezin 2 Ring 16.5 c. King of Syria went with Pekah King of Israel to fight against Ahaz King of Juda but could not overcome him At which time Rezin took the City of Elath and drove out the Jews therein and peopled the City with Syrians But in fine the King of Assyria came against him in the defence of Ahaz King of Juda and at Damascus slew him Rezin will or willing to a thing Rezon 1. King 11.23 the Son of Eliadah was a great Captain under Hadadezer King of Zobah which Hadadezer David had overcome in Battel And when Rezon saw his Lord and Master discomfited he fled from him and gathered a Band of Men and went to Damascus where he reigned as King and became a great adversary to Solomon for the which purpose the Lord had stirred him up Rezon a Secretary or leave Rizpah 2 Sam. 22.8 c. the Daughter of Ahia was Saul's Concubine and had by him two Sons the one named Armoni and the other Mephibosheth which two with the Sons of Merob David delivered to the Gibeonites who for the offence of Saul hanged them up upon an Hill before the Lord. Then Rizpah perceiving their Carkasses to remain upon the Gibbet longer than the Law required made provision to save their Bodies that neither Birds should fall upon them by day nor Beast by night And when it was told to David what Rizpah had done he caused their bones with the bones of Saul and Jonathan to be carried into the Country of Benjamin and there buried in the Sepulchre of Kish Saul's Father's Rehoboam 1 King 12. the Son of Solomon was xli years old when he began to reign and his Mothers name was Naamah In this Man's time began the Kingdom of Israel to be divided For when the People came to him and said Thy Father laid a grievous Yoak upon us now therefore remit thou somewhat of the grievous service of thy Father and of his heavy Yoak that he put upon us and we will serve thee He answered as his young Counsellers had counselled him saying My little Finger shall be heavier than all my Father's Loins And whereas my Father put an heavy yoak upon you I will add more unto it And whereas he chastened you with Whips I will chasten you with Scorpions The People hearing this they forsook him all save the Tribe of Juda and * The Tribe of Benjamin was given to Nathan the Brother of Solomon who nevertheless aided the Tribe of Juda as often as they needed Benjamin Then Rehoboam seeing his Kingdom divided gathered an Host of Men out of the house of Juda and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand to fight with Israel and to bring the Kingdom again unto himself But while he was thus minded the Prophet Shemajah came to him and bad him cease from his purpose for the thing that was done was the Lord's doing Whereupon every Man departed according to the words of the Lord which the Prophet had spoken Then Rehoboam fell to building of Cities 2 Chron. 11.5 c. and repairing of strong holds which he furnished both with Men and Victuals 12. cap. So that his Kingdom was mighty and strong by the space of three years for so long walked he and his People in the ways of David but when they had once forsaken the Law of the Lord in making Hill-altars Images Groves and were become Sodomites and workers of all abominations then God forsook them and gave them into the hands of Shishack King of Egypt who in the fifth year of Rehoboam's raign came to Jerusalem and spoiled both the house of the Lord and the King's house and carried away the shields of Gold which Solomon had made in stead whereof Rehoboam made shields of brass And so for a while God made the Tribe of Juda and Benjamin servants to Shishack although they humbled themselves to the intent they should know the difference between his service and the service of the Kingdomes of the World This King Rehoboam had eighteen Wives and three-score Concubines on whom he begot eight and twenty Sons and three-score Daughters But among all his Wives and Concubines he loved Maacha the Daughter of Absalom best And made Abijah her Son chief Ruler over all his Brethren and to have the Kingdom after him And when by his wisdom and policy he had dispersed his Children abroad and had raigned seventeen Years he dyed Rehoboam inlarging or spreading abroad the people Reuben Gen. 29.32 was the eldest Son of Jacob and Leah He brought the Mandrakes which he found in the Field to his Mother Gen. 30.14 He saved Joseph from his Brethren which went about to kill him Gen. 37.21 22. giving counsel to cast him into an empty Pit because he would rid him out of their hands But when he came afterward unto the Pit and found him not there he rent his Cloaths and made great mone for his Brother Joseph Long after this when Joseph was thought to be dead they went into Egypt for Corn and when they were taken for Spyes and hardly intreated and cast in Prison Gen. 42.22 Reuben said unto them Did not I warn you and say that ye should not sin against the Child and ye would not hear me and now ye may see how his bloud is required at our hands All this notwithstanding it was his chance to lye with Bilha his Father's Concubine Gen. 49.4 which deed sore displeased his Father wherefore before his death he declared the unstableness of Reuben saying That although he were the eldest yet should he not be the chiefest His birth right was taken from him 1 Chron. 5.1 and given to
the Sons of Joseph Reuben seeing his son or the sight of his son Rufus was a vertuous and a Religious man Rom. 16.13 whom Paul remembred in his Epistle saying Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord and his Mother and mine Ruth Ruth 1. cap. and Orpah were two fair young Damosels born in the Countrey of Moab where by chance they married with the Sons of Elimelech and Naomi who were strangers come out of the Land of Juda there to inhabit and when both their Husbands were dead and their Mother-in-law a Widow also they forsook their own Countrey to go home with their Mother into the Land of Juda. And when they had gone a good way together Orpah not without great intreaty of her Mother-in-law turned home again but Ruth abode still Then said Naomi to Ruth Oh see my Daughter thy Sister-in-law is gone back again to her People and Goods return and go after her I pray thee said Ruth intreat me not to leave thee For whithersoever thou goest I will go with thee And where thou dwellest there will I dwell also Thy People shall be my People And thy God my God look where thou dyest there will I dye also and there will I be buried The Lord do so and so unto me if ought but death only part thee and me asunder And so went they forth till they came to Bethlehem Juda which was in the beginning of Barley Harvest Ruth 2. cap. And as Ruth went one day out a leasing among the Harvest folks she happened by the providence of God upon the Fields pertaining to Boaz who shewed her such kindness that she neither lacked Meat nor Drink neither yet Corn so long as Harvest lasted And when all Harvest was done Naomi said unto Ruth This Man in whose Field thou hast leased all this while Ruth 3. cap. is our nigh Kinsman therefore do now by my counsel This Night he winnoweth Barley in the Barn wash thy self therefore and anoint thee and put thy Raiment upon thee and get thee to the Barn and keep thy self close until he have left eating and drinking And when he goeth to sleep mark the place where he layeth him down And when he is a-sleep go and lift up the Cloaths softly at his Feet and lay thee down and he shall tell thee what thou shalt do So when Ruth had done all things according to her Mother-in-laws teaching Boaz about Midnight waked out of his sleep and feeling one lye at his Feet was afraid and groping with his Hand he asked who it was I am Ruth quoth she thine Handmaid spread therefore the Wing of thy Garment over thine Handmaiden for thou art next of my Kin. Now blessed art thou quoth Boaz for thou hast shewed more goodness in the latter end than at the beginning inasmuch as thou followedst not young Men were they poor or rich And now my Daughter fear not I will do unto thee all that thou requirest For thou art well known to be a Woman of vertue Howbeit there is one nearer of Kin to thee than I if he will do the Kinsman's part unto thee well let him do it If he will not then will I. And so in the Morning he gave her so much Corn as she could carry home And shortly after she became his Wife Ruth 4.13 and in process brought him forth a Son called Obed which was the Father of Jesse the Father of David Read the story of Boaz and Naomi Ruth watered or filled S. SADOK the Son of Ahitub 2 Sam. 8.17 was Father to Shallum and Ahimaaz and one of the Priests that governed the Ark of GOD which he carried out of Jerusalem with David what time as he fled from his Son Absalom 2 Sam. 15.24 c. And when Zadok had brought the King over the Brook Kidron he desired him to return again with the Ark into the City that from him and dbiathar he might have word of all things that Absalom and Achitophel determined against him And so he returned with the Ark to Jerusalem and there remained David's faithful man in all things that he had commanded him And when he had knowledge of Absalom's overthrow 2 Sam. 19.11 he then exhorted all Israel and Juda to remember the kindness of David their Soveraign Lord and King who had so many times delivered them out of the hands of their enemies that now like true faithful and obedient subjects they would fetch him home again and restore him to his kingdom By whose godly exhortation the hearts of all Juda were bowed to David even as the heart of one man 1 King 1.8 38 c. This Sadok was ever a faithful Priest and never swerved from David For in the end when Adonijah took upon him to reign as King his Father David being old and alive Zadok consented not unto him but according to David's will and commandment anointed Solomon King who afterward promoted him into the room of Abiathar which had the High Priests office Sadoch or Zadok 2.35 Justified or just Shallum the Son of Jabesh conspired against Zachariah 2 King 15.10 13. There is another of this name the Husband of Hulda the Propheress 2 King 22.14 and slew him and raigned in his stead In the xxxix year of Azariah King of Juda began Shallum his raign over Israel and had not raigned one Month but Menahem rose up against him and slew him in Samaria and reigned in his stead Shallum Peaceable Salmanasar 2 King 18.9 c. King of Assyria came in the seventh year of Hoshea King of Israel and besieged Samaria and in the third year which was the ninth year of Hoshea he wan it and took Heshea prisoner and carried him away into Assyria Salmanasar Peace bound Solomon 2 Sam. 12.24 the Son of Bathsheba was ordained to reign after his Father David and anointed King over Israel 1 King 1.30 39. by Sadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet Who being stablished in his Kingdom began to minister Justice 2. cap. 25. first upon Adonijah his Brother which had aspired to the Kingdom ver 34. Secondly upon Joab which had slain Abner and Amasa and conspired with Adonijah ver ult Thirdly upon Shimei which had cursed David his Father 3. cap. This King was so dearly beloved of God that in a dream he appeared to him and bad him ask whatsoever he would and he should have it Then Solomon considering in himself that he was but young and that being called to the office of a King how hard a thing it was to govern the whole multitude of the People well desired of God to give him an understanding heart to judge the People and to discern between good and evil Which thing pleased the Lord so well that he gave him not only a wise and an understanding heart but also riches and honour wherein he excelled all other Kings that ever were before or after him And that he passed all