empire of the Persians came to Persepolis in the yeare before Christ 329 and there celebrated a great feast in triumph of his victories to which there resorted a great many women not such as were of the better sort but them that followed the camp and liued dissolutely amongst whom was that notable curtesan Thais who perceiuing the King inclined to mirth and full with wine began to flatter him in his cups among other things to commend and dignifie his noble exploits withall giuing him to vnderstand how acceptable it would be to the Grecians to see that royall palace of the Persians fired which had so often afflicted Grecia No sooner had she vttered these words but another seconded her and then a third After the whole assembly cried out Shall we reuenge the injurie of Grecians and burn the city with that they al rose in great fury the king himself being crowned beginning first to fire the palace wherein was great aboundance of Cedar from whence it happened that suddenly the fire spred it selfe a great way which when the army that lay without the walls perceiued with all speed came to the city to stay the burning of it for which purpose many brought water with them But when they beheld the King himselfe busie in this tragedie laying aside their water they also in hope of booty and to imitate the steps of their Prince fell to firing the city and according to the custom of soldiers in such massacres made a prey of what they could get increasing the fire with dry stuffe and other combustible matter whereby it came to passe that the whole city was therewith fired and burnt to the ground This was the end of that mighty city which ruled ouer so many nations where so many mighty Princes gouerned that was the scourge of Grecia and the greatest part of the world that sent forth a Navie of 10000 ships and an army of an infinit number there being at this day nothing to be seen vnlesse the riuer Araxes that ran close by it remaineth Thus was that consumed in a fury which the King and all his army before endeauoured to spare But after it turned to the great shame of the Macedonians that their King should fire so famous a city in the midst of his cups and Alexander himselfe after hee had slept repented what he had done You shall find in 2 Mac. cap. 6. That Antiochus Epiphanes besieged a certaine City in Persia called Persepolis from whence for his exceeding couetousnesse and sacriledge he was forced by the inhabitants dwelling about the town to raise his siege be gon Therefore some may gather that this Persepolis before mentioned was rebuilded because it also stood in Persia but if you read 1 Mac. cap. 6. you shall finde that this city so besieged by Antiochus was also called Elymais wherein stood the temple of Diana beautified with goodly ornaments shining with the splendor of fine gold wherewith it was gilt In which temple as faith Iosephus lib. Ant. 12. Alexander the Great left his armor and other things From whence may be gathered that this towne was not the Persepolis which he caused to be burnt but rather some other towne built out of the ruines of that city according to the opinion of Quintus Curtius or else some village standing neere to it which being built vp and inlarged might of some be called new Persepolis though indeed it was antiently called Elymais and all the East part of Persia beyond Susa of that towne called Elematica hauing some affinitie with Elam the antient name of Persia so called of Elam the son of Sem Gen. 10. Wherefore it may well be concluded that that Persepolis burnt down by Alexander was neuer restored but lieth waste to this day Thus the empire of the Persians afrer they had ruled ouer the nations of the earth 260 yeares was conquered by the Grecians who held it 129 yeares At the end of which time Demetrius Nicanor the last Emperour of the Grecrans in Syria and Asia going with a great army out of Syria toward the East Arsaces King of the Medes and Parthians being aided by the citisens of Elymais the Persians and Bactrians meeting him in those parts gaue him many sharp and cruell battels and in the end vnder pretence of peace took him prisoner in the yere before Christ 137 and from that time the Parthians gouerned Persia and Grecia and opposed the Romans in many cruell battels Afterward in the yere of our Lord 226 Artaxerxes that mighty Lord of Persia ouercame Artabanus King of the Parthians in a mighty battell and took his crown from his head the same yere entring vpon the gouernment of Persia 548 years after the death of Alexander the Great from which time Artaxerxes and his posteritie reigned in Persia for the space of 314 yeares in the which space there succeeded 28 Kings viz. Artaxerxes 1. Sapores Ormisdates Vararanes Vararanes 2. Vararanes 3. Narses Misdates Sapores 2. Artaxerxes 2. Sapores 3. Vararanes 4. Cermazat syrnamed Isdigertes Vararanes 5. Vararanes 6. Perozes Valens Cavades Zambades Cavades 2. Cosroës Hormisda Cosroës 2. Siroes Adhasir Sarbaras Bornarim Hormisda 2. who was the last King of the Persians for being ouercome by Humarus Amiras of the Saracens and third Emperor of the Mahumetans he was thrown out of his kingdom Anno Dom. 640. After which time it continued long in the gouernement of the Saracens and Turks Where that holy Priest Mattathias the father of Iudas Machabeus dwelt MAttathias and Dorotheus haue both one signification that is The gift of God being deriued of Matath a gift and Iah God This Mattathias was a holy Priest of the tribe of Levi the son of Iohn the son of Simon of whom all that family was called the posteritie of Simon of the stocke of Ioarib of whom you may read 1 Chr. 15. He dwelt in a town called Modin 14 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northwest scituated in a mountaine close by the way as you go to Ioppa in the tribe of Dan. Modin signifieth a measure being deriued of Madad he hath measured In this place seeing the crueltie of Antiochus Epiphanes and the insolencie of his soldiers he killed one of his captains and afterward in the synagogue put to death an idolatrous Iew ouerthrew the Altar set vp by Antiochus after called forth all the inhabitants of Modin and other towns neere adioyning to withstand the fury of this King So they brought their goods out of the city into the wildernesse where they incamped themselues and after so manfully opposed Antiochus that he deliuered all the cities towns thereabouts out of his bondage and from idolatry But beeing now grown old after he had admonished his sons to constancy in the seruice of God and courage in defence of the countrey he died in the yeare before Christ 164 and was buried at Modin where afterward his sons were buried Simon his third son high-priest of Ierusalem did maruellously beautifie this
the Princes and Embassadors of the King of Assyria spake blasphemous words against the Lord wherefore he slew 185 thousand of them as appeareth in the 2. King 19. Of the valley of the sonne of Hinnon THis valley lieth behind the city of Ierusalem Southward on the left hand as they went from Ierusalem to Bethelem In this valley the Iewes set vp an Idoll of copper like a King which they called Moloch that is a King of Idols This Copper Idoll stood with the arms stretching out and vnder it there was a great fire whereby the Image shewed fire-redde and besides that the more to honour it they made a great fire betweene two walls which burnt for his sake and through this fire the Idolatrous Priests cast liuing children into Molochs burning armes which he with his armes red hot burnt to death And in this manner the Iewes offered their owne children to the Idoll Moloch and when they did it they made a great noise crie and beat vpon a drum that the fathers when their children were offered should not here them crie by reason of the great noise of Drums This valley was called the valley of Tophet for Tophet signifies a Drum This was a most grosse and fearefull Idolatry therefore Christ likened this valley of Hinnon to hell fire for he called it Gehenna Mat. 5. That the Iewes should keepe themselues from this monstrous Idolatrie God made a law That if any man were taken committing this kind of Idolatry he should forthwith be stoned to death and not suffered to liue Leuit. 18. 20. The valley of Gehennon is oftentimes named in the holy Scriptures Iosh 15. Nehem. 11.2 Paral. 28.33 Ier. 7. Ierom writeth that here by this Idol Moloch in the valley of Hinnon there was a Wood for the water ran out of the Fountaine Siloah along by it and made the valley moist Of the field of bloud called Hakeldama THis field of bloud which was bought for thirty siluer pence for the which Iudas betraied our Sauiour Christ lay not farre from the valley of Hinnon Southward by the city of Ierusalem as Ierom writeth Of the hill Hameskita or offence and stander THis hill lay Southeast not farre from Ierusalem something wide of mount Oliuet so that there was but one Valley betweene them and was not altogether so high as it Also vpon this hill King Solomon in his old age suffered his wiues or concubines to make Idolatrous Temples wherein he and his wiues worshipped Idols Of the destruction of this famous Citie of Ierusalem by TITVS VESPASIAN THus haue I briefly set forth the dignitie scituation curiosity of the buildings of Ierusalem together with the richnesse of the Temple and sumptuousnesse of the houses now it rests to describe vnto you the manner and meanes how this famous Citie was destroyed surely a thing worthy wonder according to that in Ieremy Whosoeuer shall heare of it his eares shall tingle And that it might be the more famous and the Christians within it might take notice of the neer approaching desolation there were diuers strange accidents hapned and visions seene As first about some foure yeares before the riuer Iordan was turned out of her course and was brought into the Citie Pella a while after that for a yeare together there hung a Comet like a flaming sword ouer the City And in the night there was seene a light in the Temple And in the day when they were at sacrifice a Calfe brought forth a Lambe Then about the middle of the night the Easterne gates of the Temple opened of their owne accord In the skies were seene armies of men fighting and Horses and Chariots running too and againe And at last there was heard a terrible voice in the temple vttering these words Migremus hinc that is Let vs goe hence And that there might be a generall Proclamation of this sad and cruell desolation through the whole citie one Ananias the sonne of Iesus a man poore and impotent vpon the Feast of the Tabernacles ran through all the streets of the Citie and crying O a voice from the East and a voice from the West a voice from the foure windes a voice ouer Ierusalem and the Temple a voice ouer the Bridegroome and the Bride and a voice ouer the whole multitude of this Citie And although he was whipt and imprisoned and cruelly handled yet so long as he liued hee would not cease to vtter these words which by some were judg'd to foretel the horrible desolation which after hapned For Titus Caesar sonne of Flavius the Emperor about seuentie yeares after the Natiuitie of our Lord and about eight and thirty after his ascension vtterly ouerthrew it euen to the ground about the first day of the moneth of Aprill and within a yeare after these signes For he taking aduantage of the three factions which at this time swaied in Ierusalem One of Eleazer the Priest the sonne of Simon the other of Zilotus the chiefe Prince which held the Temple and the third of Iohannes Giscalenus a cruell fellow which had the command of the inferiour Citie besieged it and made this a fit opportunitie to further his enterprises whiles the seditious and factious people little regarding their owne safetie gaue way by their euill and intestine warrs to what he intended weakning themselues much more by their continued slaughters than the enemy by his inuasion Insomuch as the whole citie and Temple was filled with dead bodies common insolencies and publique rapines were ordinarily amongst them some set fire of the City others dispoiling the Temple a third sort killing the Priests euen as they were at sacrifice al places ful of dead bodies and to this to adde a greater measure of miserie without any regard at all to their future defence set fire of the store-house wherein the corne lay for the sustentation of the Citie and consumed that in one day which had been long a gathering by this meanes it came to passe that they were sorely afflicted with the pestilence through the corruption of the aire and with famine for want of Corne. All these things notwithstanding such was the crueltie obstinacie and peruersenesse of this people could not restraine them from violating the most sacred and holy things of the Temple insomuch as Iohannes Giscalenus had a full determination to haue destroyed it but that he was preuented by the Romans About this time was the feast of the Passeouer and it fell vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill being the Sabboth to the celebration whereof there resorted to Ierusalem about three hundred thousand Iewes These the enemy gaue way to enter into the Citie but considering their present necessitie for want of victuals vpon a suddain drew vp their forces and so straightly beleagered them that all this huge multitude was as it were imprisoned within the wals where partaking of the former misery they either died by the plague or famin Whence may be perceiued the maruellous prouidence
of their necessities for the violence of the famin hauing dried vp their radical moisture the feare of griefe was taken from them and such as had most cause to lament and were most pricked with the sting of sorrow before they could vtter their griefe died the beholders not shedding a tear so that through the whole city there was a still silence and a thicke mist of death and destruction did fully possesse the same But the seditious were much more cruell than these were oppressed with calamitie and sorrow for some opened the graues of the dead and taking out their bodies thrust them thorow with their swords Others to trie the sharpenesse of the edge of their weapons would fall vpon those that were yet aliue and when they had slaine them goe away laughing at their pleasure So that as Iosephus saith there was scarce any mischiefe vnder the Sunne but was both practised and tollerated in this Citie To conclude by sedition the Romans conquered the Citie and sedition conquered the Romans All loue and modestie through this extreme and intollerable famine became vtterly extinct and the deerest friends would kill one another for a crust of bread the fairest Lady commit open adultery for a little sustinance Their food was extraordinary and such as men did loath and hate Some would feed vpon snailes and wormes others of old hay chopt small many ate corne either vnground or made into bread some pluckt the meat from the spit raw others with their teeth gnaud off the leather off their shields And that very mouth which cried Crucifie him crucifie him let his bloud be vpon vs and our children was constrained to feed vpon three sorts of dung that is to say Doues dung Oxens dung and Mans dung Moreouer many were constrained for meere necessitie to feed vpon the dead bodies of such as a little before dyed partly by famine partly by the pestilence And to conclude for very madnesse eat vp their gold for some of them being taken as they were flying for their safety by the Romans in their excrement was found gold of which the souldiers hearing and supposing that all the Iewes had beene full of gold thorow couetousnesse of that gaine in one night killed 2000 of them and ript vp their bellies And had not Titus Caesar by a seuere Edict forbidden these cruell and vnheard of slaughters there had beene many more slaine To make an end of this vnheard of famine I will repeat one memorable example our of Iosephus of an outrage which a mother committed euen vpon her owne sonne There was a woman of the inhabitants beyond Iordan whose name was Marie of the stocke of Eliazer and of the Towne Bethezor which signifies the house of Hissop shee was of a noble and rich family and amongst others went to Ierusalem in hope of safety where she was likewise oppressed with the miserie of this siege for as soone as she had brought all her riches and substance into the City which she had before beyond Iordan this famine growing greater and greater vpon the inhabitants The seditious perceiuing that this woman was well furnished both with riches and sustinance on a suddain set vpon her house dispoiled her of her substance tooke away her sustinance and vtterly depriued her of all meanes to liue Shee beeing pricked with the misery and calamitie of the times saw it little preuailed to striue wherefore with teares vpon her knees she intreated that shee might haue but some small part of that they had taken from her to maintain her selfe and her son with life but the seditious gaue little eare to her intreaties wherfore being mooued to extreme anger she daily cursed with contumelious words those barbarous villains that had thus rob'd her of all her means but when shee saw that neither anger nor intreatie could procure mercie and through the Towne not one morsell of food was to be found partly prest with an extreame necessitie partly with a furious rage beyond all nature and compassion laid violent hands vpon her owne sonne and accounted an vntimely death more honourable than that he should liue to bee a prey to the seditious or a slaue to the Romans The body of this infant shee rosted and eat the soldiers of the Towne beeing prest with hunger smelling the meat supposing that as in former times they should haue found plenty with violence broke in vpon her and looke what she had prouided greedily consumed and compelled her to fetch the rest which shee did and when they were well satisfied she shewed them the head and feet of her sonne which they perceiuing loathing the inhumanitie of the fact with dejected countenance departed This famine was so extreame that one measure of graine was worth a talent that is 600 crownes But the Romans all this while did abound with plenty of all things and to vex the Iewes they shewed them the great aboundance of their store for the neighboring prouinces sent them supplies After this famine there followed an extreme plague procured partly through the stanch of the bodies that lay vnburied partly by the multitude of the massacres that daily hapned that as Egisippus writeth within the compasse of eleuen weekes there were carried out by one gate of the Citie 111000 dead bodies yet could they not emptie the Citie but that they were constrained either to bury them at the publike charge or else cast them ouer the wals into the ditches of the citie which when Titus saw and that the putrifaction of the bodies swam vpon the brim of the ditch for it was full with dead carkasses fetching a deepe sigh and lifting vp his hands to heauen he said God is my witnes this is not my fault but the punishment of God vpon them The city being thus pestired with sedition famine pestilence and warre was made now a ready prey to the Enemy and that they might make a finall end of their miseries Titus caused the engines of batterie to be brought against the walls and vpon the first day of the fourth month whicn answers to our Iune he took the third wall which lay vpon the North. Vpon the fourth of Iune after though with great labour he tooke the Tower of Antonia and in it placed a Garrison Vpon the seuenteenth day of the fourth moneth which was a fast to the Iewes Iosephus going vp to the top of that Tower made an Oration to Giscalinus and the rest to disswade them from their rebellion cease to oppose the Romans but this little preuailed Vpon the twentieth day of Iuly the Iewes burnt a part of the Porch of the Temple towards the North not far from the Tower of Antonia lest that the Romans hauing got that Hold should with the greater facilitie haue conquered the Temple also Two daies after the Romans destroyed the whole Porch with fire and the Iewes helpt to pull it downe with their hands this was none of the three Porches but a bulwarke of the Temple Vpon the 25
and the Canaanites lâ—sem Dan being deriued of Laeschaem which signifieth a Lion The trauels of the Danites THe army of the Danites went from Zarea and Esthaol to Kiriathiearim and there pitched their tents which is 16 miles Iudg. 15. From thence they went to mount Ephraim to the house of Micha and tooke his carued Image and his Leuite from him which was eight miles Iudges 15. From thence they went to Lais 104 miles So all the Trauels were 128 miles Of Kiriath-jearim KIriath-jearim was a city of the Levits in the tribe of Iuda vpon the borders of the tribe of Benjamin about a mile from Ierusalem Westward It somtime belonged to the Gibeonites Ios 9. and signifies a city of the desart or woods beeing deriued from Kiriah which signifies a city and Iaar a wood or Forrest Here stood the arke of the Couenant after it had bin in the land of the Philistines seuen moneths and stood in the house of Abinadab whose son Eliazer because he was of the family of the Leuites by consent of the children of Israel was consecrated priest thereof to attend and keep it here it remained 48 yeares till Dauid fetched it thence with great ioy 1 Sam. 7. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Chr. 14. Here Saul was anointed King by Samuel here the company of the Prophets that is the scolers of the Wise came downe from the more eminent places where the arke of God was with holy songs and instruments of musick and the Spirit of the Lord came vpon Saul and he sung and praised God with them They called this the Hill of God because the Arke of the Couenant stood in it 1 Sam 10. Here Ionathan the sonne of Saul thrust out a garrison of the Philistimes which held this towne in subiection 1 Sam. 14. Neere to this place was the valley Rephaim or of the Gyants where Dauid won a memorable battel against the Philistims and pursued them with great slaughter euen to the plain of Perizim 2 Sam. 15. The Trauels of the Leuite whose Concubine the Inhabitants of Gibeon most wickedly abused THis Leuite dwelt in Ramath in mount Ephraim from whence he went to Bethlehem Iuda which is 16 miles to fetch back his concubine or rather his wife which was the daughter of a certain citizen in Bethlehem but a bond seruant not free such they called concubines because they had neither the honor to be mistresse of the house neither could their posteritie inherit in lands or goods of their father although before God they were lawfull wiues Iudg. 19. From Bethlehem they returned back again on foot to Ierusalem which then was called Iebus because the Iebusits inhabited there Which is 6 miles Iudg. 19. From thence they went to Gibeah not far distant from the city Gibeon where after Saul kept his Royall seat 1 Sam. 22. Here the Gibeonites abused the Levits concubine Which was almost 4 miles From thence he went home to his own city Ramath in Mount Ephraim and there cut the dead body of his wife in 12 parts and sent them throughout all the tribes of Israel Which is 8 miles So all his trauels were 34 miles Of Ramath THis was a city in Mount Ephraim some 8 miles from Ierusalem toward the North and signifieth a high and lofty Citie being deriued of Rom that is It was high This towne Baësa King of Israel would haue fortified and repaired after it had bin decayed but hee was hindred by Benhadad King of the Syrians that he could not finish what hee had begun There were many townes and Cities of this name as Ramoth where Ahab dwelt 1 Reg. 22. Ramathaim Sophim or Arimathia where the prophet Samuel dwelt 1 Sam. 1. and there where the Ark of God stood not far from Gibeah was called Ramah also Iudg. 19. There was another Ramath in the tribe of Nepthali Ios 19. all of them being so called because they stood vpon very high mountains The Trauels of the Children of Israel when they fought against the Benjamites FRom Mizpah in the land of Gilead where they appointed to meet for in the enemies land they could not assemble themselues the whole army of the Israelites went to the Arke of God in Shilo which was about 48 miles From thence they went with their army to Gibeah where they lost 22000 of their men which is 2 miles From thence they returned to Shilo and intreated God for aid which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence they went the second time to Gibeah and entred battell againe with the enemy but because they trusted in their own strength therefore in this second expedition there were slain 18000 of their men Which was two miles Iudg. 20. From thence the whole Army of the Israelites returned backe again and before the Lord in Shilo lamented the ouerthrow they had twice sustained and with earnest prayers implored his ayd that they might obtain the victorie Which was 2 miles Iud. 20. From thence they returned the third time to Gibeah there with great expedition renued the war because they trusted in God and not to their own strength they put to the sword 25000 of the Benjamits and won a notable victorie Iudg. 20. which was 2 miles Hauing taken and burnt the city of Gibeah with fire they returned backe vnto the town of Shilo which is two miles there before the Lord they began to lament the calamitie of the tribe of Benjamin saying Wherefore hath this thing hapned that one of the Tribes should be rooted out before thee Iudg. 21. From thence they went to Iabes in Gilead and besieged and tooke it and destroyed it to the ground which is 52 miles From thence they returned back again to Shilo with them brought 400 maids which they gaue to the Benjamites to bee their wiues Iudg. 21. Which was 52 miles So all the trauels of the children of Israel were 164 miles Of Iabes THis was a city in the land of Gilead 52 miles from Ierusalem toward the Northeast the inhabitants whereof buried the bones of Saul and Ionathan his son 1 Sam. 31. it is deriued of Iabesh which signifieth a dry city Here endeth the booke of IVDGES The trauels of ELIMELECH and his wife NAOMI ELIMELECK and his wife went from Bethlehem Iuda into the Land of the Moabites where he died which is 40 miles From thence she returned with her daughter in law Ruth to Bethlehem Iuda where Boez married Ruth which was fortie miles So their Trauels were 80 miles The first Booke of SAMVEL The Trauels of HANNA the mother of the Prophet SAMVEL HEr husband Elkana and she went from Ramathaim Sophim in mount Ephraim to Shilo the house of the Lord which was 12 miles where by earnest prayers she obtained of the Lord a sonne 1 Sam. 1. From thence shee returned backe againe to Ramathaim Sophim and there Samuel was borne 1 Sam. 1. which was 12 miles From thence she went to Shilo to present her sonne before the Lord and hee remained
carrieth the smell vnto the red sea and they that saile can easily discerne the sweetnesse of the aire There is gold also found there very fine and pure insomuch as for the goodnesse of it it is called Arabian gold The Phoenix is found there of which there is but one in the world Pliny lib. 9. cap. 35. describes her to be as big as an Eagle with a list of feathers like gold about her necke the rest are of a purple colour therefore from Phoenicea and the purple colour of her wings shee is called Phoenix Shee hath a tuft of feathers vpon her head like vnto a crowne Shee liueth 660 yeares at the end of which time she buildeth her a nest of Cassia Cinnamon Calamus and other pretious Gummes and herbs which the Sun by the extremitie of the heate and the wauing of her wings fires and she taking delight in the sweetnesse of the sauor houers so long ouer it that she burnes her selfe in her owne nest Within a while after out of the marrow of her bones and the ashes of her body there groweth a worme which by little and little increaseth to some bignesse and after to a purple bird Then her wings extend themselues to a full greatnesse till such time as she commeth to be a perfect Phoenix This Bird doth liuely represent our Sauiour Christ who only and alone is the true Messiah and through whom we must expect euerlasting life who in the fulnesse of time offered himself a Sacrifice vpon the Crosse sustaining the punishment for sin at the time of his Passion putting on a purple robe being all be sprinkled with his owne bloud Ioh. 19. And as the Phoenix is burnt in her owne nest so likewise was hee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath according to that in the 22 Psal My heart is become like melting wax in the middest of my body And as the Phoenix of it selfe begetteth another of the same kinde so Christ by the power of his Deitie raised vp his body from the dust of the earth and ascended vp into heauen a glorious body to sit at the right hand of his father in that euerlasting Kingdome of glory Thus gentle Reader I thought fit to describe vnto you these two townes that when you shall reade of them in the holy Scripture the one being in Aethiopia towards the South the other in Arabia Foelix and called Seba you might discerne the one from the other of both which there is mention in the 72 Psalme The Kings of the Sea and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Saba and Seba shall giue gifts The Trauels of King Pharaoh out of Aegypt when he ouercame the Towne of Gazer 1 Reg. 9. IN the 16 yeare of King Dauid Anno mundi 2906 and before Christ 1602 Chabreus King of Aegypt began to raigne and raigned 56 yeares Diod. lib. 2. cap. 2. Herodotus calleth this man Chephrines in his second booke and Eusebius Nepher Cherres He went from Memphis the chiefe Citie of Aegypt with a great armie 268 miles euen vnto the tribe of Ephraim and there tooke Gazer a Citie of the Leuites and burned it with fire 1 Reg. 8. Ios 21. After he came to Ierusalem which was 28 miles And this city which he had thus destroied he gaue to his daughter the wife of Solomon 1 Reg. 9. From thence he returned to Memphis in Aegypt 244 miles So all the Trauels of King Pharaoh were 244 miles Of Memphis MEmphis is a great city in Egypt where commonly the kings of that country keepe their Courts and lyeth from Ierusalem 244 miles South-westward This citie was built a little before the floud but repaired and enlarged by a king called Ogdoo who in loue of his daughter after her name called it Memphis You may reade of it in the ninth of Hosea called there by the name of Moph for thus he saith The people of Israel are gone out of the land of Ephraim because of their Idolatrie into Aegypt but Aegypt shall gather them vp Moph that is Memphis shall bury them Moph or Mapheth in this place signifieth A prodigious wonder but the rest of the Prophets call it Noph for the fertilitie pleasantnes of the country as you may reade Esa 19. The Princes of the Zoan are become foolish and the Princes of Noph or of Memphis are deceiued See also Ierem. 2.44.46 Ezech. 30. in which places you may find it called after this name Zoan is the citie Tanis where Moses wrought all his miracles But Noph or Moph is this Memphis a beautifull towne large and spacious scituated in the strongest and profitablest place in Aegypt diuided into two parts by the riuer Nilus so that any kind of commodities or merchandise might with ease bee brouht thither by water for which cause the kings of that countrie for the most part kept their abiding there Strabo saith lib. 17. That vpon the East part of this citie there standeth a Tower or Castle called Babylon built by certaine Babylonians who leauing their owne countrey by the permissions of the kings of Egipt dwelt there in after times there was placed a garrison in it one of the three which were for the defence of Aegypt and by Ptolomy was called Babilon through both which viz. Memphis and Babilon Nilus passed the one standing vpon the East side the other vpon the West Zoan or Tanis stood about some foure miles from this towne and was a faire spacious citie also scituated towards the South vpon the East side of Nilus to which the kings of that country often resorted and Heliopolis anothet faire citie stood some six miles off that towards the Northeast All these foure townes were so wonderfully inhabited by reason of their pleasant profitable scituation that in processe of time they become all one citie and in this age is called Alcaire containing in circuit 60 miles so that it seemeth to spectators to be like a country replenished with nothing but fair houses goodly churches strong towers exceeding all the rest of the cities of Egypt aswell for the beautifulnesse of the place as the extent and largenesse of it It is reported that in the yeare of our Lord 1476 there was such an extreme pestilence in it that there died 20000 a day from whence may be gathered how infinitely it is peopled Neere to this towne stood the Pyramides which are held to he one of the wonders of the World as Strabo saith lib. 17. the height of one of them was 625 foot and square on each side 883 foot it was twentie yeares a building a hundred thousand workemen emploied about it whence it may be easily gathered how hard and difficult it was in those times to get stone it being for the most part brought from Arabia and at what an excessiue charge they were that set vp them Of Gazar This Citie is described in the Trauels of Solomon The Trauels of Hadad King of Idumaea WHen Dauid conquered Idumaea Hadad
day of Iuly the Iewes filled the Porch toward the West with pitch and betume and then made as though they meant to fly and leaue the citie which some of the Romans perceiuing without any command of their Captaines put scaling ladders to the Tower and began to assault it but when they were most busie the Iewes of a sudden put fire to the pitch and burnt them most miserably insomuch as Titus pittied them to see their extremitie although they were such as did contrary to his command Vpon the last day of this moneth they tooke the North gate which lay towards the rising of the Sunne and close by the brooke Cedron rhis they burnt downe with fire Vpon the third of August Titus commanded to fire the gate of the Temple that was all couered ouer with gold siluer by this gate the Romans made a breach into the Temple which ere this had beene prophaned by the Iewes whiles this gate was a burning the Iewes stood astonished and not one of them resisted the Romans Caesar and all his army labored three daies to quench this fire after which hee called a councell to determine what he should do with the temple it was so rich and sumptuous that he would faine haue left it as an ornament for the Roman Empire But the Iewes hauing got a little breathing made new incursions vpon the Romans by which meanes they could not determine thereof The 6 of August the souldiers of Titus without command of their Captaines fired the Temple just vpon that day which Nebuchadnezzar before time had destroyed it as Iosephus witnesseth li. de Bell. 6. c. 26.27 Caesar would faine haue saued this Temple for the sumptuousnesse of it and beckoned to his souldiers to haue quencht the fire but they partly prest on with a desire of wealth partly being prickt on with a fury and madnesse gaue no eare to his speeches but committed most cruell massacres without either regard of age or sex So that the cries of the slaughterd the sound of the Roman trumpets the fierce resistance of the seditious and the fire furiously burning represented a most horrible spectacle The ground below was couered with dead bodies many in desperation threw themselues into the fire 6000 were burnt in the same gate whither they fled for refuge and the priests most cruelly massacred as they were in the Temple This was the end of the Temple of Ierusalem the mirror of the world being consumed and spoiled with fire and sword After these things vpon the bridge that passeth from the temple ouer the valley into the lower towne Titus made a speech by an interpreter to the two seditious Captaines gently intreating them to leaue off their rebellion and he would spare the Citie and commit no more outrages and such further requests as they desired should according to reason be granted them but if they would not embrace mercy and cease their violent resistance they must expect no manner of compassion but the very law of Armes This they contemned and made but a mocke of Caesar for all his offers whereupon in a great rage hee gaue the signall to his souldiers and they went through all the City and set it on fire The next day they woon the lower Citie and with fire and sword consumed the place where the records lay the Court and all the Princely buildings vntill they came to that stately house of Helena which stood in the midst of Acra all the houses neere being filled with the bodies of the dead and the streets horribly defiled with the bloud of those that were slaine Within a short while after Iohannes Giscalinus was taken aliue and committed to prison The inferiour Citie being thus taken and destroyed about the 16 day of August Caesar began to build his engines and batter the walls of the vpper citie which within the space of 18 daies after with extreme labour and skill hee laid flat with the ground as Iosephus saith And vpon the 7 of September with great facilitie hee conquered the citie the Iewes of their owne accord descending from the Towers and the Romanes set vpon the walls their ensignes with a great acclamation and wasted all the citie with fire and sword sparing neither men women nor children The 8 day of the moneth of September the whole Citie was destroyed and not a stone left vpon a stone but laid leuell with the ground onely the three Towers that were built by Herod which were of shining Marble viz. Hippicus Phaselus and Mariamne that future ages seeing the excellencie of those buildings they might iudge of the statelines of the rest But these also were after destroyed by Adrianus Caesar There died by the famine and pestilence an innumerable number by fire and sword ten hundred thousand 2000 were found that either killed themselues or one killed another 7900 were taken captiues of these all the seditious theeues that accused one another were slaine by Frontonius Caesar Titus freed many 7000 were sent into Aegypt with extreme labour to consume and die the properest and most able were reserued for triumph many were distributed through the prouinces some were slaine by the sword and by beasts for publike spectacles and those that were 16 yeares of age and vnder together with many other Caesar sold vnder the crowne at thirty for a siluer penny that as Christ was sold for thirty pence so thirty of them should be sold for a penny With the riches of this towne Caesar triumphed rode into Rome with two golden Chariots built the Temple of Peace and there put all the plate which he found in the temple of Ierusalem After all this for a full determination of those euils the two seditious captaines Iohannes Giscalenus and Simon the son of Giora were put to most cruell deaths Thus may we see the grieuous punishment of the obstinat and ambitious which God permitted to fall vpon them for their vnthankfulnesse and cruell tyranny How the city of Ierusalem after this destruction by Titus Vespas was vtterly beaten downe and defaced by Aelius Adr. Caesar which he re-edifying called it after his own name Aelia THe city of Ierusalem being thus laid leuel with the ground for the space of sixty yeares lay desolate a receptacle for theeues and murtherers a fit place for Wolues and wilde beasts which resorted thither to feed vpon the dead bodies And now time consuming their flesh left their bones and skuls to lye vpon the earth as in a Charnell house Thus it continued vntill one Benchochab which signifies the Son of the Stars born in the towne of Bethcoron not farre from Emaus professed himselfe to be the Messiah or Christ The Iewes supposing this to be true because of that saying of Numb 24. There shall a Starre rise vp out of Iacob assembled themselues to the number of many thousands and followed him with great tyranny and crueltie spoyling the Holy Land and through all the countrey of Iudaea committing many outrages and massacres
from thence the red sea the arme therof where Pharaoh was drowned when he followed the children of Israel may easily be discerned Mount Sina is much higher than this and lyeth two daies journey from the Red sea Vpon the top whereof are many rocks and great stones From thence you may see sundry places as a mountain lying in Thebaidaes the great hauen of the red Sea the Desart of Elim and Sur with many others The desarts round about take the name from the height thereof and are called The desarts of Sina Of the Graues of Concupiscence THese Graues are 112 miles towards the South from Ierusalem where the children of Israel lusting after meat were fed by the Lord with Quailes and for their disobedience died miserably It was also called Tabarah which signifies an inflammation being deriued from Baar to burne because here the wrath of the Lord was kindled against them and he strooke the vttermost parts of their Tents with fire from heauen and consumed them Numb 11. Of Hazeroth THis is a place in the desart some 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the South the name thereof being deriued from Chazer which signifieth a Caue about the mouth whereof there groweth long Grasse And therefore from hence Chazer is also taken for Grasse Here Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron was strooke with leprosie Of Rithmah RIthmah takes name from Iuniper for Rothaem in Hebrew signifies Iuniper It is distant from Ierusalem 112 miles toward the Southeast Heere the children of Israel pitched their Tents Num. 33. and here it is very likely the Angell of the Lord appeared to the prophet Eliah and brought him meat and drinke Of Rimmon Parez IN this place the children of Israel the 16 remoue made their abiding being 108 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-East Here it is thought the children of Israell found great store of Pomegranats whereof diuision was made amongst them For Rimmon is as much as a grained apple or a Pomegranat Parez He hath diuided Of Libnah LIbnah is the 17 place where the children of Israel stayed and was so called of the aboundance of Frankincence that was found there for Libnah signifies white Frankincense This is 104 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Of Rissa HEere the children of Israel pitcht their Tents being about 100 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southeast it took the name from the fruitfulnesse and aboundance of floures herbes that grow there and is deriued from Rasa which signifies to make moist for there were vsually exceeding pleasant and sweet dewes Of Chehelah CHehelah was the nineteenth place where the children of Israel made their abiding in the desart being 92 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Num. 33. and signifies a Congregation or Church being deriued from Rahal that is He hath assembled This was a type of the Church where all the Elect and faithful people of God trauel through the wildernes of this wicked world Of Saphar SAphar is a mountaine in the desart of Arabia Petraea 88 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest This was the twentieth Remoue the name of the place beeing so called partly of their tents partly of the roundnesse of the mountains Of Harada HArada was full of wilde beasts which strook the people into a mighty feare so called as beeing deriued from Charada which signifies terror or trembling Here the children of Israell stayed the 21 time it being 80 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Of Thahath THis is a certain valley 68 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest and is deriued from Tachath which signifieth a ceriain Plaine or low place Of Maceheloth THis was the 22 abiding of the Israelites beeing 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Here a congregation of the tribes of Israel was called for Maccheloth signifieth a congregation or meeting together Somtimes it is taken for the Church being deriued from Rahal i. He assembleth together Of Tharah THis was a memorable place in the Wildernesse where the Israelites had a breathing time for now growing neere to the borders of the land of Canaan after so many journies they began to rest themselues because of the warres they were shortly to vndertake And it is deriued of Roah and Tarah which signifieth a breathing time Here was the 24 mansion of the Israelites Of Mithca HEre was the 25 mansion of the Israelites being but 56 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest in the vtmost borders of the land of Canaan and no doubt tooke the name from the delightfull and pleasant taste of Grapes For Mitka signifies the same that Mithetk that is to say sweetnesse and pleasantnesse Of Cades Barnea CAdes Barnea a citie of the Idumaeans being deriued of Kadas and Barah that is A holy place is fortie miles from Ierusalem towards the South from this place Moses sent spies into the land of Canaan who brought of the fruit of the Land but all of them discouraged the people onely Caleb wherefore they murmured and the Lord was angry and would not suffer them to enter into the land of Promise So turning their journey they went to Exeongaber 148 miles so that they trauelled in the desart 40 yeares before they could enter into the land of Promise Of this you may reade Gen. 14.16.20 Num. 13.27.33.34 Deut. 1. Psal 29. Ezech. 47. Of Chasmona IN this place the children of Israel set vp their tents a little before they sent spies into the land of Canaan it is not far from Cades Barnea towards the South For the twelue Spies were not sent from the Citie of Cades Barnea but from their Tents and of this still distribution or sending for one out of euery Tribe was chosen it tooke the name For Casmona signifies a still distribution being deriued of Chasca and Manah hee stilly distributed Of Moseroth MOseroth was the 27 mansion of the children of Israel in the wildernesse and distant from Ierusalem 72 miles towards the South where the Lord caused them to returne backe for their murmuring towards the South that so they might liue just forty yeares in the wildernesse Num. 14.33 This place seemeth to take the name therof from Traditions for there Moses repeated to the Israelites the Law of the Lord and for this cause their tents were called Moseroth which signifies Traditions and is deriued of Masar that is to Preach Of Benei Iaacon THis was the 28 mansion of the Israelites so called because there their tents were fairly set vp with pleasant walkes and places about them for Benei Iaaecon signifieth a Building or faire walk being deriued of Bana and Akah that is Hee hath set vp an house and was 96 miles from Ierusalem Southward Num. 33. Of Hor Gidgad AT this mountaine the children of Israel staied a while because it was a fertill and pleasant place as Moses himselfe witnesseth It is 112 miles from Ierusalem toward the South being deriued of Harar a Mountain and Glebam a Plough Plin. l. 20 cp 20. Of Iotbatha THis
miles where women with great mirth joy met him saying Saul hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand for which cause Saul out of meere enuie for then he did not know that he had been annointed by Samuel would haue slaine him and his sonne Ionathan also for excusing him 1 Sam. 18.19 From Gibeah Ionathan went into the desart of Ziph some 22 miles to comfort Dauid there they swore a solemne oath of mutuall friendship to continue as long as they liued 1 Sam. 23. From thence Ionathan returned which was 22 miles 1 Sam. 23. At last he went to the wars with his father to mount Gilboah 40 miles there he his father his brothers Abinadab Melchisuah were slaine So all the trauels of Ionathan were 126 miles The trauels of Abiather Abimelechs sonne WHen Doeg the Idumaean at the command of Saul had slaine the Priests of the Lord this Abiather the son of Abimelech the high Priest fled to the Wood Hareth not farre from Kegilah some 20 miles and came and told Dauid of all that had hapned 1. Sam. 22.23 Of Kegilah THis was a Citie in the Tribe of Iuda 4 miles from Hebron towards the East 20 from Ierusalem toward the Southwest From which towne Dauid droue away the Philistines that had besieged it 1 Sam. 23. You may reade of it Iosh 23. Nehem 3. In S. Ieroms time it was but a small towne where the inhabitants shew to strangers the Sepulchre of Abacuck the Prophet Not farre off toward the West lieth Hareth that wood when Dauid was when Abiather came to him Kegila in Hebrew signifieth a Tent. The trauels of King Dauid DAuid was annointed King by Samuel when he was 20 yeres old Anno mundi 2881 and before Christ 1807. Within a while after he was sent by his father Isay or Iesse to Gibea of Saul which was eight miles there he played to Saul vpon the Harpe 1 Sam. 16. When Saul went out with his Armie against the Philistins Dauid returned backe to Bethlehem his owne countrey which was about eight miles There he fed his fathers sheep 1 Sam. 17. From thence he went to Socho and Asecha and killed Goliah which was foure miles From thence he carried the head of Goliah to Ierusalem which was 8 miles From thence hee went with king Saul to Gibeah which was 4 miles From Gibeah he went 12 miles into the land of the Philistins and to perform the promise which he had made put to the sword 200 of them From thence he returned and brought their forskins vnto Saul in recompence of which noble exploit he was married to Sauls daughter which was 12 miles A while after he made an incursion vpon the land of the Philistines and in a sharp and cruell war got a famous victorie and returned with glory to Gibeah which was at the least 24 miles But when Dauid perceiued that Saul went about to take away his life and that he was so narrowly pursued he had no way to escape but to be let down by a cord through a window he made hast and went from Gibeah to Arimathea where he complained vnto Samuel of the injuries of Saul and layd before him in what a miserable condition he was and to what straits brought Wherefore Samuel to comfort him brought him to Naioth which seemeth to be so called of the faire scituation and pleasantnesse of the place for Mabah signifies a laudable and comely place this was a Colledge of such as were professors of that sacred study of diuinity Now Saul hearing that Dauid was in this place came with some of his seruants on purpose to make him captiue But at the sight of Samuel he began to sing Psalmes and Hymnes after the manner of the Prophets From thence Dauid returned back vnto Gibeah some 12 miles where at the stone of Ezel not farre from Gibeah toward the South Ionathan went to Dauid counselled him to depart with all speed for that his father meant euill towards him So they tooke leaue either of other with teares 1 Sam. 20. Ezel signifies an Angle as was a stone full of angles or corners From thence he went to Nob which was 12 miles From thence he went to Gath a citie of the Philistines where he faigned himselfe mad because of Achis whom hee feared 1 Sam. 21. which was 24 miles From thence hee went to the caue of Odullam which was 24 miles and thither resorted vnto him many of his kindred and such as were indebted and in danger to the number of 40 persons In this place he wrote the 57 and 142 Psalmes as may appeare by their titles From thence he went to Mizpah in the land of the Moabites where at this time the King kept his court and there he carefully commanded his friends and followers to his safe protection till such time as the fury of Saul was asswaged 1 Sam. 22. From thence by the councell of the Prophet Gad he returned by the wildernesse of Hareth to Kegila and rescued it 40 miles Here Abiather the Priest came to him 1 Sam. 23. From thence fearing the comming of Saul hee went into the wildernesse of Ziph whither Ionathan came to him 1 Sam. 22. which was 4 miles From thence he went to the towne of Moan which was foure miles From thence he went to the hold of Engedi which were 36 miles From thence hee went six miles to Carmel in Iudaea where hee determined to haue destroyed Nabal for his churlishnesse 1 Sam. 25. From thence he went to Hackilah 2 miles From Hackilah he went to Gath where Achis king of the Philistines kept his court which was 16 miles This Achis was very courteous and bountifull minded he entertained Dauid and gaue him freely the city of Ziclag to inhabit in 1 Sam. 27. Wherefore Dauid went thence to the towne of Ziclag which was 12 miles 1 Sam. 27. and there inhabited one yeare and seuen moneths From thence Dauid went often towards the South and made incursions vpon the Amalekites wasting and destroying their land which lay in the Desart of Sur about 80 miles distant from Ziclag and a hundred and twenty miles from Ierusalem towards the South-west From the Desart of Sur he returned backe againe vnto Ziclag which was 80 miles and sent part of the prey which he had gotten to the King of the Philistines of which you may reade more 1 Sam. 27. From Ziclag Dauid went with the army of the Philistines to fight against Saul 88 miles euen to Sunem for the Philistines pitched betweene Iezreel and Sunem 1 Sam. 28.29 But because the Princes of the Philistines durst not trust him therefore by the consent of Achis their King hee returned backe to Ziclag 88 miles 1 Sam. 29. Whiles Dauid was gone with the Philistines to fight against Israel the Amalekites inuaded Ziclag tooke it and burnt it with fire and carried away Ahinoam and Abigal Dauids wiues captiues Wherefore when Dauid came to Ziclag and perceiued what had hapned with
day The siege continued euen till the 11 yere of this king Ierem. 39.52 2 Reg. 25. And vpon the 9 day of the 4 moneth Thamus which agreeth with the tenth day of Iuly the City was taken and Zedekiah was put to flight Vpon the 7 of the 5 moneth Ab Nabusaraden chiefe captaine of the army was sent backe by Nabuchadonezar into Iudaea where he destroied and burned the houses and buildings of the citie of Ierusalem Ierem. 52. vpon the tenth day of the fifth Moneth Ab which answereth to the ninth day of Argust being the Sabbath day the temple of Ierusalem was set on fire Ier. 52. de bello Iudaei lib. 6. cap. 26. 27. This first captiuitie and destruction of the citie of Ierusalem by Nabuchadonezar that great Emperor happened anno mundi 3362 and before Christ 606. Three hundred and nintie yeres being then fully compleat and ended from the first yeare of Iaroboam King of Israel who set vp the golden calues and caused them to be worshipped For after the end of these yeares according to the prophecie of Ezekiel cap. 4. the sins of Ieroboam should be grieuously punished vpon the people of Iudah In like manner from the end of the 13 yere of Iosiah wherin Ieremie first began to prophecie vntill this yeare in which the children of Israel were carried away captiue into Babylon are numbred 40 yeares which by Ezek. cap. 4. are called the yeares of the iniquitie of Iuda because so long the Iewes did contemne and despise the admonition of the Prophet Ieremie Of Babylon HOw far this citie stood from Ierusalem you may reade before which by the Chaldaeans is called Shinear or Sinear and signifies To strike vpon the teeth being deriued of Schen A tooth and Naer To strike It may also bee taken for that when a man endeauoured with all speed to execute a thing which seemes to resemble the condition of Nimrod for that in this place he endeuoured to ouercome and conquer all his neighbours from whence this land was called Casdius that is The countrey of the destroyer So changing M into L it is called Chaldeus or Chaldaea The chiefe and Metropolitan citie of which countrie was this Babylon built some thirtie yeares after the floud by Nimrod or the Babylonian Saturne the first great commander of the world according to Berosus lib. 4. who writeth after this manner Nimrod which was accounted the sonne of Iupiter Belus being angry with the holy Priests of that great God Iehouah came with his colonie and people into the field of Sinear where hee built a citie and laid the foundation of a great tower 131 yeares after the floud and raised this tower to such a height and withall of such a hugenesse that it seemed as if it had beene some great mountaine because he would haue the Babylonian people accounted the chiefest and greatest in the world also their gouernor the King of Kings A little after he saith he built this tower but before he could finish it dyed in the 56 yeare aftet he began it wherefore the citie and tower of Babylon according to the opinion of Berosus was begun in Anno mundi 1788 which was 131 yeares after the flood and before Christ 2180. There were two causes wherefore the children of men built vp this Tower first that they might get them a name secondly that they might be safe in case there came another flood to drowne the world It was made of bricke and bittume least the water should loosen it But the Lord turned their enterprises into euill and diuided their Language so that they could not vnderstand one another whereby they were constrained to leaue off their building from whence it happened that their mindes manners vnderstandings studies and principall actions were vtterly changed and is the foundation of all discord and sedition where the feare of God and the true knowledge of Christ doth not preuent it From this diuision of tongues it is called the citie of Babylon this is the citie of diuision being deriued of the word Balal he hath confounded or mingled together Of this city you may reade in Ios lib. 1. cap. 9. where he bringeth in a saying of the Sibels which was That when all nations were of one language they built an exceeding high tower as though they would haue ascended by it into heauen but the Lord with great tempest and diuiding their tongues subuerted their enterprise from whence it was called Babylon This citie was the fairest in those times of all others scituated in a spacious plaine vpon euery side whereof there stood pleasant orchards and gardens it was built foure square compassed about with wals of an incredible strength and greatnesse being 50 cubits thicke and 200 high beautified within with goodly buildings fair temples richly guilt with gold and wonderfull to looke vpon It was in compasse 380 furlongs as Strabo saith which make 48 miles Through it ran the riuer Euphrates by which all things necessarie were conueyed to the Citie without it was compassed with faire ditches fil'd with water like riuers and in the wall there stood a hundred gates Herodotus saith That it was 480 furlongs about which make 60 miles English but that is not so credible The first founder of this citie was Nimrod who in those times was the chiefe commander of the world It is thought that he was the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noah whose name signifies a cruell gouernor or an vnmercifull tyrant And that his actions might be according to the signification of his name he is branded with most perspicuous note of cruelty omitting no violent action whereby he might enlarge his dominions incroching vpon other mens gouerments through a thirstie and ambitious desire of renowne without either respect of equitie or humanitie And to adde euill to euill committed many outrages vpon such as were accounted good men and the Priests of the great God Iehouah from whence there grew in him a more than humane resolution accounting himselfe in this world a god and through this opinion grew into contempt of all good things compelling such as were his subjects and vassals to do him worship and reuerence as to a diuine power which being ingraffed into the hearts of such as followed in succeeding ages they countenanced it with authority from whence it came to passe that he was inrolled into the number of their principall gods giuing him the name of Saturne whom the Hebrewes calleth Sudormin which elegantly imployeth Saturne Berosus saith that the Babylonian Iupiter succeeded this Nimrod whose authoritie I am willing to follow to auoid prolixitie This man so much inlarged the Citie that many in succeeding ages haue attributed the foundation thereof vnto him He ruled ouer it sixtie and one yeares After him succeeded Ninus or as some will haue it Nimrod the second who began his raigne Anno mundi 1909 before Christ 2061 he did many worthy acts during his life and added to the Empire of Babylon many Prouinces
Priests to death and prayed vnto the Lord who sent rain vpon the earth in great aboundance 1 Reg. 18. From Mount Carmel he ran by King Ahabs chariot to Iesreel which was accounted 16 miles After when Queene Iesabel threatned his death hee departed thence and went to Beersaba 84 miles 1 Reg. 19. From Beersaba he went one daies journy into the wildernes of Paran because hee thought to remaine there safe from the mischiefe of Iesabel which was 20 miles from Beersaba Southward Here the Angell of the Lord brought him meat as he was sitting vnder a Iuniper tree 1 Reg. 19. By vertue of this meat Eliah trauelled from thence to Mount Horeb or Sinai 80 miles and continued there 40 daies and forty nights without meat or drinke There the Lord spake to Eliah as hee stood in the entrance of a caue his face being couered with his mantle 1 Reg. 19. From the mount Sinai or Horeb he returned to Abel-Mehola which was 156 miles where hee called Elizeus the son of Saphas to the ministeriall function and office of a Prophet 1 Reg. 18. From thence he went to Damascus 124 miles where he anointed Hasael King of Syria 1 Reg. 19. From Damascus Elias went to Mount Carmell where hee dwelt which was accounted 120 miles From mount Carmel he went to Iesreel 16 miles there in the vineyard of Naboth who Iezabel caused to be stoned to death he sharply reprehended Ahab for his impiety and idolatry 1 Reg. 21. From Iezreel he returned back again to his own house to Carmel which was 16 miles From thence he went to Samaria which was 32 miles where he answered the seruants of King Ahaziah whom he had sent to enquire of Baalzebub the idoll of Ekron concerning his health saying Go and tel your master that sent you That the God of Israel saith Because thou hast sent to aske counsel of Baalzebub the idol of Ekron and thinkest there is no God in Israell therefore thou shalt not rise off the bed whereon thou liest but shalt surely die 2 Reg. 1. Soone after Elias returned to Mount Carmel which was 32 miles where the two Captaines with their Companies of fifty that were sent to take him were consumed with fire from heauen 1 Reg. 1. From Mount Carmel he went to Samaria with the third Cap. 32 miles where hee prophecied of the death of King Ahaziah 2 Reg. 1. From Samaria hee returned backe againe to Mount Carmel 32 miles From thence he went to Gilgal 52 miles From Gilgal he went with Elizeus to the towne of Bethel being 6 miles 2 Reg. 2. From thence to Iericho 4 miles 2 Reg. 2. From Iericho hee and Elizeus went to Iordan which was sixe miles through which riuer they went vpon dry ground Now as they were speaking one to another vpon the East side of the riuer behold a fiery chariot came with fiery horses and tooke Elias vp aliue into heauen after he had gouerned the Church 30 yeres an mundi 3056 and before Christ 912 2 Reg. 2. So all the Trauels of Eliah the Prophet were 1033 miles Of the Cities and places to which he trauelled Of Thisbe IN this towne the Prophet Eliah was borne it being scituated in the land of Gilead beyond Iordan 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast It taketh the name from Captiuitie being deriued of Chabah he hath led into captiuitie Of Kerith THe riuer Kerith where the Rauens fed Elias runneth from Mount Ephraim between Bethel and Iericho 8 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and so passing along towards the East falleth into the riuer Iordan 1 Reg. 17. The Kerethites were such as garded the person of the King which in the Prophet Dauids time were called mighty men taking their name from striking and cutting being deriued of Charath he hath smitten or cut in sunder Of Zarpath or Sarepta THis was a Citie of the Sidonians where they found much mettall of diuers kindes lying betweene Tyrus and Sydon 112 miles from Ierusalem towards the North and taketh the name from Zoraph which signifies To trie or burne with fire There is at this time but eight houses in all the towne although by the ruines it seemeth to haue beene in times past a very faire citie The inhabitants thereof take vpon them to shew the chamber wherein Elias the Prophet sometimes liued when hee raised the widowes childe to life Before the gate of the citie also there is shewed a certaine Chappell where they say Elias first spake with the widow 1 Reg. 17. Of Abelmehola THis was a towne in the tribe of Manasses on this side Iordan in the mid-way betweene Sichem and Salem some 38 miles from Ierusalem Northward At this day it is called Abisena where there are found certaine ruines of Marble pillars by which may be gathered that in times past it hath beene a very beautifull citie It seemeth to haue taken the name from a great Lamentation or Mourning for Abel signifieth To lament and bewaile and Machol A company The typicall signification of ELIAS ELias according to the interpretation of Saint Ierome signifies the minister of Iehouah but as others would haue it Eliah is as much as my God Iehouah He was a type of Saint Iohn Baptist who was sent before to prepare the way of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Chirst Of this you may reade more Malach. 4. Matt. 11.17 Isa 40. c. The trauels of the Prophet Elisaeus or Elisha ELisha followed Elias through diuers countries and became as it were his seruant pouring water vpon his hands and ministring to him 1 Reg. 19. 2 Reg. 3. Elisha went with Eliah from Gilgal to Bethel which was six miles 1 Reg. 19. From Bethel they both went to Iericho which was 4 miles From Iericho he went beyond Iordan 6 miles where his Master was taken from him vp into heauen and his spirit was doubled vpon him 2 Reg. 2. From thence he returned backe again to Iericho which was â— miles passing through the riuer Iordan vpon drie ground by which miracle the children of the Prophets viz. such as studied diuinitie at Iericho did certainly know that the spirit of his master Elias rested vpon him Neere to this towne he flang salt into a riuer by which the water was made sweet 2 Reg. 2. From Iericho Elisha returned to Bethel which was 4 miles here the chldren that mockt him saying Come vp thou bald pate c. in contempt of his age and office were deuoured by 2 Bares 2 Reg. 2. From Bethel he walked to Mount Carmel which was fifty six miles From thence he went to Samaria which was about thirtie two miles From thence he went to the three Kings viz. Ioram King of Israel Iehosaphat King of Ierusalem and the King of the Idumaeans into the desart of Arabia Petraea which was 104 miles here he prayed vnto the Lord and he sent them water lest they should haue perished with thirst 2 Reg. 3. From the Desart of Arabia Petraea hee returned backe to
country or city which is not sufficiently knowne vnto thee search this alphabeticall Table here following and thou shalt finde the whole matter declared vnto thee An alphabeticall Table of all the Countries and Cities mentioned in the Prophets A ABARIM that is a bridge or a passage ouer It was a mountain of the Moabits where the Israelites pitched their tents Num. 33. ACHOR the valley of Trouble Here Achan was stoned to death for his theeuery It stood not farre from Gilgal toward the North 12 miles from Ierusalem Ios 7. Isa 6. ADAMA Red earth This was one of the cities that were destroied with fire and brimstone from heauen AI Hilly This city Ioshuah burnt with fire It lay 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ios 8. AIATH Idem Esa 10. AR or ARI a Lion It was a city of the Moabits lying beyond Iordan in the tribe of Benjamin called Ariopolis scituated vpon the banke of the riuer Arnon 24 miles from Ierusalem North-Eastward Deut. 2. In Esa 15. it is called Arar a Destroyer ARAM Noble or Mighty Armenia and Syria are so called of Aram the son of Sem the chiefe city of which country is Damascus Pliny lib. 6.17 saith The Scythians were also in antient times called Aramites ARNON a famous riuer of the Moabites in the tribe of Reuben which falls into the dead sea 20 miles from Ierusalem Eastward In Esa 16. it is called RANAN he hath shouted for ioy AROER by vsurpation an Ewe tree This is a city of the Moabits neere to the riuer Arnon in the tribe of Gad beyond Iordan 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward Ier. 40. There is another citie so called neere to Damascus in Syria Esa 7. ARPAD the light of redemption This was a city in the land of Damascus Ier. 49. There is another flourishing city of that name which may compare with Antiochia for greatnesse Esa 10. But where it is scituated it is vncertain ARVAD was a part of the land of Canaan so called of Aruad the son of Canaan Gen. 10. ASCANES or Tuiscones are a people descended of Ascenitz the son of Gomer the son of Iaphet which sometimes dwelt in Armenia but now haue their abiding in Germany 2 Gen. 10. Esa 51. So that of Gomer they are called Germanes and of Ascanes Ascanians or Tuiscons ASSECA fortified round about Neer to this town Dauid killed Goliah It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Westward ASSVR or ASSYRIA a blessed country being so called of Assur the son of Sem. AVEN Iniquity Bethel was so called after Ieroboam had there set vp a golden Calfe Hos 10. B BABEL Confusion Babylon is the metropolitan city of Chaldaea 280 miles from Ierusalem Eastward BATH Domesticall It was a town of the Moabits in the Tribe of Reuben beyond Iordan Esa 16. BAZRA a grape-gathering It was a city of the Edomites scituaâ—â—d vpon the banke of Iordan on the farther side neere to Bethabara 20 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esa 24.36 Ier. 48. Note here that the country of the Moabits in times past was subiect to the Edomits and then this city was in their jurisdiction but after the Moabits got it into their hands again and held it It was one of the six towns of refuge mentioned Ios 29. BEROTHAI a Cypres tree This towne stood neere Hemath or Antiochia 280 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 49. In this city Dauid King of Israel tooke Hadadesar King of Zoba or Sophena and constrained him to giue him a great deal of Brasse as it is thought yearely for tribute for neere that city were many brasse mines BETHAVIN the house of iniquity Bethel was so called Hos 6. It stood 8 miles from Ierusalem Northward BETH-CHaeREM the house of the Vines It was a towne not far from Ierusalem Northward Ier. 6. BETH-DIBLATHAIM the house of dried Figs. It was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETHIESIMOTH the house of desolations It was also a city of the Moabits beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben Ios 13. Ezech. 25.20 miles from Ierusalem BETH-GAMVL the house of Restitution This was a city of the Moabits Ier. 48. BETH-BAALMEON the house of habitation for the idol Baal It was a city of the Moabits 24 miles from Ierusalem Eastward not far from Aroer Ezek. 25. 1 Chr. 5. BVTZ a Castle of prey It was a city of the Ismaelites in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ier. 25. BEL and NEOB two idols of the Babylonians Esa 45. Bel signifieth the god of mixture or confusion Neob the god of prophecie C CALNO his perfection This is Seleucia scituated vpoa Tygris beyond Babylon 316 miles from Ierusalem Eastward It is now called Bagdeth Gen. 10. Esay 2. CANNE a firme foundation It was a city of the Syrians Ezek. cap. 27. CAPHIHOR a little Sphere or around globe like vnto a Globe or pomegranat Also Cappadocia a countrey of Asia the lesse 600 miles from Ierusalem Northward CARCHEMIS a sacrificed Lambe This was scituated too neer Euphrates in Syria 400 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ierem. cap. 25. D DEEDAN a city of the Idumaeans so called of Dedan the son of Esau Ier. 25. Isa 21. DIBON a mist This was a City of the Moabites neere Hesbon in the tribe of Reuben 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DIBLATH a bunch of Figs. It was a city in the tribe of Nepthali neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem Northward Ezek. 6. Here Zedekiah had his eies put out 2 Kin. 25 Ier. 39.52 DIMON Bloudy This is a city in the tribe of Reuben which as S. Ierom saith is 28 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward DVMA Silence A city of the Israelites so called of Duma the son of Ismael It stood in Arabia Petraea 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest Esay 25.21 E EGBATHANA the metropolitan city of the Medes distant from Ierusalem 1136 miles Northeastward EDEN Pleasure A city of Syria scituated neer Euphrates 400 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Esay 7. This is thought to haue been a part of Paradice EGLAIM a roud Drop It was a town of the Moabites Esay 15.16 ELAM a Yong man so called of Elem the son of Sem Esa 10.21 After Perseus had got in this country a great gouernment he called it after his own name Persia ELEALE the ascention of God It was a city beyond Iordan in the tribe of Reuben between Iacza and Hehbon 26 miles from Ierusalem Northeastward Num. 32. ELIM a Hart. This was a lake so called in the land of the Moabits Esa 10. ELISA the Lambe of God So were the Aeolians called in Grecia of Elysa the son of Iavan the son of Iaphet Ezek. 7. Gen. 10. ENAGLAIM the fountaine of Calves It was a towne or Castle neere to the Red sea Ezek. 10. EPHA the land of Obscuritie It was a part of Arabia Petraea so called of Epha the sonne of Midian the sonne of Abraham Gen. 25. Esa 60. G GEBIM a Ditch This was a town in the tribe of Iuda Esa 10. GEBAH a hill
of Nabaioth the sonne of Ishmael for all the tract of Arabia Petraea from the Red sea to the Gulph of Persia of him is called the land of Nabathaea Diodorus Siculus saith as much and further That it extendeth towards the East vnto the Indian sea Gen. 25. NEBO Prophesying It was a city of the Moabites in the Tribe of Reuben neere to mount Pisga twentie miles from Ierusalem towards the East Ier. 48. NIMRIM a Leopard This was also a citie in the Tribe of Gad beyond Iordan thirtie two miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast Isa 16. NO a hinderance so was Alexandria a citie in Aegypt in ancient times called distant from Ierusalem 288 miles towards the West Ezek. 30. NOPH a honey combe so the Prophets call Memphis the Metropolis of Aegypt being distant from Ierusalem 244 miles towards the Southeast Isa 18. Ier. 2. Ezek. 30. O ON opulencie So Ezech. c. 30. calleth Heliopolis a city of Aegypt which is 224 miles distant from Ierusalem towards the Southwest OREB a Crow or Rauen. Neere to this place in mount Ephraim Prince Oreb was slaine not far from Iericho twelue miles from Ierusalem towards the North Iudg. 7. Psal 83. OPHIR a pallace it was the proper name of the sonne of Ioâ—â— the posteritie of Sem of whom in times past India was called Ophir You may reade of this Gen. 10. 1 Reg. 9. P. PATHROS or PETRA the Metropolitan citie of Arabia Petraea 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the South It is a countrey also of Aegypt neere Taphnis 180 miles from Ierusalem toward the Southwest Isa 11. Ezech. 29. PARATH fruitfull A name of the riuer Euphrates Ier. 2.13 PRAZIN a breach It is a valley neere Ierusalem where Dauid ouercame the Philistines 2 Sam. 5. PHVT is Africa so called of Phuth the sonne of Cham. Gen. 10. R RABBA a multitude Philadelphia the Metropolitan of the Ammonites is so called 96 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast RAEMA thunder so they called Aethyopia of Raema the sonne of Chus Gen. 10. RAMA high This citie stood eight miles from Ierusalem towards the North Isa 10. There were other cities also of the same name and signification REZEPH a cole it was a citie in Syria Isa 37. RIBLATH an inueterate anger This was a citie in the Tribe of Nepthaly neere to the lake of Samoconites 80 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Antiochia also was sometimes called Riblah 2 Reg. 25. Ier. 39.52 RIMMON a Pomegranat This was a citie in the Tribe of Iudah not far from Gerar 32 miles from Ierusalem towards the South-East S SABA the stone Achates This was the Metropolitan Citie of Aethyopia called also Meroe 960 miles ftom Ierusalem towards the South The two famous Queenes one that came to see Solomon the other mentioned Act. 8. dwelt in this towne SANIR a cleere light So mount Hermon beyond Iordan was called of the Ammonites it stood 112 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast SARION the Doues song So the Edomites called Mount Hermon that stood beyond Iordan SARON a faire plaine or a greene place So is that plain between the sea of Galile and Mount Ephraim called Is 35. There are some that thinke there is a Mountaine so called SELA a Rocke this is Petra a citie of Arabia ante SEPHARVAIM a citie of the Scribes it stood in Assiria Isa 37. SIBARIM a citie of Syria neere to Damascus Ezech. 47. SIBMA a possession a citie built by the sons of Reuben 24 miles from Ierusalem towards the East Num. 32. SICHOR blacke It is a brooke or riuer called Rhinocorurus which falleth into the Mediterranean sea neere to the towne Rinocorura scituated vpon the vtmost borders of the Holy land towards the South 72 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest The riuer Nilus in Aegypt is also called Sichor Ier. 2. SIMRI Gardians They were Arabians dwelling vpon an Angle of Isthumus of the red sea SINEAR a blow vpon the teeth Chaldea is so called Is 11. SION or SCAION by Schin not by Zade tranquilitie and securitie the Mount whereon Ierusalem stood is not so called but Mount Hermon beyond Iordan Deut. 4. SIENE or SEVENE illustrous it was a citie in Affrica vpon the borders of Aegypt and Aethyopia 516 miles from Ierusalem towards the South Iouias saith that the inhabitants at this day call it Guagheram T TACHPANES or TAPHNIS a couered or hidden ensigne It is a city in Aegypt 180 miles from Ierusalem Southwestward Ierem. 2.43 THAMAR a plaine This towne was built by Solomon and stood 360 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast THELASSER a Princes tombe it was a country vpon the borders of Assiria Isay 37. THEMATH wonderfull a city of Arabia Petraea Ier. 25. so called of Thama the sonne of Ismael Gen. 25. it stood 40 miles from Ierusalem Southward it is called Theman a City of the South THOGARMA perfection Tartaria was so called of Thogarma the sonne of Gomer the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ezech. 27. THVBAL a people bordering vpon the Muscouites so called of Thubal the sonne of Iaphet Gen. 10. Ezekiel cap. 27. 38. maketh Mesech Thubal Gog and Magog all one people from whence may be gathered that these people dwelt towards the North and were gouerned by one Prince In the 38 Chapter he calls them Gog that is the Turke who is Prince and gouernor in Mesech and Thubal Therefore without doubt the people of Russia in times past were called Thubal which people dwelt neere to Muscouia and this opinion seemes to be more probable than theirs that imagine the Italians and Spaniards which haue their dwellings neere vnto the riuer Iberia to be the offspring of Thubal V VPHAR the countrey of gold It is called also Ophir and India 1 Reg. 9. Ier. 10. Dan. 10. Psal 119. Z ZEB a Wolfe The wine-presse of Zeb was in Mount Ephraim not far from Iericho 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North where Zeb the Prince of the Midianites was slaine There is another towne of this name neere to the riuer Iaboch beyond Iordan 48 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast ZEBOIM pleasantnesse One of the fiue cities that were burnt with fire from heauen Gen. 14.19 Hosea 11. ZENAN a sheepfold it was a city in the Tribe of Iuda Mich. 1. ZOAN mouing Tanis a city in Aegypt where Moses wrought al his miracles before Pharaoh was so called it stood 232 miles from Ierusalem towards the Southwest ZOBA presumptuous This was also called Zophena it is the countrey of Armenia 600 miles from Ierusalem towards the North which Dauid conquered 2 Sam. 8. 1 Chron. 19. ZOR a rocke Tyrus is so called it stood 160 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Thus gentle Reader for your better ease and vnderstanding haue I collected a short Alphabeticall Table and therein briefly described all those countries and cities mentioned in the Prophets that so by your diligent care and obseruation you may the better vnderstand the meaning of such texts of Scripture wherein they
sepulchre for he made a vault of white marble compassed about with faire pillars which supported an admirable curious arch to see to as if it had been one stone Ouer this vault in conuenient places he built seuen pyramides in memory of his father mother his foure brethren and himselfe In the circumference of this monument hee set vp faire marble pillars vpon which he caused to be ingrauen ships so artificially that they which sailed vpon the sea might see them and vpon these he placed the armes of his father and of his brethren You may reade more of this 1 Mach. 13. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 9. The Trauels of Iudas Machabeus IVdas Machabeus succeeded his father Mattathias in the yere before Christ 164 Ann. mundi 3804. and ruled six years Immediatly after his fathers death who as is said was buried in Modin he led his army against Apollonius chief captain of Antiochus who at that time was in Samaria which was 30 miles here hee ouercame Apollonius and killed him with his own sword 2 Mac. 2.3 When Seron who was also one of Antiochus chiefe captains in Syria the lower heard that Iudas Machabeus had ouercome Apolonius and put him to death hee was very angry and said I will goe and conquer Iudas Machabeus and those that are with him that so I may get my selfe a name and be famous through the whole Kingdom so he came out of Syria and pitched his tents neere Bethoron the lower in the tribe of Iuda 32 miles from Samaria But Iudas went down to him to Bethoron where he broke into his campe ouercame his whole army and put him to the sword with 8000 of his men but the rest fled into the land of the Philistines 1 Mach. 3. These two victories he obtained in the first yeare of his gouernement by which he made the name of the Machabees famous thorough that Kingdome This battell was fought 8 miles from Ierusalem Antiochus Epiphanes hauing certain intelligence of that which had happened in the next yeare made an expedition into Persia that he might gather money in those East parts to make an offensiue Warre against the Iewes and gaue authoritie to Lysias whom hee made Gouernour in his absence to suppresse this faction sprung vp amongst them Wherefore Lysias sent 40000 foot and 7000 horse into Iury and appointed Ptolomais Nicanor and Gorgias to be Generals of the whole Army Who so soon as they had entred Iudaea after hostile manner they pitched their Tents neere to a towne called Emaus Ioseph Lib. Antiq. 13. c. 10. This towne standeth sixe miles and somewhat more from Ierusalem but Iudas Macchabeus assembled his army in Mizpah scituated in the Tribe of Benjamin not farre from Ierusalem six miles from Bethoron 1 Mac. 3. After Iudas Macchabeus had implored Gods assistance in his warres and performed many religious ceremonies he went with his army to Emaus which was foure miles where comming vpon the enemy in the night and vnexpected he ouercame Nicanor put him to flight and kil'd three thousand of his men This victorie happened in the third yeare of Iudas Macchabeus his gouernment 1 Mac. 4. From Emaus he pursued the enemy to Gexeron Azotus Asserimoth and Iamniah vpon the borders of Idumaea which was eight miles After he returning backe from pursuing the enemy with his armie to Emaus which was eight miles that he might oppose the armie of Gorgias but Gorgias vnderstanding of the ouerthrow of Nicanor and burning of his tents fled Iudas Macchabeus obtained his fourth victory in the third yeare of his gouernment which was 62 yeares before Christ and in the 148 yeare of the gouernment of the Graecians in Syria six miles from Emaus neere to the Castle or fortresse of Bethsura which signifies the house of the Rocke being a very strong place scituated in the top of a high rock some halfe a mile from Ierusalem in the way which leadeth to Bethlehem Neere to this castle Iudas Macchabeus ouercame Lysias Antiochus his chiefe generall of Syria who had 20000 foot and 5000 horse in his army carrying away a great victory and put to the sword 5000 of his men Lysias being thus ouercome mediated a peace with the Iewes which was concluded vpon the fourth day of the monerh Diosceris which answereth vnto the seuenth day of our moneth of Iune 2 Macch. 10. From Bethsura Iudas Macchabeus brought back his army to Ierusalem which was almost a mile where he caused the Temple of the Lord to be clensed of the abhomination of the Gentiles broke downe the stature of Iupiter Olympus which had continued there for the space of three yeares and on the fifth day of the moneth Caslew wich is our December celebrated a solemne Passeouer and built vp a new Altar and dedicated it vnto the Lord. In the yeare after being the fourth yeare of his gouernment he repaired the towne of Sion fortified Bethsura against the Idumeans which nation all this yeare made war vpon the Iewes But after Iudas gathered an armie and went 40 miles into Idumaea and inuaded those that were in Arabathnes and in the land of the sons of Bean which people troubled the Israelites with continuall robberies and put them to flight so that they were constrained to take their castle where he fired them and it together 1 Macch. 5.2 Macch. 10. From Idumaea he returned backe againe with his army to Ierusalem which was 40 miles Afterward hee led his army against the Amonites which lay 60 miles from Ierusalem towards the Northeast 1 Macch. 5. From thence he went to Iaeser in the Tribe of Gad which was 24 miles which he tooke and all the castles thereabouts This towne Moses in times past conquered as you may reade before 1 Macch. 15. From Iaeser he returned to Ierusalem which was 40 miles From thence he went to Ioppa which was 20 miles and there he burned their hauen for Ioppa was a hauen towne and those which scaped the fire he kild with the sword 2 Mac. 12. From Ioppa he went to Iamnia which was accounted 4 miles where in the night he fired their hauen burnt their ships spoiled their towne insomuch as the inhabitants of Ierusalem which were 16 miles off might easily see the fire 2 Macch. 12. From Iamnia Iudas went with his army against Timotheus chiefe captaine of Antiochus Eupator who continued at the citie Caspin which was something more than a mile where he ouercame him and 5000 Arabians which were strengthened with 500 horse and tooke the citie 1 Macch. 12. Afterward Iudas Macchab. with his brother Ionathan led an armie to Characa vnto the Iewes that were called Tubieni which was 96 miles against Timotheus gouernour of the Ammonites but he was gone thence and had done nothing but left a garrisoâ— in a strong hold Wherefore Dositheus and Sosipater which weâ—â— captaines with Macch. went forth and slew those that Timotheâ— had left in the fortresse more than 10000 men Timotheus himselfe also fell into
their hands but by reason of his faire speeches they suffered him to depart with life 2 Mac. 12.1 Mac. 5. From thence he went to Bozor a faire citie which was scituated beyond Iordan neere to Bethabara in the Tribe of Reuben it was also called Bazra which was 24 miles this towne he tooke and burned with fire Isa 64. 1 Mac. 5. From Bozor he went to Mizpa where Ieptha sometime sacrificed his daughter which was 32 miles In that journey Iudas Macchabeus rescued the castle of Datheman draue thence Timotheus and put to the sword 8000 of his armie After he went thence to Mizpa woon the towne burnt it with fire and put to the sword all the male children because the inhabitants had vexed the children of Israel with continuall robbery After that hee woon many other townes and cities thereabouts 1 Mac. 5. From Mizpa Iudas passed the riuer and went to Astaroth-Carnaim which in the second of Macchabes is called Carnion which was eight miles here he destroyed the temple of Venus which the inhabitants call Astaroth and put 25000 of the inhabitants to the sword He went also to Atargation a towne not far off and tooke it and deliuered all the Israelites from the greatest to the least which were in captiuitie amongst the Giliadites 1 Macch. 5. 2 Macch. 22. From Astaroth-Carnaim hee went to Ephron which was 16 miles this citie Iudas Macchabeus destroied because the inhabitants thereof denied him passage and went through it ouer the dead bodies 2 Macch. 5. Here Gideon Iudge of Israel sometime dwelt it tooke the name from the rising vp of the dust being deriued of Aphar that is he hath made a dust From Ephron Iudas passed ouer Iordan into the great field of Galile and so went to Scythopolis which in antient time was called Bethsan which was foure miles From Bethsan or Scythopolis he returned to Ierusalem which was 44 miles a little before Penticost in the fourth yeare of his gouernment in the yere 161 before Christ 1 Macch. 5. 2 Maccab 12. After the feast of Penticost he went from Ierusalem to Maresa which was 16 miles here he ouercame Gorgias gouernour of Idumaea in a great buttell 2 Mac. 12. From Maresa hee went with his army to Odullam which was 6 miles Here sometime Dauid hid himselfe From Odullam he returned to Ierusalem which was 8 miles 2 Mac. 12. From Ierusalem he brought his army to Hebron the Metropolitan citie of the Idumaeans which was 22 miles this Towne he woon and all the townes and castles neere adjoyning 1 Macchab 5. From thence he went to Samaria which was fiftie six miles 1 Mac. 5. From Samaria he led his army against Azotus which was 44 miles This was a citie of the Philistins which he destroied broke their Altars and burnt their idols in the fire 1 Mac. 5. After that he conquered two castles in Idumaea 1 Mac. 10. After that he returned to Ierusalem which was accounted 22 miles 1 Mac. 5. From Ierusalem he went to meet Timotheus chiefe captaine of the Syrians who came with a great army to inuade Iudaea But when the battell waxed hot there appeared to the enemies from heauen fiue comely men vpon horses with bridles of gold two of which led the Iewes and tooke Macchabeus betweene them and couered him on euery side with their weapons that none could hurt him but against their enemies they shot Darts and lightnings so that they were confounded with blindnesse and beaten downe whereby the Iewes obtained a great victory and put to the sword 20500 foot and 600 horse the rest seeing this great slaughter fled So Iudas praised the Lord and pursued the enemies to Gazara which was 16 miles Heere Timotheus hid himselfe in a caue but the Iewes tooke the citie found him out and put him to death together with his brother Chaerea and Pollophanes 2 Mac. 10. From Gazara Iudas Macchabeus returned to Ierusalem which was 16 miles In the yere following which was the fift of his taigne and 160 before Christ Iudas Maccab. besieged the tower of Sion in Ierusalem because those that were in the garrison had put to the sword some of the Iewes that were sacrificing in the Temple But Antiochus Eupator the son of Antiochus Epiphanes hearing of it at the instigation of Menelaus chiefe Priest of the Iewes brought a great armie to their rescue wherefore Iudas Macchabeus hearing of his comming left the siege and went from Ierusalem to Modin to meet him which was 14 miles Here he ouercame Antiochus destroyed his Elephants and put 4000 of his souldiers to the sword 2 Macc. 13. When King Antiochus had felt a taste of the boldnesse of the Iewes he went with his army through by-waies and secret passages to the castle of Bethsura which he besieged whither Iudas followed him which was 12 miles incamping himselfe a mile from Bethsura in a straight place called Bethzachara Here Antiochus betimes in the morning thinking to take the armie of the Iewes at an aduantage set vpon them But the Iewes and their leaders behaued themselues so manfully that they put Antiochus the second time to flight and kil'd 600 of his men In this battell Eliazer the brother of Iudas Macchabeus was slain by an Elephant Ios lib. Antiq. 12. lib. 16.1 Macc. 6. From Bethzachara he returned backe to Ierusalem which was 2 miles And when the king had taken the town of Bethsura for they were constrained to yeeld by reason of famine he followed Iudas with whom he joyned the third time in battell but Iudas ouercame him and put to the sword many of his army Wherefore hauing certaine intelligence that Philip whom he had made ouerseer of the affaires at Antiochia rebelled he made a peace with Iudas Macchabeus was appeased towards the Iewes did sacrifice adorned the Temple and shewed great gentlenesse towards the people So Antiochus departed out of Iudaea and tooke Menelaus that seditious high Priest along with him captiue 1 Macc. 6. 2 Mac. 13. After in the 6 yeare of his gouernment Iudas went with his armie through all the borders of Iudaea and executed justice vpon all such as were offenders and contemners of the true religion After when Iudas had certaine intelligence that Nicanor whom Demetrius King of Syria had sent against Ierusalem went about by fraudulent courses and vnder pretence of friendship to take away his life 2 Macc. 14. he went priuily from Ierusalem and came to Caphar-Salama scituated 12 miles from Ierusalem towards the North. Here Nicanor and he joyned battell but Iudas discomfited his armie and put to the sword about fiue thousand of his men himselfe not escaping without great danger 1 Mac. 7. From Caphar-Salama Iudas came to Samaria which was 28 miles here he rested himselfe and refreshed his armie a while 2 Mac. 15. In the yere before Christ 128 he went from Samaria to Adarsa which was 28 miles and there vpon the 13 day of Adar which answereth to the 13 day of February neere to Bethoron the
i. a bushel or thereabouts for there were two kinds of Ephahs as you may reade before Cap. 3. When Ruth laid her selfe downe at the feet of Boas and desired him that he would marry her in the morning when Boas rose hee gaue her six measures of Gomers i. six gallons of Barly or thereabouts I Samuel Cap. 17.17 WHen Saul was gon out to fight against the Philistimes and that Goliah daily mocked the host of the Israelites the Lord stirred vp Ishai the father of Dauid to send him to his brethren to the Host with an Ephah of partched corn that is a bushell or thereabouts Cap. 25. v. 28. Dauid being vpon the way meaning to destroy the foole Nabal Abigale Nabals Wife a very wise and discreet woman went to meet him and finding Dauid shee appeased his wrath with a Present of 200 loves of bread two bottles of wine fiue sheepe ready dressed and fiue Zata's i. 15 Gomers which is 15 gallons and somwhat more of fine floure 100 frailes of Raisins and 100 of Figs which laded vpon an Asse c. I Kings THe molten Sea that stood vpon the 12 knops like Cucumbers was very curiously made of diuers sorts of mettals Cap. 7. v. 23.25 being ten cubits wide and 5 high it held 2000 baths that is 27000 gallons English or thereabouts euery bath containing according to the opinion of Iosephus 72 Sextario's that is at a pinte and a halfe the Sextarius 13 gallons and a halfe King Solomon caused 10 copper Kettles to be made Cap. 7. v. 38. that stood vpon ten stoles each kettle containing forty Baths euery bath 72 Sextario's which come to 13 gallons and a halfe English so that euery kettle contained 540 gallons When the Prophet Eliah desired the widow of Sarepta to fetch him a little water and a bit of bread shee answered and said Cap. 17. v. 12. 13 14 As true as the Lord your God liueth I haue not any bread but onely a hand full of floure in a Cab which was a kinde of Vessell that held eight quarts and a little oile in a pitcher And Eliah said vnto her Thy meale c. The Prophet Eliah being vpon mount Carmel about the time of the euening sacrifice Ca. 18. v. 32.34 built vp an altar in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel and laid wood vpon it and vpon the wood an Oxe cut in pieces for a sacrifice and caused a ditch to be digged round about it of such widenesse and depth as might containe two Zata's that is six Gomers and something more about six gallons and a halfe of our measure And there was 12 Cads that is 175 gallons of water cast on the sacrifice but when Eliah called vpon the name of the Lord fire fell from heauen and deuoured the sacrifice dried vp the water and burned the wood and stones of the altar to dust II Kings Cap 6.25 WHen Benhadad King of Syria besieged Samaria there was such a famine and dearth in the Citie that they sold an Asses head for 80 siluerlings that is common sicles which is 5 li. English but some Texts reade it 8 siluerlings that is 10 s. And the fourth part of a Cab that is a pinte and halfe of Pigeons doung was sold for fiue pieces of siluer that is for 6 s. 3 d. When the Syrians were striken by the Lord and fled from the siege of Samaria corne became so cheape according to the prophesie of Elisha that vnder the gates of Samaria one Zata which contained 24 Sextarios that is halfe a strike and a pottle of fine floure was sold for 15 d. and two Zata's of Barley was sold for 15 d. II Chronicles Cap. 2. SOlomon gaue to the Carpenters c. that cut and hewed downe wood in Mount Libanus for the building of the Temple 20000 Corus of Wheate and 20000 of Barley euery Corus containing ten Medimnos Atticos which according to Budeus accompt came to 12 Bushels and a halfe English and in the whole to 150000 Bushels But if you accompt it according to the opinion of some of our English Authors it comes but to nine Bushels and seuen gallons and a pottle the Medimna and in the whole to 198750 Bushels And besides Solomon gaue them 20000 Bathes of Wine and as much oyle euery Bath containing 13 gallons and a pottle which amounted to in the whole 8437 Barrels and a halfe The Measures mentioned in the New Testament And first of Matthew Cap. 13.33 THe kingdome of God is like vnto piece of Leauen which a woman taketh and putteth into three Measures or Zata's of meale which make a Bushel Luke VVHen the vniust Steward called his masters debtors to account Cap. 16. v. 9. the first was debtor 100 Bathes of Oyle that is 51 barrells and 18 gallons and he bid him write downe halfe that is 25 barrels and a halfe The second debtor ought 100 Corus of wheat which at 9 bushels and 7 gallons the Corus comes to 988 bushels or thereabouts and the vniust Steward willed him to set down 80 Corus that is 790 bushels and one gallon and a halfe So the vniust Steward deceiued his master of 25 Barrels and a halfe of Oyle and of 198 bushels and one gallon of Wheate and gaue it to his masters creditors Iohn AT the marriage at Cana in Galile our Sauior Christ changed the 6 pitchers of water into wine Cap. 2. v. 1.11 euery pitcher containing 2 or 3 Cads euery Cad holding 60 Sextario's that is 11. gallons and a quart or thereabouts Some say that the first three pitchers held each three Cads or Metreta's which if it should be so euery of them should hold 33 gallons and 3 quarts then say the other three held each 2 Metreta's a piece that is 22 gallons and a pottle a piece then the whole that our Sauior Christ gaue vnto the Bride and Bridegroome amounted to 168 gallons and 3 quarts or thereabouts Revel 6.6 I Heard a voyce saying A Chenix that is 3 pints of wheat for a Denarius that is 7 d. ob There being 85 times so much and a quart ouer in a bushell it would amount vnto 51 s. 8 d. the Bushell or thereabouts which would be a great dearth Here is to be obserued that the Graecians in times past were very strict in their house keeping for that cause confined their seruants to certain measure that is to a Chenix which was three pintes of meat and to a Sextarius which was a pinte and a halfe of Wine for euery day and by this meanes the master could readily tell what his seruants meate and drinke would cost him in a yeare that is 365 Chenix which in our measure at 3 pintes the Chenix comes to 8 bushels 2 pecks and a pint 365 pints of wine that is 45 gallons a pottle and a pinte so much did euerie seruant eat and drinke in a yeare But God fed the
repeating these words Thou shalt tread vpon the Aspe and vpon the Basiliske c. Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Historie saith that there are yet standing in Tyre certaine Marble pillars and other precious stones of a wonderfull greatnesse that it amaseth such as behold them neere to which there haue beene many Christians and Pilgrims put to death by the Saracens There are also foure wels of wholesome and pleasant water standing not far from it of which wells you may reade before Of Zidon THis also was a city of Phoenicia scituated vpon the shore of the Mediterranean sea thirtie six miles from Ierusalem toward the North and sixteene from Tyrus In times past it was assigned to the Tribe of Ashur and lay vpon the borders of the Philistines neere to Mount Libanus Being called Sidon or Zidon of Zidon the sonne of Canaan who first built it Gen. 10. and signifies a hunter It was a notable mart towne wherein much Satin was made which kinde of stuffe was very precious among the Iewes and it is said That Ioseph of Arimathia wrapped the body of our Sauior in white Satin for in Matthew 27. it is called Zadin which in English is Satin And as at this day the finest glasse is made at Venice so the finest glasse in those times was made at Sarepta a city that belonged to the Sidonians about which there stood many mines of which it is ' called Sarepta as you may reade before This towne in times past was one of the chiefe cities of Phoenicia but because of the extraordinarie pride of the citisens God afflicted them with diuers punishments brought in Ocho king of the Persians who besieged it and by treason woon it and burnt it to the ground as Diodorus Siculus lib. 16. saith The Citisens whereof were driuen to such streights by the enemy that there perished in the fire aboue fortie thousand men Within a while after Darius last Emperour of the Persians rebuilt it but made it nothing so beautifull neither fortified it in like manner as it was before hee ordained one Strato to be King thereof a man proud and arrogant After about three hundred and two yeares before the natiuitie of Christ Alexander being then but 24 yeres of age hauing ouercome Darius that mighty Emperour of the Persians at Issa a citie of Cilicia in a cruell and sharpe warre he sent Hephestion one of his Princes to the Sydonians with authoritie to depose Strato and to let the Citisens vnderstand that they should chuse him for their King whom they thought most worthy of that honour as Quint. Curt. sheweth lib. 4. At this time there was a certaine young man among the followers of Hephestion in whose behalfe he moued the Citisens that hee might be their King but they refused saying it was not their custome to chuse any to rule ouer them but such as were of the Kings stocke and progenie Hephestion hearing this answer greatly admired their resolution and modestie especially when they refused to accept him for their King whom others had sought to obtaine with fire and sword saying Truly there is more required to rule and gouerne a Kingdome than to get it but yet name one vnto me of royall discent whom you would willingly receiue to be your King So they named vnto him one Abdolomius who had beene knowne to haue beene of the Kings stocke by many discents but because of his pouertie he was constrained to dwell in the suburbs of the Citie in a cottage and had little else but a Garden to liue vpon This man howsoeuer poore and because of that of many contemned yet hee was knowne to be honest and of an vpright life following with all dilligence his vocation without any regard of other businesse insomuch as he was vtterly ignorant of all these stirre and combustions which had so lately vexed Asia As he was now in his garden digging and labouring purging it of weeds and planting herbes Hephestion with the rest of the Citizens went vnto him and brought him the robes and habiliments of a King The poore Gardner stood amazed to see such a company of gallants come vnto him but Hephestion told him That the occasion of their comming was to make an exchange with him of those royall ornaments which he had in his hands for those poore and foule garments which he wore therefore goe and wash thy selfe and returne So he did where immediately they put vpon him those royall robes and saluted him as their Soueraigne Afrer these things were finished quoth Hephestion Now remember in what a state thou art no more Gardener but a King and therefore take vnto thee the minde and resolution of a King that so thou mayest rule and gouerne this citie as a man worthy of that honour and remember that although the liues and goods of thy subjects are at thy command yet by them thou wast chosen neither be forgetfull of him that was the author of thine honour No sooner was he enthronised in his kingdom but fame who is more speedie than a thousand Posts had dispersed this newes through all the neighbouring cities some being thereby moued to admiration and quickned in their studies others stirred vp to indignation and enuie Those that were mighty and friends to Alexander contemned and despised his humilitie and pouertie and no sooner were they come into his presence but they began to accuse him for his ignorance wherefore Alexander commanded that he should come before him where after hee had welâ— viewed the lineaments and proportion of his person and could not perceiue it any whit repugnant to the fame of his birth hee demanded of him how it was possible that hee should endure his pouertie with patience To which he answered I pray the gods I may continue the gouernment of this kingdome with the like minde for these hands were sufficient for me to liue by and as I had nothing so I wanted nothing At which answer Alexander was so well pleased that he not only gaue him all the princely jewels and ornaments of the first king called Strato but also a great part of the booty which he tooke from the Emperor of Persia and added to his command all the neighboring countries round about This history I haue inserted that thereby we might perceiue the mighty power of God in all his works that can exalt the poore contented with his estate out of the very dust and can pull the mighty from their thrones So the Euill carke and care in this world to gather riches for the Vertuous to inherit But to return to Sidon This city did so much increase and grew so famous in succeeding ages that it was the chiefe town Tyrus onely excepted in all Phoenicia ioyning vpon the West to the Mediterranian sea extending it selfe towards the North and South lying in a plain vnder Antilibanus which mountain lay some two miles off it vpon the East It oftentimes because of the pride of the inhabitants felt the wrath and
Sauiour Christ and the remainder is his age At his circumcision he was called Saul that is a mortall man but when he was made the Apostle of the Gentiles he was called Paul of which name there was a noble family in Rome so called because of the lownesse of their stature and smalnesse of their body as Carolus Sigonius obserueth In the 35 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul was an inquisitor for priuate heresie and a cruel persecutor of the Gospel The next yeare he went from Ierusalem to Damascus in Syria which was 160 miles in which journey about the 25 day of Ianuary he was conuerted and vpon the 28 day of Ianuary was baptized by Ananias So he staied some few daies in Damascus and taught the Gospell of Christ Acts 9. 22. In the same yere that he was conuerted the Iewes those that were enemies to the Gospell went about by deceit to take his life wherefore he went from Damascus to Arabia Petraea which was 160 miles here hee continued teaching the Gospell by the space of three yeares that is from the beginning of the 35 to the end of the 37 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ Act. 9. In the 38 yeare after the Natiuitie of Christ he returned from Arabia Petraea and came to Damascus which was 160 miles and there he diligently taught the Gospell of Christ But when in the same yeare Araeta King of Arabia went about to put him secretly to death he was let down in a basket ouer the wall and so went from Damascus to Ierusalem which was 160 miles and when hee came thither he brought Barnabas to the Apostles and shewed them his conuersion and remained with Peter 15 daies preaching the Gospell At this time he saw Iames the sonne of Alpheus and brother of our Lord Acts 9. 2 Cor. 11. Galat. 1. But when his aduersaries that were at Ierusalem went about secretly to put him to death hee went from Ierusalem and was brought by the brethren to Caesarea Strato which was 32 miles Acts 9. About the 38 yere after the natiuitie of Christ he went thence into Syria to Tarsus a citie of Cilicia which was 272 miles here he continued some yeares teaching the Gospell of Christ Gal. 1. 2 Cor. 11. In the 41 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ and about the seuenth yeare of his Ministrie hee was brought by Barnabas from Tarsus to Antiochia in Syria which was 120 miles At this time and in this towne all those that beleeued in Christ began to bee called Christians wheras before they were called Disciples and brothers Acts 11. These things hapned in the eight yeare after the resurrection of Christ about this time also Matthew wrote his Gospell and Agabus prophesied of the vniuersall dearth that should happen vnder Claudius Acts 11. In the 42 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul being then at Antiochia and about 32 yeres of age was wrapt vp into the third heauen 14 yeares before he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians 2 Cor. 12. In the 43 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ the famine wherof Agabus prophecied being now begun hee went with the gifts of the Church from Antiochia to Ierusalem which was 280 miles this yeare Iames the elder was beheaded at the command of Agrippa Acts 11. 12. In the 44 yeare after the natiuitie of Christ Paul and Barnabas with Peter were deliuered out of prison by the Angell of the Lord. Now hauing distributed the gifts of the Church hee returned in the company of Iohn Marke from Ierusalem to Antiochia which was 280 miles So these trauels were 1928 miles Of the townes and places to which he trauelled of Tarsus or Tharsus THis was the Metropolis of Cilicia scituated vpon the riuer of Cydnus which beginning at Mount Taurus runs thence through this towne into the Mediterranean sea It was first built by Perseus King of the Persians whom the Poëts faigne to bee the sonne of Iupiter and Danaë called Tharsus of the Hyacinth stone which as it seemeth is found thereabouts It was distant from Ierusalem 304 miles towards the North in antient time a goodly city but through the injurie of the time and inuasion of the enemy much impaired lay almost ruined til as Strab. saith li. 14. it was repaired by Sardanapalus that effeminat K. of the Assirians of whom Tully remembreth this Epitaph lib. 5. Tuscula Haec habeo quae aedi quaeque exaturata libido Hausit at illa jacent multa praeclara relicta What things I eat or spend in sport and play Those I enjoy the rest I cast away From his time vntill the raigne of Darius the last king of the Persians it continued in great prosperity and was become a maruellous stately citie the inhabitants therof being growne very wealthy but then Alexander the Great making warre vpon that Prince amongst others brought his Army against this citie but the citisens hearing of his notable exployts durst not abide his comming therefore they fired the citie left hee should make a prey of their riches and fled which when Alexander perceiued he gaue order to Parmenio with all possible speed to quench the fire and saue the citie In the meane time the King being prest with an extraordinary thirst by reason of the extreame heate that was in that country the dust and his long journie put off his roiall garments and cast himselfe into the riuer Cydnus which being a cold water comming out of the North stroke the heat presently inward and so benummed his sinewes that had it not been for the present helpe of his souldiers and the extraordinarie diligence and care of Philip his Phisitian he had died immediately notwithstanding by the great prouidence of God and the carefulnesse of his physitian hee recouered his dangerous sickenesse beyond the expectation of man and after ouercame Darius in a sharpe and cruell warre neere to a place called Issa as you may reade before See Plutarch in vita Alexand. and Quintus Curtius From that time forward this citie grew to be very famous and daily increased in statelinesse and faire buildings And to adde more dignitie to it there was a famous Academie in which were many learned and rare Philosophers in so much that they of Tharsus exceeded the Philosophers of Athens and Alexandria for learning and knowleged though indeed for number of scholers and common resort they exceeded Tharsus Saint Paul was borne and brought vp in this Towne and here learned the knowledge of the tongues Philosophie and other good arts Hee also perused the writings of Aratus Epimenides Menander and other learned men whose sayings are here and there dispersed through his Epistles From thence he was sent to Ierusalem where hee liued and was brought vp at the feet of Gamaliel who was Prouost of that Academy and after was conuerted to be an Apostle of Christ Iesus as appeareth Acts 22. This towne at this day is subject to the Empire of the Turkes and called