Ieboiam 1 born the 6 of 〈…〉 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 9 5        90 445 3110 10 6 11 7 12 8 1 Athal Iehu 1 Kin. 10.16 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 1 1       90 445 3110 2 2 3 3 4 4 1460 1040 1010 610 570 130  446 3120 5 5 6 6 1 Chron. 21.11 Iehu 1 Kin. 10.16 Iehoa 1 Kin. 12.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 7 1 1460 1040 1010 610 570 130  446 3120 8 2 9 3 10 4 11 5 1470 1050 1020 620 580 140 100 447  12 6 13 7 14 8 15 9 16 10 17 11 18 12 1480      110 448 3130 19 13 20 14 21 15 22 16 23 17 24 Vzziah born 18 25 19  1060 1030 630 590 150  64.12 Jubi 3140 26 20 449 27 21 28 22 Ioash Ioahaz 2 Kin. 13.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 23 1 K. of Isr          24 2 25 3 26 4 1490 1070 1040 640 600 160 120 12 Ju 3150 27 5 450 28 6 29 7 30 8 31 9 32 10 33 11 1500  1050    130 451 63 Jubi 34 12 35 13 36 14 Ioash Ioahaz 2 Kin. 13.1 Iehoa 2 Kin. 13.1 Amazi 1 Kin. 14.1.2 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 37 15 1 K. of Isr  1500  1050    130 451 63 Jubi 38 16 2 1 39 17 3 2 40  4 3 Iehoa 2 Kin. 13.1 Amazi 1 Kin. 14.1.2 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 5 4       140 452 3160 6 5 7 6 8 7 9 8 10 9 11 10 1510 1090 1060 660 620 180  453 3170 12 11 13 12 14 13 15 14 Iehoa 2 Kin. 13.1 Amazi 1 Kin. 14.1.2 Ierob 1 Kin. 14.23 16 15 1 Amazi 1 Kin. 14.1.2 Ierob 1 Kin. 14.23 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 16 2          17 3 1520 1100 1070 670 630 190 150 454  18 4 19 5 20 6 21 7 22 8 23 9 24 10       160 455 3180 25 11 26 12 27 13 28 14 29 15 Ierob 1 Kin. 14.23 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 16 1530 1110 1080 680 640 200  65.13 Jubil 3190 17 456 18 19 20 21 22 23 24          25 26 The Kingdom of Iudah was governed 11 years by states without a King namely from the 15 to the 27 of Ieroboam the first whereof concurs with the 29 of Amaziah and the last with the first of Vzziah 2 Kin. 14.23 and 15.1 where he is also called Azariah From the 29 or last of Amaziah to the first of Vzziah interceed 11 years compleat in all which space no King swayed the Scepter of Iudah nor indeed was Vzziah capable of it unlesse by a Protectour being but four or five year old when his father Amaziah dyed The kingdom of Israel by sedition was as long again as Iudah without a King namely full 22 years from the last of Ieroboam to the raign of Zacharias the first running parallel with the 15 and the last with the 38 of Vzziah This Zachariah was the fourth of Iehu his generation whereby the promise of God was made good unto Iehu 2 King 10.30 and 15.12 God bringing this fourth son of Iehu to the throne notwithstanding all impediments that lay in the way for 22 year together No intervening difficulties can make Gods promise abortive though for a while Gods providence may seem to crosse his promise With us Christ suffered in the first year of the 182 Olympiad with others in the last year of the 202 Olympiad The difference is 21 Olympiads or 84 Olympick years currant The ground of which difference is this They begin the Olympiads 54 year before us and extend Christs passion 30 year after us Both which added together make just 84 years or 21 Olympiads the just space wherein we differ from them The reason why we thus differ from them hath been formerly noted Ierob 2 Kin. 14.23 Vzzia 2 Kin. 15.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 27 1 1540 1120 1090 690 650 210 170 457  28 2 29 3 30 4 31 5 1550      180 458 3200 32 6 33 7 34 8 35 9 36 10 37 11 64 Jubi 38 12  1130  700 660 220  459 3210 39 13 40 14 41 15 Vzzia 2 Kin. 15.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 16  1130  700 660 220  459 3210 17 18 19 1560 1140 1110 710 670 230 190 460 3220 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1570  1120    200 461  27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Vzzia 2 Kin. 15.1 Zach. Shal. Mena. Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 34 ruled 6 months ruled 2 months   1150  720 680 240 210 462 3230 1 35   36 37 2 Kin 15.8 2 Kin 15.13 2 Kin 15.17 38 1   39  1 1 Ahaz lived but 36 year as is evident by 2 Kin. 16.2 Hezekiah his son was 25 y. old when he began to raign 2 Kin. 18.2 Substract 25 out of 36 there rest 11 whence I conclude that Ahaz was but 11 year old at most when he begat Hezekiah unlesse we shall interpret 2 Kin. 16.2 that Altaz was 20 year old when his Father Iotham began to raign which sence though it may seem to be forced wants not as I conceive a president Thus Iehoiakin was 8 year old when his Father began to raign but 18 y. old when himsehlf began to raign 2 Chron. 36.9 compared with 2 Kin. 24.8 But this last interpretation will not hold unlesse we suppose Iotham was 25 year old when he began to raign in his Fathers stead who was sequestred for his leprosie Least we make Iotham but 5 year old when he begat Ahaz See 2 kin 15.33 That text 2 Kin. 15.30 must be understood of the 20 year after Iotham began to raign namely the 5 of Ahaz for Iotham raigned but 16. year 2 Kin. 15.33 And here again we must either make an Interregnum of 7 year or say that though Hosheah held the government by power and might yet he was not accepted of the people for King till the 12 of Ahaz for he slew Pekah about the 5 of Ahaz but is said to begin his raign not till the 12 of Ahaz 2 Kin 17.1 Samaria probably was taken in the beginning of Hosheahs 9 year and the end of Hezekiahs 6 year 2 Kin. 18.10 for Hosheahs 9 year runs parallel with Hezekiahs 7 year unlesse wee suppose Hezekiah began not to reign tâ—ll the end of Hoshea his third
year which is the reason I have noted the years of Hezekiahs raign twice It s evident by 2 Kin. 18 1â— 11. that hezekiahs first began with the end of Hosheahs third year and did not runne parallel with it The 49 of Vzziah was also an Interregnum of the Kingdom of Israel In the 20 year after Iotham began to raign Hosheah sew Pekah namely at the beginning of it 2 Kin. 15 3â— and took upon him the Covernment about the 5 of Ahaz but was not accepted by the people till the 12 of Ahaz Vzzia 2 Kin. 15.1 Mena. Pekahi 2 Kin. 15.23 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 40 2  1580 1160 1130 730 690 250  66.14 Jubil 3240 2 41 3 463 42 4 43 5 44 6 3 45 7 46 8 47 9 1590 1170 1140 740 700 260 220 464  4 48 10 49  2 Kin. 15.23 50 5 1 51 2 52 1 Peka 2 Kin. 15.27 IothaÌ„ 2 Kin. 15.32.33 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 2 1      230  465 3250 6 3 2 4 3 5 4 6 5 7 7 6 8 7 9 8 65 Jubi 10 9 1600 1180 1150 750 710 270  465 3260 8 11 10 12 Aera Nabonassaris begins 11 13 Aera V.C. begins 12 14 13 15 14 16 15 Peka 2 Kin. 15.27 IothaÌ„ 2 Kin. 15.32.33 Ahaz 2 Kin. 16. â—â— Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 17 16 1 1610 1190 1160 760 720 280 240 467  9 18 17 2 19 18 3 20 19 4 10  20 5 Ahaz 2 Kin. 16. â—â— Hosh 2 Kin. 17.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym.  1           6 2 7 3 8 4 1620     250  468 3270 11 9 5 10 6 11 7 12 12 1 13 2 Ahaz 2 Kin. 16. â—â— Hosh 2 Kin. 17.1 Hezek 2 Kin. 18. â—â— 14 3 1 Ahaz 2 Kin. 16. â—â— Hosh 2 Kin. 17.1 Hezek 2 Kin. 18. â—â— Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 15 4 2.1  1200 1170 770 730 290  469 3280 13 16 5 3.2  6 4.3 7 5.4 8 6.5 14 9 7.6  8.7 From the Division of the Tribes to Zedechiahs captivity are just 390 y. noted by the Prophet Ezec. 4.5 yet the several years of their several raigns summed up make 393. to which add the 11 y. Interregnum after the death of Amaziah the total is 404 even 14 years more than the prophet reckoned upon which difference is thus reconciled Divers of the Kings began to raign 1 2 or 3 year before their fathers death which may easily swallow up those 14 years The like may be said of the Kings of Israel the years of whose several raigns summed up are 241. yet the 9 or last year of Hoshea the last King of Israe falls out 258 years after the Division 17 year later than the former reckoning If therefore you adde to 24. the sum of all their raigns the 22 years Interregnum after the death of Jeroboam the second and the seven years of Interregnum or Tyranny under Hoshea the total is 270 yeare and 12 year more than the date of the Kingdom of Israel which difference of twelve years over-plus ariseth from a supposal that every King raigned so many years compleat as are assigned him in Scripture whereas divers of them raigned but so many years currant and one began to raign two or three years before his Fathers death to wit Jehoash son of Jehoahaz But the connexion and linking together of their several raigns according to scripture gives the precise date of both Kingdoms so that the Kingdom of Israel lasted after the Division 258 years and the Kingdom of Judah 390 years Nor can Ezekiels 390 year be made out unlesse by a right connexion of the Synarchies of both Kingdoms according to Scripture evidenced in this Chronologie by ocular Demonstration Hezekiahs 14 year is a Rest or Sabbatrical year as appears by their eating in it that which grew of it self 2 Kin. 19.29 and the year following was a Jubilee after the account of some and so the meaning of that sign might be this That notwithstanding Senacherib had so plundred the Countrey and that in a time wherein for two years together they had no Seed-time yet God both did and would so blesse the earth that of its own accord without their labour it should bring enough to maintain them for two years together and longer namely till the third years Harvest came in 2 Kin. 18.13 Senacharib was overthrown in the 14 year of Hezekiah and 20.6 Hezekiah recovered at the same time Hezekiah Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 5.8 1630 1210 1180 780 740 300 260 67.15 Jubil 3290 15 10.9 470 11.10 12.11 13.12 14.13 15.14 Hezekiah recovered 2 Kin. 20.6 16.15 Senacharib overthrown 2 Kin. 18.13 1640  1190    270 16 Ju  16 17.16 471 18.17 19.18 20.19 17 21.20 22.21 23.22  1220  790 750 310 280 472 3300 18 24.23 25.24 26.25 27.26 19 28.27 29.28 66 Jubi Hezekiah Manas 2 Kin. 21.1 .29 1 Manasseh born Manas 2 Kin. 21.1 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 2 1650 1230 1200 800 760 320  15 Ju 3310 20 3 473 4 5 21 6 7 8 1660 1240 1210 810 770 330 290 474  22 9 10 11 12 13 14 15      300  475 3320 23 16 17 18 19 24 20 21 22 1670 1250 1220 820 780 340  476 3330 25 23 24 25 26 26 27 28 29 1680 1260 1230 830 790 350 310 68.15 Jubi  27 30 477 31 32 33 Amon born 28 34 35 36 1690      320 16 Ju 3340 29 37 478 38 39 40 41 42 43  1270 1240 840 800 360  479 3350 30 44 45 46 47 31 48 49 Iosiah born 67 Jubi 50 1700 1280 1250 850 810 370 330 16 Jubi 3360 32 51 480 52 53 33 54 55 Jehoahaz was 23 y. old when he began to raign 2 Kin. 23.31 and raigned but 3 months His younger Brother jehojachim who immediately succeeded him was 25 y. old when he began to raign vers 36 and after that reckonning almost 2 y. older than his elder brother How can this hold good Answ Jehojakims age is there reckoned from his elder brothers death in Aegypt 2 Kin. 23.34 till which time he raigned as Viceroy Or else we must say that Jehoahaz though the younger was by his Fathers Will or the election of the people preferred to the Crown before Jehojakim his elder brother As Solomon was by Gods election 1 Kin. 2.15 and Abijah by Rehoboams election 2 Chron. 11.20.22 and 12.16 Broughton makes Jehojakim the elder brother Haply his brother was preferred before him for his wickednesse which might make Josiah dis-inherit him yet afterwards by the favour of Pharaoh
worth the noting which yet was wont to be celebrated Gen 41.20 Mark 6.21 Rehob Ierob Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W.  1 1 Kin. â—4 21 1370 950 920 520 480 40 1 Kin. 11.47 433 3030 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 1380 960 930 530 490 50 10 434  9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15       20   16 16 17 17 1 Chron. 12.13  Abijam slew 500000 of Israel in one battel 2 Chron. 13.17 one of the greatest slaughters was ever read of 2 Chron. 16.1 must be rendred in the 36 year of the Kingdom of Asa to wit the Kingdom of the Iews which at that time stood divided from Israel just 36 year nor can it possibly be meant of the 36 but the 17 year of Asa his personal raign for Baasha lived but to the 26 year of Asa his personal raign as is evident by 1 Kin. 15.28.33 Vpon the news of Zimri his killing of Elah Omri was chosen King in the camp in the 27 year of Asa 1 Kin. 16.15 16. The contest between him and Tibni probably held four year at least and therefore vers 23. it s said he began to raign in the 31 year of Asa He raigned then 4 years as Tibnes Competitor and after his death 8 year alone In Ahabs dayes was Iericho built by Hiel 1 Kin. 16. 34. though with the curse of God upon the builder Iosh 6.26 Three Kings are in Israel at Once begining 42 years trouble and infecting Iudah whence Ahaziah is said to be a Son of 42 y. in his Kingdom 2 Chron. 22.2 Broughton Ierob Abija 1 Kin. 15.1 2. 18 1 19 2 20 3 21  22 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Nadab 1 Kin. 15.25 Baasha 1 Kin. 15.28.33 1   2 1 3 2 1 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Baasha 1 Kin. 15.28.33 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 4 2 1390 970 940 540 500 60  436 3050 5 3 6 Iehosaphat born 4 7 5 8 6 9 7 61 Jubi 10 8 1400 980 950 550 510 70 30 437  11 9 12 10 13 11 14 12 15 13 16 14 17 15 1410      40 438 3060 18 16 19 17 20 18 21 19 22 20 23 21 24 22  990 960 560 520 80  439 3070 25 23 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Baasha 1 Kin. 15.28.33 Elah 1 Kin. 16.8 Zimri Omri Tibni 1 Kin. 16.15.23 26 24 1  27  2 1 28   2 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Zimri Omri Tibni 1 Kin. 16.15.23 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 29 3          30 Iehoram born 4 31 5 1420 1000 970 570 530 90 50 440 3080 32 6 33 7 34 8 35 9 36 10 37 11 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Zimri Omri Tibni 1 Kin. 16.15.23 Ahab 1 Kin. 16.19 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 38 12 1 1430  980    60 441  Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Ahab 1 Kin. 16.19 39 2 40 3 Asa 1 Kin. 15.9 Ahab 1 Kin. 16.19 Iehos 1 Kin. 12.41.42 41 4 1 Ahab 1 Kin. 16.19 Iehos 1 Kin. 12.41.42 Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 5 2 1430  980    60 441  6 3 7 4 8 5  1010  580 540 100 70 63.11 Jubil 3090 9 6 442 10 7 11 8 12 9 13 10 14 11 15 12 1440 1020 990 590 550 110  443 3100 16 13 17 14 18 15 19 16 62 Jubi Ioram the sonne of Iehosaphat was twice Viceroy first in the 17 year of Iehosaphat as appears by comparing 2 Kin. 1.17 with 2 Kin. 3.1 where the first year of Iehoram Ahabs son concurs with the 18. year of Iehosaphat and the second year of Iehoram the son of Iehosaphat Hence I argue if the second of Iehoram King of Iudah concurred with the eighteenth of Iehosaphat then his first yeer must needs concurre with the 17 of Iehosaphat yet at the time he was but Viceroy his Father living 8 or 9 year after his first admission to the Crown And this may solve that difficulty 2 Chron. 21.12 How Elias could send a Letter to this Iehoram The answer is easy Iehoram was made Viceroy in the first year of Ahaâ—iah son of Ahab which ran parallel with the 17 of Iehosaphat a year or two at least before Elias his Translation 2 Kin. 1.3 Now being a wicked wretch and fearing therefore to be dis-inherited he might take advanâ—age in his Fathers absence who probably made him Viceroy upon occasion of some expedition abroad to cut off all his brethren thereby to make the Kingdom sure unto himself 2 Chron. 21.4 whereupon Elias might send him that sharp letter he being so desparate as none durst venture to reprove him by word of mouth 2 Chron. 21 12-15 He was the second time Viceroy in the 22 year of Iehosaphat which concurred with the fifth of Iehoram son to Ahab 2 King 8.16 which indeed was the first of his eight years reign for he reigned but four compleat year after his Fathers death Ahaviah and Iehoram Kings of Israel began both to raign before their Father Ahabs death thâ— one in the 1â— the other in the 18 year of Iehosaphat which run parallel with the 20 and 21 of Ahab The two battelâ— between Ahab and Benhadad hanned about the nineteenth of twentieth â—ear of Ahabs raign as is evident by 1 King 22.1.2 2 Kinâ— 8. â—5 2â— and 9.29 compared shew t' was the end of the 11 and the beginning of the 12. of Ioram that Iehoash King of Iudah wa born 2 Chron. 22. 2. Ahaziah is said to be 42. year old when he began to raign This the learned refer to the Kingdom of Omri which stood 42 years when Ahaziah began to raign being then himself but 22 year old 2 Kin. 8.26 otherwise we must make the youngest son older than his Father 2 Chron. 21.20 and 22.1 In the Original it runs thus Ahaziah was a son of 42 year in his Kingdom What if we should say that in old times the age of their Kings was writ in figures not in words at length and so through the carelesnesse of the Scribes the letter Mem signifying 40 might easily be put for the letter Caph which signifies but 20. Who knows not that change of like letters is familiar with the Hebrews and such a mistake is easy Ahab 1 Kin. 16.19 Iehos 1 Kin. 12.41.42 Ahazi 1 Kin. 12.55 Iehor 1 Kin. â—â— Son to Iehossaphat twice Viceroy 20 17 1 Son to Ahab Son to Ahab 1 21 18 2 1 2 22 19  2 3 Iehos 1 Kin. 12.41.42 Iehor 1 Kin. â—â— Â Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. 20 3 4 1450 1030 1000 600 560 120 80 444  21 4 5 22 5 1 23 6 2 24 7 3 25 8 4 Iehor 1 Kin. â—â— Â Ahazi Son to
46 y. time spent in building Ioh. 2.20 Â 1430 Â 1000 960 520 490 502 3510 71 44 45 46 47 48 49 7 50 8 1860 1440 1410 1010 970 530 Â 503 3520 72 51 52 53 54 73 55 56 8 57 9 1870 1450 1420 1020 980 540 500 504 Â 74 58 59 60 61 75 62 63.9 Broughton in his Concent thinks Darius Histaspis to be the same with Ahassuerus in whose time that famous story of Hester hapned It s remarkable that though the book of Hester contain most admirable passages of Gods providence in delivering of his Church yet in that book alone of all the books of holy Scripture the name of God is not so much as once mentioned The Persian Monarchy was thought to last above 200 y. Broughton for the establishing of Daniels 70 weeks makes it farre shorter and that not without just ground of which I have handled before in the Difficulties of Chronologie controverted by the Learned I shall not therefore note particularly the names of the Persian Kings because their several raigns contradict the Aera of Daniels 70 weeks which I follow exactly in this Chronology Both the Grecian and Roman Monarchy begin 30 year sooner with us than with other Chronologers because we conceive that Christ suffered 30 y. sooner than they did namely An. Mundi 3952. and not An. M. 3982. In the two Registers Ezra 2. and Neh. 7. compared together these passages are remarkable 1. That the heads of both Registers differ in 19 places whereof Nehemiahs Register exceeds Ezraes in 12 places Ezraes exceeds Nehemiahs in 7 places Thus the children of Azgad Ezra 2.12 were 1222. but Neh. 7.17 they are 2322 eleven hundred more than in Ezra How shall these differences be reconciled Answ We must conceive there was a double listing the first in Babylon of those who gave in their names to come up some of whom afterwards repented through carnal fears love of the world and case c. who are therefore branded 1 Chron. 4.23 Others upon better consideration went up and so were registered at Jerasalem Too true an emblem of our times in which many seemed very forward but now have fallen back to errours c. forgetting if not sleighting their ingagements to God and man 2. It s observable that the total of both Registers stands recorded as equal namely 42360. Ezra 2.64 and Neh. 7.66 God will not loose one of his number though never so many hypocrites Apostatize 2 Tim. 2.19 3. Yet observe that each Register summed up falls far short of the former totâ— assigned Ezra 2.64 For Ezraes register summed up in all the parcels amounts but to 29818 and Nehemiahs to 31031. both which fall far short of 42360 which therefore must be made up by the residue of the Priests and Israelites who could not finde out their Genealogy Ezra 2.59 In the catalogue of their servants and beasts both registers agree save only in the Singers whereof the latter Register had 45 more than the former Ezra 265. compared with Neh. 7.67 Yet beware we censure not all that stayed for some might be forced to stay through poverty others because they were in publick imployment and did the Church more service there then bad they been at Jerusalem as Daniel and others But there can be no such plea for neglect to come out of sinne the world and spiritual Babylon unto Christ and the Church Rev. 18.4 It s further remarkable that divers of those who came up with Zerubbabel as heads of the people did in their own persons subscribe that most solemne Covenant Neh. 10.14 15 16 17 18 19 20.27 and vers 3.5.9 All which you cannot immagine to be lesse then 20 year old apeece else they were not capable of bearing arms much lesse of being heads over the people At least 17 of them are mentioned in the fore quoted place that is neer upon half of the heads or Commanders and probably therefore if we may guesse by proportion half of the people who came up with Zerubbabel were alive at the taking of that Covenant Hence it will follow that if the Persian Monarchs reigned each of them so long as Heathen Writers would make us beleeve and upon whom Chronologers build to alter the true date of Daniels weeks then about twenty thousand of the people who ascended with Zerubbabel lived to see above 160 years apeece whereas in Moses his time Psal 90. fourscore y. was counted a very great age which how probable let any indifferent Reader judge Suppose the Covenant were taken in the 20 year of Artaxerxes Mnemon which is the soonest time imaginable Neh. 2.1 and 5.14 since it was the 20 y. of this King before Nehemiah was sent as Governour and under whose Government the Covenant was taken From the first return out of Captivity to the 20 of Artaxerxes Mnemon according to Heathen Authors passed at least 144 years to which add 20 y. of their age who returned the total is 164 y. And yet so old they must be if prophane Historians count the raigns of the Persian Monarchs right which how contrary to the Scriptures Certainly had Chronologers been as diligent in search of Scripture as in tumbling over old heathen fables they had never left both us and themselves in such perplexity as now they have done about the true date of Daniels Weeks But no wonder if they wander and stumble in their paths who chose to follow the candle-light of Heathens rather than the cleer Sun-shine of Scripture and will bring that golden Standard to their Lesbian rule More of this see in the Difficulties following the Preface namely in the fourth Difficultie Yet their lying Olympiads are contradicted not only by Scripture but also by some of the honester heathen witnesse Plutarch who in the beginning of his Numa affirms that Numa was 40 y. old currant when he entred upon the Kingdom 2. That he was born on that very day on which the City of Rome was built and so his age runs parallel with Aera U.C. 3. The same Author averrs that Numa was created King in the third y. of the 16 Olympiad which therefore must run parallel with the 40 y. of U.C. at least in some part of it To all which add Alsteds confession in his Thesaur Chronolog p. 212. though a maintainer of the truth of Heathen Olympiads contrary to Scripture that Numa was contemporary with Hezekiah It s apparent that the 16 Olympiad fell out in Hezekiahs raign according to our date and that the date of their Olympiads must needs be falce who begin them 54 y. before ours And for my part I had rather beleeve one honest heathen speaking with Scripture then ten thousand of them speaking against it Nor can I but wonder that Christian Chronologers should lay that for a foundation I mean the usual date of the Olympiads which is so much questioned by Plutarch an honest Heathen Certainly the building cannot be firm which leans upon so sandy a foundation The
ground of mis-dating the Olympiads hath been formerly proved to be that grand mistake about the date of Abrahams birth to which I must refer the Reader There yet remains one scruple namely how the several raigns of the Persian Kings can be reconciled with our date of the Persian Empire For by the computation of their several raigns the Persian Monarchy held about 200 y. but after our account it lasts but 126 y. and so falls 74 y. short of the common account Plutarch and Alsted compared together will afford some light to help us out of this maze Plutarch in the end of his Artax affirms that Artax Mnemon raigned 62 y. Alsted in his Thesaur Chronolog allows him but 43 y. of his sole raign but confesses that the former 19 y. he raigned with Darius Nothus his father who at the beginning of his raign assumed Artax into the fellowship of his Kingdom p. 171. We accept of Alsteds confession and thence infer that as Darius co-opted Artax so the other Persian Kings in the very beginning of their raigns might assume their sons and grand-children into the fellowship of their Kingdomes That Darius did so besides the testimony of Alsted is evident by Scripture Ezr. 6.14 else how could the Temple be finished by the Decree of Darius and Artax had not Artax raigned with his father Darius in whose 6 y. the Temple was finished Thus Cyrus might assume Cambyses Darius Hystaspis might assume Xerxes and he Artaxerxes Longimanus his son at the same time Longimanus might assume Darius Nothus and he Artax Mnemon as is confest Then grant that Darius Ochus raigned 10 y. with Artaxerxes Mnemon Arsames and Codomannus raigned out their full times solely their several years summed up might make 200 y. though the Synarchies rightly linked together extended the Persian Monarchy but to 126 y. And that this is no new thing may appear by the Synarchies of the Kings of Israel and Judah compared together of which above By thus linking of the Synarchies together sacred and profane Chronologie may be reconciled Daniels weeks established and the Olympiads rectified according to scripture yea though we grant that each King raigned as many years as are allotted them by Historians By this means we may conceive how the Temple was building but 46 y. I mean but 46 y. interceded from its foundation to its coping John 2.20 and yet withall that it was not finished till the 6 y. of Darius Nothus Ezra 6.15 As thus Suppose Cambyses raigned 2 y. with Cyrus and 5 y. alone Darius Hystaspis 36 y. and with him as contemporaries Xerxes or Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes Longimanus though upon the supposition this last were crowned being an Infant Darius Hystaspis his 36 y. reached within the 3 last of Artaxerxes Longimanus and so you have from the first of Cyrus his universal Monarchy to the 36 of Artax Longim 7 y. and 36 y. which added together make 4 y. Suppose further Darius Nothus were assumed by his father into the Kingdom 5 y. before the death of Longimanus the Temple being finished in the 1 y. of his sole raign but the 6 of his raign with his father you have the 3 last years of Longimanus and the first of Darius Nothus 4 y. more which added to the former 43 y. make just 47 y. from return out of Captivitie to the finishing of the second Temple To which 47 y. add 56 y. of Artax Mnemons raign whereof 13 y. after Darius Nothus his death 10 with Ochus and 33 alone 13 y. of Darius Ochus alone 4 of Arsames and 6 â—f God mannuâ— in all 79 y. the total is just 126 y. according to our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Persian Monarchy 〈◊〉 why labour I in vain for a reconciliation with them who will not aâ—â—â— with 〈…〉 crosse that History nor can I agree 〈…〉 〈…〉 Is it probable 〈◊〉 Persian Kings who wallowed in extream Luxury and were so mightily addicted to Ceres Bacchus and Venus should raign or live so long as is affirmed by Heathen Authours I deny not but the Lord might bestow upon Artax Mnemon a prerogative of singular preservation from great dangers of many daies and a prosperous raign in regard of his and his Fathers great and singular affection to the Church Ezr. 6. and 7. But to beleeve that in so much excesse he should raign 62 y. and live 94 y. as Plutarch reports upon trust I must confesse it can scarce enter into my Creed and may give just occasion to Question the whole Historie about the extent of their several raigns at least 3 of them unlesse the Difficultie may be reconciled by a due linking together of their Synarchies It s remarkable of this Artax that his very Sir-name shews how mindfull and carefull God was of him who was so tender to and mindfull of Gods Church and people None shall ever have cause to complain that God was behind-hand with him for any kindnesse to himself or his people Matth. 10. last and 2 Kin. 10.30 In which last place it s very considerable how Gods Promise runs parallel with his Threat In the second commandment God threatens Idolaters to the fourth Generation and for destroying Idolatrie God rewards Jehu to the fourth Generation And that God was as good as his Word see 2 Kin. 15. 12. True Jehu his design was the establishment of the Kingdom Darius his design was long life for himself and his posteritie Ezr. 6.10 God gives them both their penny so aboundant is he in goodnesse and truth that though no naturall man can claim any Promise yet for his out-side obedience he shall have an outward reward Thus Artax complying with his Father for the service of the Church had the blessing of the fifth Commandment made good unto him If God be so bountifull to hirelings yea enemies how gracious will hee bee to his own Children for whom hee reserâ—es an eternall Inheritance and thinks not himself too good a portion for them Dan. 70 w. Floud Prom Circ Pasover CanaaÌ„ Temp. Divis S. W. Olym. 64 10       510 72.20 Jubil 3530 76 65 505 66 67 68 77 69 70 10 71 11 1880 1460 1430 1030 990 550  20 Ju 3540 78 72 506 73 74 75 76 77 11 78 12 1890 1470 1440 1040 1000 560 520 507  79 79 80 81 82 80 83 84 12 85 13 1900      530 20 Ju 3550 81 86 508 87 88 89 90 91 13 71 Jubi 92 14  1480 1450 1050 1010 570  509 3560 83 93 94 95 96 84 97 98 14 99 15 1910 1940 1460 1060 1020 580 540 510 3570 85 100 101 102 103 104 105 15 106 16 1920  1470    550 511  86 107 108 109 110 87 111 112 16 113 17  1500  1070 1030 590 560 73.21 Jubi 3580 88 114 512 115 116 117 89 118 119 17 120 18 1930 1510 1480 1080 1040  600 21 Ju 3590 90 121