to Aben Ezra who allots to the banner of Reuben a man or male child others a mandrake others put mandrakes in his hand relating to Leahs words at his birth calling him Reuben that is See a Son causing her to forget her pain for joy that a man child was borne into the world § 31. The proper place for the standard of this Tribe was to be the first of the three Tribes which pitched on the south of the Tabernacle Thus though Reuben lost the Primacy of power over all he still kept the precedency of place before one quarter of his brethren Whence parents may be taught that though on just ground they disinherit yet not so wholly to dishearten their eldest sons but still suffer some remembrances of a birthright ever to remain unto them FINIS Here the Map of Gad is to be inserted The third Book THE TRIBE OF GAD § 1. GAd eldest Son of Iacob by Zilpah so increased in Egypt that forty five thousand six hundred and fifty males of twenty years old and upward of this Tribe were numbred at Mount Sinai all which falling in the wilderness for their tempting of God with this disobedience a new generation of forty thousand and five hundred entred the Land of Canaan This Tribe affordeth very martiall men For such of them as repaired to David in Ziglag are described Men of war fit for the battell that could handle shield and buckler whose faces were like to the faces of Lyons and were as swift as the Roes upon the mountaines Yet I meet not with any publick Magistrate extracted from Gad though the Genealogists rank Iehu with four of his Posterity successive Kings of Israel amongst the Gadites but on no other ground then because at the first time he is found mentioned in Scripture he was imployed a Commander at the siege of Ramoth Gilead a City in this Tribe It seems that as the English-law makes a charitable provision for children left by their parents that the Parish wherein they are first taken up must maintain them so Genealogists the better to methodize the pedegrees of the Iews in Scripture reduce Persons of unknown Parentage to those respective Tribes in whose grounds they first light on the mention of them But let Iehu pass for a Gadite the rather because so puisant a Prince will prove a credit rather then a charge to that Tribe to which he is related § 2. The land of this Tribe was of a double nature For what lay north of the river Iabbok was anciently the possession of Og King of Basan But what lay south of the river had its property more intricate and incumbred with often exchange of her owners and on the right understanding thereof depends no less then the asserting of the innocence of the Israelites the confuting of the cavill of the Ammonites and the reconciling of a seeming contradiction in Scripture Take it thus briefly 1t. It was the Land of certain Giants called Zamzummims 2ly It was possessed by the Ammonites who destroied those Giants and this Countrey was accounted a moity or one half of their dominion 3ly It was subdued by Sihon King of the Amorites who cast out the Ammonites when also he destroied the Moabites such as were south of Iabbok and dwelt in their stead Lastly after the overthrow of Sihon Moses gave it to the Tribe of Gad for their inheritance Thus God by ringing the Changes of successive Lords in this Land made musick to his own glory Behold we here what the Psalmist saith Thou hast brought a Vine out of Egypt thou preparest room before it the method and manner of which preparation is most remarkable First God in his providence foresaw that the Countrey of the Canaanites was without other addition too narrow to receive the numerous people of Israel Secondly God in his goodness resolved out of love to righteous Lot that his posterity should not totally lose their possession nor would he suffer the Israelites their kinsmen to deprive them of any parcell thereof giving them a flat command to the contrary Lastly God in his justice permitted Sihon King of the Amorites should win part of the Countrey from Moab and Ammon and suddenly sends the Israelites to conquer the conquerour and now lawfully to inherit what the other had wrongfully taken away And thus he prepared room for his Vine § 3. By this time we plainly perceive that in the Ammonites demand to Iephtha there was some truth blinded with more falshood that the countenance of the former might pass the latter unsuspected Israel took away saith the King my Land when they came out of Egypt from Arnon even unto Iabbok and unto Iordan now therefore restore these Lands again peaceably True it was that this Land was once theirs and so it is plainly called Ioshua 13. 25. but most false that ever the Israelites took Inch of ground from them save onely mediately and at the second hand taking it from Sihon who took it from the Ammonites We report the rest to Iephtha's answer who first with a fair ambassie and then with a famous victory confuted the Ammonites antiquated title to this territory pleading that the Israelites had three hundred years peaceably possessed the same Now if upon a strict account some years fall short of that sum the matter is not much because souldiers love to fill their mouths with a round number and too hundred fifty and odde with a good sword may well be counted three hundred years currant though not compleate § 4. The Tribe of Gad had the kingdome of Ammon on the east the half Tribe of Manasseh on the north Reuben on the south and the river Iordan on the west The length thereof from Aroer to Iordan may be computed thirty five miles and the breadth thereof from Mahanaim to Dibon falls out a little less A Tribe inferiour to none for fair rivers fruitfull Pastures shady woods superiour to most for populous Cities and memorable actions atchieved therein As for Balme or Balsame it was a peculiar commodity of this Countrey Thus the Prophet betwixt grief anger and pity demands Is there no balme in Gilead and again Goe up into Gilead and take balm O virgin In describing this Countrey we will follow the streams of Arnon Iabbok and Iordan which with some little help lent us besides will afford us the conveniency to behold all remarkable mounts in this Countrey § 5. In the eastern part of this Tribe the rivers of Arnon and Iabbok though running contrary ways arise not far asunder according to the exact observation of Iosephus who saith that the land of Sihon King of the Amorites lay in nature and fashion like an Island betwixt the three rivers of Iordan Arnon and Iabbok so near are the fountains of the latter together The heads of their springs are found in a mountainous and rocky soil affording great plenty of Iackalls
hundred and fourteen So that the Tribe of Iudah alone had more Cities then all the Island of Crete which had but just an hundred and therefore called Hecatompolis But many of these Cities were small and a good share of them was given to the Tribes of Dan and Simeon as formerly hath been observed But amongst such as remained to Iudah let not Maresha be forgotten in the north-west part of this Tribe both because thereby in the valley of Zephathah Asa conquered Zerah the Ethiopian whose army consisted of more then a million of men and because the Prophet Micah was born therein § 52. In Saint Hieromes time somewhere in Iudah flourished a fair City called Eleutheropolis from which that Father measureth the distance of most southern places in Palestine as he computeth the northern from Legion a City in Galilee But the more the pity that Father hath not acquainted us with the exact location of either of these two places Whilest Adrichomius and others condemn Saint Hieromes carelesness herein it better befits us to condole our own unhappiness who cannot read the accurate distance of places in his book of that subject because though he have lent us his Characters he hath not left us the true Key thereof § 53. The Tribe of Iudah had no great river therein saving a little piece of gasping Iordan now ready to expire in the dead-sea but with rivolets it was sufficiently stored lending the brooks of Sorek and Bezâ—r to Dan and Simeon borrowing Kedron from Benjamin whence it fetcheth its fountain and keeping the brook before the wilderness of Ieruel wholly for its own use as rising running and falling entirely in this Tribe Nor must that brook be forgotten which I may call the brook of David because being to encounter Goliah he took thence five smooth stones store is no sore especially not being sure but his first might faile and furnished his scrip therewith § 54. This was that Goliah whose strength was equall to his stature his armes sutable to his strength but his Pride above all Betwixt him and David first passed a tongue-combate The one discharging ostentation and presumption which the other as quickly returned with faith and confidence in Gods promises Come they then to encounter see the lower man had the longer arme who with his sling could reach death at distance to his adversary The beaver of Goliahs helmet was open not that he thought his brazen brow sufficiently armed with its own impudence but either that he might see breath and boast the more freely or because he disdained to buckle himself against so unequall a match The stone from Davids sling flies directly to his forehead whereby the Giant is mortally wounded and notwithstanding his speare was as great as a weavers beame his life was swifter then a weavers shuttle so soon passed it away and he was gone David cutting off his head with his own sword § 55. Many were the wildernesses in this Tribe as those of Zin Ziph Maon Engedi Ieruel Tekoa and Iudah lying south of Arad Now as once it was the question of the Disciples to our Saviour From whence can a man satisfie these men with bread here in the wilderness So here it may materially be demanded Where did the men of Iudah finde food to sustain themselves whose countrey seems a heap of wildernesses cast together Here we must know that the whole land of Palestine was drest and kept like a garden plot and inclosed into Olive-yards Vine-yards and arable fields save some extravagant places which lay common where wild beasts did harbour in the woods commonly called Wildernesses Such notwithstanding were full of fruitfull pastures and had fair towns though more thinly inhabited then other parts of the Countrey so that this Tribe was more frighted then hurt with the multitude of Wildernesses therein § 56. Paramount over them all was The wilderness having six Cities therein and was part of the wilderness of Iudea extending also into Benjamin wherein Iohn the Baptist preached feeding here on Locusts flying insects whereof four kindes were clean and permitted the Iews to eate and wilde honey Either such as fell down in dews from heaven or was made by wild Bees not civilized in hives but nesting on the ground or in hollow trees In a word he was content with such course fare as the Countrey afforded his rough clothes being suited to his homely diet and both to his hard doctrine of Repentance Hereupon scandalous tongues condemned him for having a Devill as afterwards they belyed our Saviour using a more liberal diet to be a Winebibber so impossible it is to please affected frowardness either full or fasting § 57. Some make Iohn Baptist the first founder of Eremites But how little his precedent befriendeth their practise who not out of any impulsion but meer election delight to dwell in deserts will appear by the ensuing Parallel Hee 1 By immediate command from God to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 2 Went into a wilderness a place more thinly peopled then the rest of the land 3 Where he daily busied himself with preaching to multitudes of people repairing unto him 4 And at last did end his life in a place of greater concourse even the Court of King Herod himself They 1 By dictates of their own fancy following the principles of will-worship 2 Goe into a wilderness indeed conversing with solitariness and shunning all society 3 Where they bury themselves alive in laziness with the talents God hath bestowed on them 4 And binde themselves with a vow to live and dye in that solitary condition Behold here the large difference betwixt him and monking Eremites Who if men of parts ought to help others with their society if of no parts need to be helped by the society of others Yea whatsoever their endowments were this running into the wilderness was but a Bank-rupt trick to defraud the Church and Common-wealth their Creditours to both which they stood bound by specialty of Gods command to discharge all Civill and Christian relations to the utmost proportions of their abilities In a word though we stedfastly beleeve that Iabal was the father of all such as dwell in tents because the Scripture affirmeth the same yet for the reasons aforesaid we utterly deny Iohn Baptist the founder and Author of all those which live wilfully in hills and holes an eremiticall life § 58. The Son of Heseâ— was Solomons Purveyor in Aruboth to him belonged Sochoth and all the land of Hepher A land which lay as we gather by other proportions in the north-west part of this Tribe And indeed we finde a King of Hepher amongst those which Ioshua destroyed but dare not confidently averre him to have been of the Tribe of Iudah However it appears that for the main the whole body of the
sincerity to the matter now undertaken § 2. As some previous dispositions and antecedaneous acts are required of a Christian before he be perfectly converted and become the Temple of the holy Ghost so some preparatory provisions were necessary to be made before the building of the Temple was taken in hand Holy Samuel was the first we finde who stored up any wealth to this purpose and Saul probably invited with his example dedicated things to the same intent Yea Abner and Ioab though at deadly feud each against other agreed both in consecrating spoiles won in battells tâ— maintain the house of the Lord. But David exceeded all other before-hand providing the materialls wherewith prescribing the pattern whereby and purchasing the ground whereon the Temple should be erected § 3. First for materialls Lest he or his son should be recounted amongst those foolish builders which began and were not able to finish vast were his preparations for this purpose in those his two large showres of his liberality which we may call the former and latter raine of his bounty on the Temple The former 1 Chr. 22. 14. An hundred thousand Talents of gold and 〈◊〉 thousand thousand talents of silver and of brass and iron without weight The latter 1 Chr. 29 4. 7. Three thousand talents of gold of Ophir and seven thousand talents of refined silver given by David of his own proper goods Besides given by the Princes of the people of gold fivâ— thousand talents and ten thousand drams and of silver ten thousand talents and of brass eighteen thousand talents and an hundred thousand talents of iron In the first oblation was given what they had suddainly gotten by their valour in the latter what they had leasurely advanced by their diligence In the first their own but taken from their enemies in the latter their own but saved from themselves in both Gods own as David confesseth who first bestowed it on them and they now restored it to his service § 4. Come we now to examine how much a Talent in Hebrew Chichar did contain Whereof in Scripture we finde these generalls 1 One man could not conveniently carry two Talents and therefore Naaman bound two Talents of silver in two bags and laid them upon two of his servants 2 One man might easily beare one Talent not onely on his back but on his head and that not as a burden but ponderous ornament Thus the Crown of the King of Ammon afterwards worn by David weighed a Talent besides precious stones Except any will say that the heaviness thereof rested more on the subjects hands then on the Soveraigns head who by grandsergeantry maâ— be presumed to support the same 3 Probably 〈◊〉 â—ontained more then ten thousand Adarconim or drams as â—â—r translations render it because in the aforesaid text after entire talents were reckoned up these drams follow as a fraction or broken sum not amounting to a whole talent 4 The particular value thereof may be collected out of Exodus that every talent contained three thousand shekels or fifteen hundred ounces which in gold according to three pound the ounce amounteth to four thousand five hundred pound of English money According to this standard the hundred thousand talents of gold given by David in the first oblation make up four hundred and fifty millions as an excellent Critick hath accounted it § 5. Here as that infidell Prince conceived if windows were made in heaven such plenty of food could not follow in Samaria as the Prophet foretold so more will be of the minde that if Pluto should let open all his trap-doors melt all his mines into money so great a sum could not suddainly be advanced This hath given the ground to their probable opinion who conceive that Talent in the first oblation of David is there taken onely for a plain or flat plate of gold of small value as anciently in Homer it passeth in the same acception whilest in the second offeâ—ing Talent is used in the exact and strict notion according to the full value aforesaid whose judgement is strengthened by the following arguments 1 Surely Solomon was the richest of all the Kings of Israel before or after him buâ— verily I say unto you that Solomon in all his wealth and trienniall returns from Tarshish was far inferiour to David if the Talents there mentioned were full and entire according to the first computation 2 What is said of our Saviours deeds by way of hyperbole that if they were all written the world it self could not contain the books that should be written may be literally affirmed of Davids treasure in the first oblation For as the silver there mentioned was tenfold more then the gold so if it be allowed what in moderate proporâ—ion cannot be denied that the unweighed Brass was tenfold to the Silver and the Iron to the Brass the whole content of the Temple was not sufficient to comprehend so mighty a mass 3 Though the second offering of David was far short of the first in number of Talents yet it is beheld in Scripture as most solemn and of highest importance At the presenting whereof greatest gratitude to God and mutuall exultation amongst men was expressed This insinuates that at this rere-account the Talents were Talents indeed and though in number fewer in worth more considerable then the former Wherefore though we conceive not the long life of the Patriarchs a sufficient cause as some doe to expound their age of lunary years yet the strength of these reasons carry our beliefe along with them to contract the accepâ—ion of talents in the first account as is above stated § 6. But to close up all concerning Talents It was so great a sum that though now so many thousands of them abounded in Ierusalem yet after wards in the reign of Iehojakim one talent of gold and an hundred talents of silver was found and felt an heavy annuall taxation for the whole City of Ierusalem and kingdome of Iudah to pay Insomuch that he exacted it of every one in the land to make up that sum for the King of Egypt So great is the difference betwixt the same place when flowing with wealth and when exhausted with war § 7. After all these preparations made let not Davids expression be condemned of complement Now behold in my poverty I have provided for the house of the Lord c. as if he were like those fond enteâ—tainers who having forraged the elements of aire earth and water for provision for their guests still excuse their cheer for being no better His words were indited from an humble heart finding his deeds so far short of his desires of Gods deserts Thus those who have given a little to God think they have given much whilest such as have given much know they have given but a little § 8. Here it will be demanded that seeing at
also to be had by measuring of ground by days-journeys Moses in the name of his countrey-men requested Pharaoh that they might goe three days journey into the wildernesse and sacrifice unto the Lord their God And I have seen some Dutch-maps in their Scale in stead of miles measured by days-journeys A computation most uncertain especially when it is not agreed whether the day be in Summer or Winter the traveller on horse-back or on foot not to speak of the goodness or plainness of the way by which advantage Ahimaaz beat Cushi the speed and diligence of the traveller For instance Iacob being in the prime of his youth sole and single with God and his staffe travelled in a day from Beer-sheba to Bethel no less then sixty English miles a tough journey and yet the wonder is lessened if we observe 1 No doubt he set forth early probably in the dark to prevent discovery and travelled till after the Sun was set 2 He fled from his brother Esau and fear makes good foot-men 3 He went to fetch a wife and so welcome an imployment made him mend his pace Thus early up and active in himself and assisted by God and driven with fear and drawn with love and freed from any luggage no wonder if he went fast and far in a day But the same Iacob when he returned from Padan-Aram bringing with him flocks children and the impediments of a family found fifteen miles from Mahanaim to Peniel if he went so far in one day to be a sufficient journey However I deny not but perchance anciently the foresaid paces bow-shoots and days-journeys were reduced to a certain proportion though now to us unknown And yet hence no imperfection in Scripture-History is justly inferred because the point is of no such concernment and the holy Spirit intended not exactness therein as not important to the truth of the story § 3. Come we now to their certain measures of ground amongst which the cubit challengeth the preheminence as most common and current in all Iudea yea and in other eastern countreys For we finde even in Persia that the gallowes provided by Haman for Mordecai but hanselled by himself was fifty cubits high Except any will say this was extraordinary that in the greater scorn and derision that the gallows might the better fit a Iews body it was framed and fashioned according to a Jewish dimension By cubits they were commanded to measure the suburbs and lands of the Levites which were to reach from the wall of the City and outwards a thousand cubits round about Say not this was a long and tedious work to mete by so small a measure God hereby shewing that the least parcell of so fruitfull a land was of consideâ—able valuation Thus precious drugs are not weighed out by hundreds or pounds but by drams scruples and graines so soveraign is the smallest particle thereof § 4. A cubit in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amah is so called from cubitus the elbow as that from cubo to lean or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bow because properly the space betwixt the elbow and tip of the middle finger It was two-fold the great and the lesse which may be cleared out of Scripture against such as levell all cubits alike and conceive this distinction lyeth not in the thing it self but mens bare opinion For 2 Chron. 3. 3. we finde cubits according to the first measure and the Prophet expresly mentioneth a full reed of six great cubits The lesser cubit generally is adequate to our foot and half or half yard the great double as much commensurate to our full yard or three foot But Rabbi Camâ—i in his comment on Ezekiel assignes the great cubit a larger proportion so that a thousand Emoth or cubits make a mile whom we have followed in laying out the bounds of the Levites suburbs § 5. Forbear we here to speak of fathoms but once mentioned in Scripture and then in the Adriatick sea because onely used to sound the depth of water nor measure the length of land A furlong comes next to be considered so called quasi furrowlong being so much as a teme in England plougheth going forward before they return back again I say in England otherwise in the east parts of Poland where Lords have large lands in a continued champion-countrey uninterrupted with inclosuâ—es they make but two â—urlongs and those some miles in length in a whole day the one going forth the other coming back so to save time and toil of often turning We finde no mention of furlongs in the old Testament and indeed the Grecian sheers first cut the land of Canaan into the fashion of furlongs after Alexander and the Asian Kings became Masters thereof Hereupon we first meet with them in Maccaâ—ees which afterwards in the new Testament became the constant computation of distances both by sea and land Now although some difference be in the dimension of severall â—urlongs the Italian is concluded to contain an hundred and five and twenty paces and to be the eight part of a mile § 6. A mile consists of a thousand paces whence in Latine it takes its denomination and is a measure of pure Roman extraction However some learned men conceive that the Hebrew Berah answereth to the proportion of the Roman mile and so saith Montanus is always rendered by the Rabbins namely when Iacob is twice said to want but a Berah to come to Ephrath and when Naaman is said to have departed a Berah from the Prophet Elisha In all which places Tremelius hath it exiguum terrae spatium whom our translation following readeth it a little way A mile is said to contain eight furlongs though others in these eastern parts will have ten to concurre to the compleating thereof § 7. But be a mile more or less longer or shorter the sense rather then the sound is to be heeded in our Saviours precept And whosoever shall compell thee to goe a mile goe with him twain Not that hereby he meant to make Christians the lackeys to every mans insolence but onely to beat down in them vindicative dispositions to gain on their oppressours by submission not violence seeing resistance would invite ruine upon them during their present condition Indeed clothes are straitest when first put on which afterwards widen with wearing and so some think the strictness of this precept was onely at the first giving thereof Yea they compare this and the like prudentiall counsells rather then positive commands to the shells of birds which when they are hatched fall off of their own accord conceiving onely infant Christianity obliged to the keeping thereof Whereas an eternall tye is therein contained but with what circumstances it is to be observed comes not within the Scale of miles in our Maps to determine § 8. The Sabbath-days journey remaines and great difference there is
follow learned Masius though loth to erre with any willing to venture sooner on his then any other Authors judgement herein May the Reader find out Helkah in our Mappe in the South-east part thereof not farre from the Sea thence let his eies start and with good successe following the names in the Text and the pricks in our Mappe for his direction surround the Borders of this Tribe Helkah was afterwards given to the Levites Gershonites to be one of their foure Cities in this Tribe had Achshaph and formerly been a Royall City of the Canaanites whose King had been conquered by Ioshua Verse 26. And Alamelech and Amad and Mishael and reacheth to Carmel Westward and Shihor Libnah Mishael or Mashal was another City of the Levites By this the Border of Asher ran Southwestward to Carmell understand thereby not the mountain so called lying more South in Zebulun but the Plain lying under the same more towards the North. Shihor Libnah that is the white River Now for streames to take their names from their colours is no news to them that have heard of Albis in Germany Melas in Thracia and two Rivers called Blackwater the one in the South the other in the North of Ireland But whether this River in Asher took the whitenesse from the foaming water therein or Chalk-banks like our Albion on both sides or from the materials of glasse or crystall growing there let others dispute whilst we onely observe that Album Promontorium or the white Promontory is by Pliny placed hereabouts Verse 27. And turneth toward the Sun rising to Beth Dagon and reacheth to Zebulun and to the Valley of Iiphthabel toward the Northside of Bethemek and Neiel and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand The Map will make all these flexures plain Beth Dagon that is the Temple of Dagon but how came this Idol of the Philistims to travell thus farre almost to Phoenicia Surely it never came hither on its own legges as the Psalmist observes Feet have they but they walk not but was brought by the Superstition of the Canaanites which borrowed this Idol from their neighbours Concerning Cabul quaere whether it were the name of a particular place or the same with the Land of Cabul which I conceive lay more Northward which Solomon afterward bestowed on Hiram King of Tyre Verse 28. And Hebron and Rehob and Hammon and Kanah even unto great Zidon Hebron differing from a greater City of the same name in the Tribe of Iudah Rehob that is large or spacious this name speaking it a City of great receipt Unto this place came the twelve Spies sent to discover the Land and this City was afterwards bestowed upon the Levites This Kanah the great is conceived by some the birth place of Simon the Canaanite the disciple of Christ. Great Zidon was given to never gained by this Tribe whose Borders reached to Zidon exclusively so that Ashers lips might touch the cup but not taste the liquor of so sweet a City Verse 29. And then the Coast turneth to Ramah and to the strong City Tyre aud the Coast turneth to Hosah and the outgoings thereof are at the Sea from the coast to Achzib Turneth namely towards the South Ramaâ— that is an high place as the name importeth therefore seated by us on a Mountain Such Maps as place Ramah in a valley are guilty of as great a Solecisme in Geography as he in gesture who speaking O Heavens pointed to the Earth Wonder not that in Palestine we meet with so many Ramahs Towns seated on a rising or advantage of ground seeing it was so mountainous a Countrey Equivalent whereunto we have the frequent name of Upton in England whereof I have told Smile good Reader but doe not jeer at my curiosity herein no fewer then three and thirty in the Alphabeticall names of Speeds descriptions Tyre like Zidon was never possest by the Asherites neither was Achzib neer to Helkah where we first began our preambulation about this Tribe and now redit labor actus in orbem we have walked the Round and encompassed the Bounds thereof Verse 30. Ummah also and Aphek and Rehob twenty and two Cities with their Villages This is the inheritance of the Tribe of the children of Asher according to their families these Cities with their Villages All the former were limitary places in the Tribe of Asher these three last were more Inland Cities in the heart of the Countrey To avoid tautology â—ehob here must be allowed a distinct City from that mentioned before § 8. But of all these Cities Aphek was most remarkable whose King was killed by Ioshua and neer whereunto Benhadad lately beaten by Ahab on the Mountains of Samaria with his new model'd Army in a new place hoped for new successe For in stead of the thirty two Kings of more pomp then puissance to his Army he placed so many Captaines seeing it is not the shining of the hilt but the sharpnesse of the edge of the sword must do the the deed And resolved to fight in the Plain conceiving the Gods of the Israelites though by Benhadads swelling words lofty language one might rather have collected the Syrian Gods to have been the Gods of the MouÌ„tains Then appeared he with a mighty Host against whom the Israelites marched forth like two little flocks of Kids Behold here a wonder the Kids kill the Wolves and a hundred thousand Syrian footmen were kill'd in one day From the field they flie into the City of Aphek What was it to try whether the God of Israel concluded now God of the Countrey be it hilly or plain were God of the City also They found it so by sad experience when the wall of the City fell on twenty and seven thousand of them that were left which wall if cruell to kill was charitable to bury them § 9. Yet Ahab afterwards lost the advantage of this victory when contrary to Gods flat command on Benhadads feigned submission he indulged life unto him which caused his own death and destruction not long after Thus foolish pity in stead of breaking whets the knife for it's own throat and they who onely take out the teeth and sting of such serpents which they should kill outright shall finde the very stumps and tail remaining enough to bite and sting them to death § 10. Baanah the sonne of Hushai was Solomons purveyor in Asher and in Aloth What this Aloth should be a deep silence is in all Comments I conceive it a hilly Countrey appendent to Asher ascending with mountains according to the notation of the Hebrew word Herein our guesse is seconded by plenty of Gradati montes Staired mountains which goe up by degrees found in these parts and one most eminent whereof Iosephus takes especiall notice being an hundred furlongs north of Ptolemais called scala Tyriorum or the Tyrians Ladder How neer our conjecture is bowled to the
Prophet it may be ranked with the making of Dinah Iacobs daughter to be Iobs wife and with Ruth her being daughter to Eglon King of Moab all which three traditions are equally improbable in themselves altogether ungrounded on Scripture and yet peremptorily affirmed of the Jewish Doctors Nor have I ought else to observe of this City save that the Hebrew name of Zarephah signifieth a conflatory or melting place where metals whereof plenty in this Province were made fuâ—il by the fire in their furnaces § 27. Accho remains to be observed in the south part of this Tribe and confines of Zebulun A learned writer conceiveth it called Ace by Grecians from affording medicine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek to Hercules when hurt in his conflict with the Lernaean Serpent Whereas indeed Ace is plainly derived from Accho the Scriputre name of this City Thus those who take aime from the Greek tongue to shoot at the Etymologies of Hebrew places come wide of the mark This city was afterwards called Ptolemais from one of the Kings of Egypt Here I forbear to recite how Ionathan through the perfidiousness of Tryphon and his own over credulity was trained into this city taken and murdered Saint Paul sailing from Tyre touched here saluted the brethren and abode with them one day As for Achzib a city of Asher whence they could not expell the Canaanites it was seated nine miles north of Ptolemais being a tolerable harbour and called Ecdippa afterwards § 28. Many were the rivolets in this Tribe but those no sooner delivered out of the wombe of their fountains but devoured in the grave of the Ocean onely Belus hath got a name though not in Scripture running through the Cendevian Lake famous for its inexhausted sands turning all things it toucheth into glass As for the sepulcher of Memnon whom the Poets feign the son of the Morning and Iosephus erects his monument near the river Belus we take no notice thereof being hereafter to finde his tombe the dew of whose birth is as the wombe of the morning in a far distant place § 29. The Armes usually assigned to Asher are azure a standing cup covered Or relating to Iacobs blessing he shall yeeld royall dainties A cup being taken here by a Synedochicall metonymie for all plentifull Provisions Asher otherwise affording dishes as well as cups and esculents as well as variety of beverage But should the shield of this Tribe be as full of charge as the land thereof was fruitfull of commodities what was the credit of the countrey would be the disgrace of the Coate of Asher Here the Map of Zebulun is to be inserted THE TRIBE OF ZEBVLVN CHAP. 6. § 1. ZEbulun tenth son of Iacob by Leah his wise had his posterity so increased in Egypt that fifty seven thousand four hundred were extracted from him All which dying in the wilderness for their manifold disobedience their next generation being sixty thousand five hundred possessed the land of Canaan Honourable mention on all occasions is made of this Tribe in Scripture How forwâ—rd were they in their expedition against Sisera in so much as out of Zebulun they came down that handled the pen of the writer Gown-men turned Sword-men Clerks became Captains changing their penknives into swords Thus the peaceableness of their profession can bail none to stay at home when eminent danger arrests all at the suite of the Commonwealth to serve in person abroad David calls them the Princes of Zebulun c. and well might he afford them that style of dignity who attended him at Hebron with an army so absolutely accomplished For 1 Number fifty thousand 2 Skill expert in war which could keep ranke 3 Weapons with all instruments of war 4 Loyalty they were not of double hearts Yet in all ages of all the numerous Tribe of Zebulun we finde but two Grandees expressed by name Elon a peaceable Judge and Ionah an eminent Prophet But what shall we say A greater then Ionah was here even Christ himself the honour and dishonour though not of the tribe of the land of Zebulun honor because here miraculously conceived poorly painfully bread brought up here frequent in preaching working of miracles dishonour because carelesly neglected and scornfully contemned yea dispightfully persecuted of his own countreymen § 2. Zebulun had Asher on the north-west Naphtali on the north-east Issachar on the south the Mediterranean on the west and Galilean sea on the east thereof This maritime position of this Tribe Iacob foresaw in his Prophecy Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the Sea and he shall be for an haven of ships and his border shall be unto Zidon Which Charter of sea conveniencies is renewed and enlarged by Moses in his blessing Rejoyce Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents They shall call the people unto the mountains and there shall they offer Sacrifices of righteousness for they shall suck of the abundance of the Seas and treasures hid in the sand Where though these two Tribes be made Partners and joint sharers in marine interests and are promised equall profit thereby yet Issachar it seems loved land and an home life best imploying his canvase rather for Tents then Sails whilest the sea and going out in long voiages was rather Zebuluns delight So have I seen chickens and ducklings hatched under the same hen no sooner unhoused out of their shels but presently the one falls a pecking on the ground the other a padling in the water § 3. Nor let any be staggered at the close of Iacobs Prophecy wherein he foretelleth Zebuluns border shall be unto Sidon finding this Tribe to fall many miles short and south of that place For Sidon is not there to be taken for the City but Countrey so named And the land of the Sidonians or Phenicians extended to Accho or Ptolemais a city thereof on which the north bound of Zebulun did confine Greater will be the difficulty to assigne a cleare reason why in the first book of Chronicles where the Pedegrees of all the other Tribes are reckoned up Zebulun and Dan as considerable and deserving as the rest is omitted The best is places not persons concern our present subject and I hope I shall not betray such indiscretion to leave the plain and ready Rode of my work in hand to enter into the wood not to say the bog of an impertinent question § 4. We begin with the sea of Galilee the eastern boundary of this Tribe called always a sea by three of the Evangelists but generally a Lake by Saint Luke Indeed amongst lakes it may be accounted for a Sea such the greatness amongst seas reputed for a lake such the sweetness and freshness of the water therein The extent thereof is most variously reported amongst Authors Iosephus makes it an hundred furlongs long and sixe broad Pliny
to inquire to whom the right thereof did belong Here we finde an undoubted evidence that the same by a double title perteined to the land and people of Israel 1 As a fence to the vineyard 2 As a Common to a City As a fence to a vineyard So the Prophet in his Parable And be fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof Now although this fencing principally refers to Gods protection over the Iews yet is it not unappliable to the naturall posture of their countrey hem'd in with mount Libanus on the north Secondly if we conceive all Iudea under the notion of a great city Lebanon was a Common assigned thereunto and ALL LEBANON towards the Sunrising And though probably the neighbouring Tribes Asher Naphtali and Dan did reap the most benefit thereby yet all the rest are presumed to have a right both in the herbage for their profit and wild beasts for their pleasure However either with or without the leave of Israel the Hivites and Archites whose city Archa is by Ptolemy placed hereabouts made bold to share with them in the commodities of this mountain Here grew the goodly Cedars of whose severall kindes some bearing fruit without flowers others bringing flowers without fruit manner of growing having streight and clean bodies to the top and there a tuft of boughs and leaves where should the haire be but on the head naturall qualities or supernaturall rather because said to be free from corruption and therefore used to make the statues of the Gods the Philosopher will give the best account to whose reports we remit the Reader § 7. Forget we not that humane writers make a division of the mountain calling the northern ledge thereof Libanus the southern Anti-Libanus whereas the Scriptures taking no notice of this distinction express both under the generall name of Libanus § 8. And now to climbe this mountain behold it every where scattered with Solomons workmen some bearing of burdens Better to carry the meanest materiall to the Temple of God then carve the most curious pieces for the tower of Babel some hewing of stones all busied either with their hands as labourers or eyes as overseers No hole left for idleness to peep in at but presently she was perceived and punished I hope without offence one may wish them God speed the rather because he that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees was known to bring it to an excellent work but now they break down all the work thereof with axes and hammers § 9. It is now high time that leaving the generall description of Libanus we come to survay the severall places on or near thereunto In the southwest side thereof near Zidon and the sea lay the land of Cabul which Solomon gave to Hiram King of Tyre for the cost and charge he was at in building the Temple Hereby it appears that this territory though lying in Galilee was no part of the Land of Canaan it being above the power of the Kings of Israel to alienate any parcell thereof But though it was unlawfull to take the childrens bread and cast it unto dogs yet the crust and parings thereof might be given them to which this Land of Cabul may well be compared being so course and base a Countrey that it little contented King Hiram who therefore called it Cabul that is dirty or displeasing It may seem strange that Solomon who in other things consulted with his honour and magnificence and to whom God gave a large heart should herein have so narrow a hand as not to give Hiram a friend and forein Prince full consideration who so freely had furnished him with all necessaries for his building But 1 Haply Solomon beheld Hiram as a Homager unto him holding the kingdome of Tyre from the Crown of Israel And if so then all he did was but his duty and fully rewarded in Solomons favourable acceptance thereof 2 Solomon might conceive Hirams expences sufficiently satisfied in allowing his men such a vast proportion of yearly provision so these cities were given him not in compensation of the charge but as an overplus and meer gratuity For which Hiram ought to be thankfull because so good not displeased because no better 3 Most probable it is that absolute need and no other reason made Solomon fall short in satisfying Hirams expectation His treasure being much exhausted excess will begger wealth it self by his sumptuous structures The same necessitous principles which caused his intolerable taxes on his own people might also make him against his own will and generous disposition faile in rewarding the full deserts of Hiram It is some contentment unto us that though we know not the severall names yet the Scripture acquaints us with the exact number of the cities in Cabul-land being twenty in all as in our Map we have reckoned them accordingly § 10. But here some will be very much startled that this land of Cabul should so lately receive this denomination from Hirams displeasure whereas we finde it so called four hundred years before in the book of Ioshua where the borders of the Tribe of Asher are thus assigned they goe out to Cabul on the left hand To satisfie which seeming difficulty we must know that though the book of Ioshua contains matter of far more ancient date yet it was written by holy-men of God after the days of David and probably in the reign of Solomon This appears because in Ioshua mention is made of the book of Iasher wherein the standing still of the Sun and Moon was recorded and that book of Iasher was penned after Davids reign because therein Davids acts were also Chronicled § 11. Mount Libanus is overspread with the buildings of Solomon whereof some may be conceived the fragments made out of the Remnants and Reversions of the stone and timber left of what was provided for the Temple Yea probably some were platformes and modells to heighten and improve the skill and knowledge of his builders True it is in the making of the Tabernacle every Tenon board hook and socket were Iure Divino both by precept and precedent according to the pattern in the Mount but it was not so in the building of the Temple Therein God gave Solomon a large heart and furnished him with Hiram a skilfull workman but as for all particular proportions they were left at large for their wisdomes to contrive It may therefore with much likelyhood be conceived that to better their knowledge in Architecture for the Temple some slight buildings in Libanon were erected which afterwards might serve Solomon for privacy and pleasure retirement and recreation And seeing Solomon took his naturall history from the Cedar that growes in Lebanon to the Moss on the wall haply he might study in some of these buildings where Cedars and other simples were presented unto him being best able to comment on Natures works when he saw the text before his
Davids days the Militia was much altered and managed by horse by the way Absalom was the first Israelite whom we finde riding in a chariot and how he was blest is not unknown Afterwards Solomon brought many horses out of Egypt and an Egyptian wife on the back of them who certainly hindred more then the other helped him and generally the Israelites were more prosperous before their use of horses then ever after Their success was mounted when they fought on foot but scarce went on foot when their armies were mounted on horseback § 24. But to return to Aram-Zobath Two prime cities thereof with four names are mentioned in Scripture Beta and Berothat elsewhere called Tibhah and Chun Here not to say that Beta and Tibhah by Metathesis are the same it is no newes for cities standing in the confines of severall kingdomes and the juncture of severall languages to have double names What the English-man calls Glocester and Worcester the Welsh-men tearm Caer Loyw and Caer-Frangon And probably one of the names of these cities was Hebrew and the other Aramite Both of them afforded much brass to King David Gods receiver generall for that purpose for the building of the Temple But Zobah which gave the name to this Countrey is generally conceived at this day to be called Aleppo though some Iews inhabiting therein count it anciently the city of Sepharvaim from Alep which signifies milke in the Turkish language whereof such plenty here that if via lactea be to be found on earth it is in this place It is so seated on a navigable stream which runs into Euphrates that here the commodities of the East and West doe meet The former from Babylon by water the latter by Land-caravans from Scanderoon and this city is the golden clasp to couple both sides of the world together and we remit the Reader to modern Merchants for further information thereof § 25. And here standing on the utmost verge of our map we could wish it of such extent as might represent to the Reader Aram-Naharam or Mesopotamia otherwise Padan-Aram where Bethuel and Laban dwelt Charran whither Abraham first removed Caldea and Ur a city where he formerly dwelt Babylon and Nineveh the two Emperesses of the world with the rivers which watered and bounded Paradise it self But alass as Prodigalls who have spent their possessions take little delight to see a survey of the lands they have sold the sad remembrancer of their former riot and present wretchedness so small comfort can accrew unto us by the curious enquiry into the ancient place of Paradise having long since in our first Parents forfeited all our right and title thereunto But the main matter forbidding our Pens progress any further is because as Shimei confined by Solomon to Ierusalem suffered justly as an offender for gadding to Gath so Palestine with the neighbouring countreys being the proper subject of our discourse we shall be taken trespassers if found wandering beyond the bounds thereof However I hope without offence my hand may point further then my feet may follow and tell the Reader that the fore-named places lie northeast of the city of Aleppo § 26. The land of Hamah lay west of Aram-Zobah anciently inhabited by the Hamathites descended from the eleventh and youngest Son of Canaan the Son of Cham of whom largely before In the days of David Toi was King of this Countrey who being at war with Hadadezar and hearing how the Israelites had defeated him sent Ioram his Son to King David with presents in his hand and complements in his mouth to congratulate his victory Long after Salmaneser subdued this countrey and extinguished the royall race witness that brag Where is the King of Hamath and of Arpad Though that proud question admits of an answer namely they were even there where their sins set them seeing it was not so much the Assyrian valour as the Syrian wickedness which cast these Kings out of their countrey Riblah was a prime city in this land where Nebuchadnezzar caused the eyes of Zedekiah to be bored out Some conceive this done in the land of Nephtali others with more likelihood in this place and we see Reader our carefulness to please all if possible in this captious age mention it in both Yet because this Riblah was many miles nearer to Babylon and further from Ierusalem it is more probable to be the place as more for Nebuchadnezzars ease and Zedekiahs anguish it adding to the conquerours state to fetch the captive furthest from his own countrey § 27. Hamah the city which gave the name to this countrey was afterwards called Antiochia Seven and twenty cities are said to be of the same name For severall Antiochuses being successively Kings of Syria stocked their dominions with many cities after their names as being either built beautified strengthened or enlarged by them or their Favorites But it matters not how many younger brethren there be of the same family as long as our Antioch is the heire and though not in age in honour to be preferred before all the rest Here the professor of the Gospell formerly termed Beleevers for their faith sometimes Brethren for their love Saints for their holinesse Disciples for their knowledg were for all these first called Christians Probably when many of all nations beleeved the name Christian was given them to bury the difference betwixt Iews and Gentiles thus England and Scotland happily joined in great Britain which two names though remaining afterwards were used as terms of civill difference not odious distinction Had this happened at Rome how would the Tide of Tiber have swoln above all his bounds and banks at the conceit that in her city Religion it self was christened But this Antioch hath still more to brag of The Chair of Saint Peter wherein he sate Patriarch many years before his removeall to Rome and therefore no wonder if Antioch grudge to give Rome the superiority Why should not that place be the prime which was the first Besides Saint Peter was honoured at Antioch murdered at Rome And why should that City receive most credit by him which used most cruelty unto him But let Ecclesiasticall Heralds deduce the pedegree and martiall the precedency of these Churches we will onely adde that this Pharisaicall taking of the upper-hand hath in all ages hindered the giving of the right hand of Christian fellowship § 28. Now surely no malignant quality in this place but a principle of perversness in mens hearts was the cause that so many famous contentions happened in this city of Antioch Here it was that some comming down from Iudea maintained the necessity of circumcision and the legall ceremonies endevouring to set up a religion like those monsters in Africa begotten betwixt severall kindes partaking of both perfect in neither but defective in their very redundancy a â—edley mongrel betwixt Judaisme and Christianity This occasioned the calling of the first great
suspicious greatness Politicians having found in their theory and Princes perchance felt in their practise the danger thereof § 34. And now we come to the particular description of the Land of Edom called also Mount-Seir Dumah and Idumea in the Scripture Mount Seir is as much as Mons hispidus or hirsutus a rough and rugged mountain So called some conceive from Esau who Satyr-like had a quickset of hair on his body though it seems the place was so named long before he came to possesse it as brisling with bushes and overgrown with wood in the famous wilderness thereof namely of 1 Teman The inhabitants hereof were or were accounted of themselves or others very wise Is wisdome no more in Teman Yet all their carnall policy could not preserve them from utter destruction there threatned unto them Eliphaz one of Iobs friends was of this Countrey 2 Dedan Such as dwelt therein were merchants and did drive a land trade with Tyrus bringing thither precious clothes for chariots or in chariots 3 Edom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herein the three Kings wandered and were distressed for want of water till Elisha relieved them As for the other two names of this Countrey Dumah and Idâ—mea formerly largely thereof § 35. Edom had the Dead-sea and Moab on the north-east Arabia deserta on the east the wilderness of Paran on the north-west and the Red-sea on the south-west A sea not so called from the redness of the water thereof yet I know not how it may appear when beheld with bloud-shot eyes nor from a King Eruthraeus for what makes a Greek name so long since in these eastern parts but from Edom or Rufus the red son of Iacob commanding in this countrey so that Red sea is all one with the Edomite or Idumean Sea In Hebrew it is termed Iam Suph or the flaggy sea because of the plenty of flags reeds and weeds found therein though of the last never so many as when the wicked Egyptians were drowned therein Ezion-gaber is a fair haven of great commerce on this sea Here Solomon had his navy royall which jointly with the ships of Hiram brought four hundred and twenty talents of gold from Ophir This it seems was the sum paid de claro into the Kings Exchequer otherwise thirty talents more are mentioned probably expended in defraying the cost of the voyage Long after Iehosaphat joining with Ahaziah hence set forth ships for the same purpose to the same place but they went not for they were broken Why the seas which smiled on Solomon should frown on godly Iehosaphat I durst not conjecture lest my adventuring in guessing prove as unsuccessefull as his in sailing had not Scripture plainly told me that the winds and the waves forbad the Banes of matching Gods children with Idolaters in the same designe Yea the breath of Eliezer the Prophet may be said to have sunk those ships threatening their destruction Thus those shall never reap good harvest who plow with an Oxe and an Asse contrary to Gods flat command Afterwards wicked King Ahaziah requested again of Iehosaphat Let my servants goe with thy servants in the ships but the other refused having foundas bad success with the son at sea as lately he had had on land with Ahab his Father Besides Iehosaphat being sensible how his infant-designe was strangled in the wombe and his ships broken at Ezion gaber in the very haven would not renew his voyage it being a bold defying of divine power to water that project from earth which one plainly sees blasted from heaven § 36. Other remarkable places in Edom were first Mount Hor haply so called from the Horims ancient inhabitants thereof where Aaron put off his clothes the covering of his body and his body the clothes of his soul and Eleazar his son both buried and succeeded him Thus though for his disobedience forbidden the entrance of the land of Canaan yet he came to the selvedge or out-skirt thereof for hard by the Tribe of Iudah with a narrow spong confined on the kingdome of Edom. 2ly The valley of salt at the south end of the Dead Sea where God twice seasoned the Edomites with two sharp and smart overthrows when Abishai killed eighteen thousand and afterwards when Amaziah killed ten thousand of them in the same place 3ly Zair is not far off where King Ioram of Iudah gave the Edomites a great blow though he could not bring them again into a full subjection 4ly More south Bozrah the metropolis of Edom. The name thereof signifieth a muniment or fortification hence so many of them in these parts and it was a place of great strength and renown The Prophet speaking of Christ returning in triumph from overcoming his enemies Who is this saith he that cometh from Edom with red garments from Bozrah But oh the difference though the colour be the same betwixt the manner of the die when Christ came red a sufferer and red a conquerour the latter from Bozrah but the former from Ierusalem § 37. Yet Bozrah carrieth it not so clear to be chiefe in this Countrey but that Sclah is a stiffe corrivall with it for the same honour This Hebrew name signifies a Rock in which sense it is called Petra in Greek and Latine I say not that Arabia is thence denominated Petraea standing on a steep hill from the precipice whereof Amaziah threw ten thousand Edomites and they all burst to pieces whereof before a cruell act yet admitting of a better excuse then another he committed in this kingdome in adoring the captive Idols of Edom and setting them up to be worshipped in Iudah Did he think that as some trees gain more strength by being transplanted so these Gods would get new vigour by being removed into another countrey Petra was by Amaziah named Ioktheel and is called Crach at this day having lately been used for a place therein to secure the treasure of the Sultan § 38. So much of Edom whose ancient antipathy against Israel continued and increased to the last Witness their standing in the cross ways to cut off them of Iudah which should escape and shut up the remnant in the day of affliction God in conclusion was even with them for as they had cast lots upon Ierusalem so at last they drew such a blank for themselves that notwithstanding their Eagles-nests and starry-dwellings wherein they placed their confidence they were brought to destruction their high habitations being so far from saving them that they onely contributed to make their fall more visible to others and dangerous to themselves § 39. East of Edom lay the Land of Uz where Iob dwelt so renowned for his patience when the devill heaped afflictions upon him allowing him no lucid intervalls Onely the more deliberately to torment him measured unto him so much space betwixt his severall stripes that Iob might be distinctly sensible
ridiculous is the unequall contest in point of bulk betwixt their severall workmanships that Natures pismires may be said to exceed Arts elephants § 16. Some to excuse the pride of these builders resolve their design on a point of policy onely to busie their people to prevent in them laziness and luxury the mother of mutinies knowing so rich a soile would invite them to riot if out of employment But whatever was their principall project their secundary end intended such structures for sepulchers where the builders bodies lay not interred but immured with all imaginable cost bestowed upon them For the Egyptians fondly conceived Reader pity them and praise God that thou are better informed that the soul even after death like a gratefull guest dwelt in the body so long as the same was kept swept and garnished but finally forsook it and sought out a new body if once the corpse were either carelesly neglected or dispightfully abused and therefore to wooe the soul to constant residence in their bodies at least wise to give it no wilfull distaste or cause of alienation they were so prodigiously expensive both in imbalming their dead and erecting stately places for their monuments § 17. The long lasting of these Pyramids is not the least of admiration belonging unto them They were born the first and doe live the last of all the seven wonders in the world Strange that in three thousand years and upwards no avaritious Prince was found to destroy them to make profit of their Marble and rich materials no humorous or spightfull Prince offered to overthrow them meerly to get a greater name for his peevishness in confounding then their pride in first founding them No Zelote-reformer whilest Egypt was Christian demolished them under the notion of Pagan monuments But surviving such casualties strange that after so long continuance they have not fallen like Copy-holds into the hand of the Grand Signeur as Lord of the Manor for want of repairing Yea at the present they are rather ancient then ruinous and though weather-beaten in their tops have lively looks under a gray head likely to abide these many years in the same condition as being too great for any throat to swallow whole and too hard for any teeth to bite asunder § 18. We have been the longer hereon because Iosephus as is aforesaid makes the Israelites when enslaved in Egypt against their wills the builders of their Pyramids others conceive them Pharaohs magazines so called not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from fire ascending in a narrowing shape but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from wheat as used for granaries or store-houses where corn was deposited both alike improbable for 1 They afford no concavity of considerable receit for such purpose 2 Their form of all least capable is useless for such intents all the spire being to loss 3 The Israelites built with bâ—icks whereas these are made of Marble But for farther satisfaction of the Reader herein I refer him to that learned Traveller who hath made an excellent tract of his own observations herein § 19. However here we may take occasion to mention the miserable condition of the Israelites in Egypt during which time woefull their slavery if we consider the 1 Long continuance thereof two hundred and odde years in the latitude and fourscore from the birth of Moses in the Paroxysme of their bondage 2 Deep misery insomuch that their lives were made bitter unto them 3 Broad extent none exempted no not Moses and Aaron Get you unto your burthens Say not that the officers of Israel who onely oversaw the rest had an easie place of it for they were beaten because others under them did not their impossible taske as if what was wanting in the tale of the peoples bricks must be made up in blows on their backs who were set to oversee them Onely to give the Egyptians their due they gave the Israelites their belly full as of work so of food which proceeded not so much from their pity as their policy Cariers are so mercifull to their horses meat them well to prevent their trying and the plenty of the land affording at cheap prices abundance of provisions § 20. Somewhat north of the aforesaid Pyramids on the same side of Nilus stood the great City of Memphis anciently the Metropolis of Egypt where their Kings kept their Courts and therefore it is probable here Ioseph was bought and beloved by Potiphar here afterwards accused and imprisoned unjustly favoured by the jailer advanced by Pharaoh whose dreams he expounded in a word likely it is that all those eminent passages betwixt him and his brethren were transacted in this City Some hundred years after the frequent addresses of Moses and Aaron to another Pharaoh in the behalf of the Israelites were performed in the same place and here or hereabouts the ten Egyptian plagues were first inflicted in manner and order ensuing 1 All the water formerly the merciless executioner of the Jewish infants was for seven days turned into bloud whereby the fish dyed and the river stank so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water thereof Water which otherwise in it self was most sweet and delicious witness the answer of Pescentius Niger unto his murmuring souldiers What crave you wine and have Nilus to drink of The transubstantiation of this element into bloud extended over all the streams rivers ponds and pooles in Egypt and the sea onely was excepted from whence or from pits newly digged in the ground the Magicians might fetch their water which in imitatition of Moses quoad similitudinem if not veritatem they also turned into bloud 2 Frogs so plentifull that they covered the land and so presumptuous they came into Pharaohs Bed-chamber though never sworn his Grooms in ordinary attendance yea they crept into the very ovens as if Salamanders rather then frogs and no private place was priviledged from their unwelcome company But the Magicians made the like in show if not in substance the Devill much delighting in their monstrous shape for we finde in Scripture Three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon 3 Lice Insects with so many lineaments in a little compass that the eyes of the Magicians could not see much less imitate them so that they were forced to confess it the finger of God But whether thus beaten out of distance they here left off their race of emulation with Moses or still continued it it is hard to determine 4 Flies properly waspes or hornets armed with stings wherewith they tormented the people Surely they were more then ordinary flies because they brought Pharaoh to proffer to Moses a partiall and conditionall departure of the people 5 A generall Murrain insomuch that all the cattell of Egypt dyed Some will object If this was a totall destruction of all the beasts in the land how came it to pass
No that was situate among the rivers that had the waters round about it whose rampart was the sea and her wall was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt was her strength and it was Infinite Put and Lubim were thy helpers Yet was she carried away she went into captivity her young men also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets and they cast lots for honorable men and all her great men were bound in chains It will hardly appear elsewhere in Scripture that Infiniteness is attributed to any created greatness and here we see what became of it so that the ruines of No may have this Epitaph written upon them Hîc jacet finis infiniti § 24. The estern stream of Nilus from the east receiveth the river Trajanus on the south side whereof stood the City On Onii in Ptolemaeus whereof Potipherah was Prince or Priest whose daughter Asenath Ioseph took to wife Aven is hard by a City against which Ezekiel prophesied and by some is made the same with Heliopolis This Heliopolis or Bethshemesh is generally conceived the place though not named in Scripture where our Saviour before he could go forced to fly from the fury of Herod being a babe abode with his parents What he did here besides sucking of his mothers breast is not recorded in the Gospell though one presumes to tell us how the Egyptian Idols at his entring into the land felt a shaking ague and fell down in homage to him as once Dagon to the Ark. Another relates how this infant sate under a great tree which out of dutifulness bowed down to him because his short armes could not reach the branches thereof A third reports of a fountain betwixt Heliopolis and Babylon purified to a medicinall virtue from the foulness of the Babes clothes washed by his mother therein All which Non credimus quia non legimus Thus Authors conceiving it not to stand with the state of Christ to live obscurely in Egypt furnish him with faigned miracles to make him more illustrious and therein mark not the main intent of Divine Providence For in this clandestine flight of his Son God intended not to present him in a glorious appearance but to lessen humble empty him so that his poverty in it self considered was a rich miracle especially seeing we are stayed by his flight and brought home by his banishment Besides the Scripture expresly termeth his turning of water into wine at Cana in Galilee the beginning of his miracles § 25. The precise time of Christs residence in Egypt is not set down but surely his stay here was not so long as to tanne the Virgin Mary and dye her complexion into a Black-more as she is presented in her Chapell of Lauretta I deny not but the purest beauties are soonest subject to sunburning but such a face better became Christs Spouse then his mother I am black but comely ô yee daughters of Ierusalem Nor should I much wonder at the colour in her face if onely the fancy of a libertine Painter had not so many learned men made her picture the object of their adoration Yet the darkness of her face here is as avouchable as the brightness of her clothes elsewhere glistering with gold and rich stuffe some pretended reliques whereof at Paris the finer they are the falser they are better beseeming her ancient royall extraction then her husbands present poor and painfull condition Yet such gorgeous apparell was not so much above her means as such garish attire wherewith some Painters doe dress her was against the modesty of that ever blessed Virgin But pardon our digression and we return to oâ—r matter § 26. Just at the confluence of Trajanus and Nilus stood the once famous City of Babylon though in antiquity greatness and strength far inferiour to a City of the same name in Chaldea It is not yet decided which of these two Saint Peter intended when writing The Church which is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you and so doth Marcus my Son Protestant Divines generally interpret this of the great Chaldean Babylon where moe Iews dwelt then in any one place which was without the land of Palestine and therefore probable that Saint Peter being the Apostle of the Circumcision might sometimes reside there yet seeing Marcus is mentioned in the same verse who is notoriously known to have lived in this land and once to have been Patriarch of Alexandria why might not this our Egyptian Babylon be here meant by the Apostle But Popish writers are so fond to have Saint Peter at Rome that here they will have Rome mystically to be termed Babylon Good luck have she with her honour always provided that if Rome will be Babylon in this Epistle to gain Peters presence she shall be Babylon in the Revelation on whom those plagues and punishments are denounced But such as plead her heir-apparent to the former endevour to cut off the entail that the latter may not descend upon her § 27. To return to the eastern stream of Nilus which runneth through the land of Pathros Into which the remnant of the Israâ—lites left by the King of Babylon returned under the conduct of Iohanan the son of Kareah contrary to Gods flat command by the mouth of Ieremiah They took also him and Baruch the scribe pity to part them but that the mouth and â—and should go together no doubt against their consents and brought them down hither into the land of Egypt partly out of policy though they would cast away their counsell to weare their forced company to countenance their design and part out of despight that if according to their prediction any evill betided them they also might be joint-sufferers therein Both of them nothing appearing to the contrary dyed here not finding their corpes like Iosephs carried back in a Coffin into their own countrey It matters not though our bodies be bestowed in the earthly Egypt so our souls be translated to the heavenly Canaan § 28. Many were the prophecies of Ieremy during his abode in this land Amongst others that when he solemnly denounced the ruine of Egypt For he was commanded to take stones and hide them in the clay in the brick-kill which is at the entry of Pharaohs â—ouse in Tahpanhes understand it some competent distance thence otherwise such a shop of smoak was but a bad Preface to a Kings Palace and did foretell that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon should in process of time set his throne and spread his royall pavillion on those very stones when he should conquer Egypt which no doubt came to pass accordingly A little more northernly this western stream of Nile parts it self into two chanels One falling into the Mediterranean at Zoan a City built seven years after Hebron in the land of Canaan Anciently a chief City in Egypt the whole land by Synecdoche being termed
quilted with timber for their stronger support that Iobâ— children might be though not killed with weight stifled with the closeness of the very linnen in the tent when Satan with such violence in a vengeance drave it in upon them but fairly charge it on the account of the Graver following his own fancy therein Philol. You have made the Red-sea too near to the Dead-sea presenting not above sixty miles distance betwixt them when there is much more in all authentick descriptions of them See now what covetousness doeth it makes men guilty of much falshood as here your over-greediness to recover Ezion Gaber within this Map hath tempted you to trespass on due proportion Aleth I confess the main channell of the Red-sea runs many miles more south-west but this Bay called Sinus Elaniticuâ— from 〈◊〉 Eâ—ath in Scripture a fair City built by Uzziah and restored to Iâ—â—â—ah hard by Ezion Gaber buncheth out more to the north and in Mr. Mores Maps and others of good credit is advanced as near to the Dead-sea as in this our description Besides I have good reason to conceive that this Reach of the Red-sea anciently stretched more north-ward then now adays even to the City of Elana or Elath whence it takes its name because in Ptolemies Map Elana is set in the land some miles distance from the Sea whither no doubt it reached formerly and made an haven for Ezion Gaber thereabouts Philol. But how can Ezion Gaber stand on the Red-sea when we read of Huram King of Tyre an haven sufficiently known to be seated on the Mediterranean that he sent ships to Solomon to Ezion Gaber Surely they sailed not round about Africa much less can you conceive them to goe over land ships having fins and not feet and a shole of fish may with as much probability be driven over the Continent Aleth Here Sir I will not tell you of the Prince of Orange his constantly carrying boats to make bridges of though of no great burden in his wagons much less will I instance in those seventy lesser ships and Galliots brought by Zoganes Bassa Anno 1453. up a great hill and so by dry land with all their sails abroad out of the Bosphorus the space of eight miles into the haven of Constantinople by an ingenious device and a great strength of men to manage it whereby the said City was soon after unexpectedly taken by the Turke An invention formerly found out and practised by the Venetians at the lake of Bennacus But waving these things take notice I pray of two memorable passages concerning the matter in hand 1 King 9. 26. And King Solomon made a navy of Ships in Ezion Gaber 2 Chron. 8. 18. And Huram sent him to Ezion Gaber by the 〈◊〉 of his servants Ships and servants that had knowledge of the sea The result of both is this Solomons ships were built in the place at Ezion Gaber where all their lumber and maâ—sie timber was provided at the Dock wherein they were made whilest their tackling and other essentiall implements thereof easily portable when taken in pieces might be sent from Tyre by land-carriages Such far carting being part of the burdens Solomon imposed on the people whereof they afterwards so grievously complained or else by Hurams sending ships by a Metonymie of the cause understand ship-rights such as found materials there and brought art and industry virtually with the former a whole navy thither with them Philol. Seeing Edom bounded north-ward on the Dead south-ward on the Redsea whereon stood Ezion Gaber in the land of Edom how can the children of Israel be conceived when denyed passage through it to compass the land of Edom without coming into any part thereof except they went into the water Aleth Understand it they went not the nearest way to Canaan through the heart and fruitfull middle of Edom but surrounded the same going through the borders thereof leaving the Red-sea on the right hand where their passage was no whit prejudiciall to the Edomites as being through a base Countrey secured against the long stay of any passengers therein by its own barrenness Besides some conceive the land of Edom extended not anciently so far as the Red sea so that in Moses his time Ezion Gaber belonged not thereunto though in the days of Solomon accounted parcell thereof CHAP. XXII Objections against the Wilderness of Paran answered Philol. IN your Map of Simeon and Iudah you make that the River of Egypt which runs nigh Rinocolura into the Mediterranean sea And here you call both that brook that runs into the Syrbon Lake as also the easternmost stream of Nilus by the name of the River of Egypt How comes this triplication Where the Scripture presents but one you multiply three Rivers of Egypt Aleth You put me in minde of a passage Bishop Latimer confesseth of himself whilest as yet a young Priest and zealous Papist He being enjoined by the Rubrick to mingle water with the wine in the Châ—lice at Mass was so scrupulous to doe it effectually that he powred in water so much and so often that he almost diluted all into water Such is the 〈◊〉 of my caution herein who have Egypt-rivered this Map to purpose willing to please all without displeasing of the truth You know who saith If it be possible as much as in you lyeth have peace with all men as herein I have endevoured For 1 The Rivolet south of Simeon by generall consent 2 That running into the Syrbon-lake by Mr. More 3 The easternmost stream of Nile by Bochartus is made the River of Egypt Thus each opinion having learned men to patronize it we equally tender them all to the Readers discretion to reject or accept which of them he shall conclude most probable Philol. You make Sinai where the Law was given a different and distinct mountain from mount Horeb. Whereas in Scripture it plainly appears that Horeb was the same with Sinai two names for one and the same mount For that the Law was given in Sinai all agree and the same is attributed to Horeb also The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst the fire Aleth Some conceive this mountain as Moses is erroneously fancied with hornes to rise up Parnassus-like with a double top whereof the one is called Horeb the other Sinai Or else the former like the Alpes is a genericall name to many whilest Sinai like mount Senis amongst the Alpes is more eminent and conspicuous then the rest for the height thereof Philol. Seeing the Spies were sent from Kadesh-Barnea to discover the Land a City afterwards assigned to Iudah how come you to make the Israelites to incamp so many miles south of the same place Aleth None can be so wild as to conceive that the Israelites during their journeying in the wilderness ever came within the
PErusing the nine last Chapters of Ezekiels prophesie invited thereunto with the mention of many places in Palestine whilest I hoped to find and feel a Solid body I onely grasped the flitting aire or rather a meer spirit I mean in stead of a literall sense I found the Canaan by him described no Geography but Ouranography no earthly truth but mysticall prediction Now his Description will appear irreconcileable with a literall interpretation no Topicall but a bare Typicall relation if the particular location of the Tribes therein be seriously considered § 3. Adde hereunto the miraculous fruit unfading and new every moneth which this land produced one leafe whereof was more worth then all the great Grapes Pomegranates and Figs the Spies brought from Canaan as being unfading and soveraign for medicines Now surely such as understand this literally have need of some of those Leaves to cure their distempers therein § 4. It will be objected that this Propheticall Palestine makes frequent mention of Seas Great Sea and East Sea River Ioâ—dan Mountain Gilead besides the land is bounded North South and East with severall places of name and note as Hethlon Zedad Hâ—math c. Now what saith our Saviour A spirit hath not flesh and bones meer visions are of a more rarified and attenuated nature not consisting of such gross and drossie parts and therefore the Prophet seems rather to be taken at his word and his literall relation to be embraced without farther search for a mysticall meaning therein § 5. It is answered Omnis visio fundatur in historia the most refined vision hath some mixture of and analogie with an historicall truth As in a Web the stamen or Warp it fast fixed through which the Woofe is cast or woven â—o there re certain standards in all visions being the materiall and corporall ground-work for a spirituall flourish or descant to improve it self thereupon More particularly because so many places of Palestine are named in this vision yea seeing the body thereof is confoâ—med to an unlike likeliness as I may terme it of the earthly Canaan it intimaâ—es that the Iewish nation shall have more then a single share in the accomplishment of this Prophesie and have their happiness highly concerned in the performaâ—ce thereof § 6. As the Land so the City described by the Prophet is not appliable to the earthly Ierusalem It is said of Christ Thou art fairer then the children of men sure I am this City as presented by the Prophet was fairer finer slicker smoother more exact more uniforme then any fabrick the earth afforded This Triumphant Ierusalem as I may term it was a compleate square of four thousand five hundred reeds with a just Iury of gates three of each side according to the names of the twelve Tribes with most regular suburbs reaching two hundred and fifty reeds every way so terse so trim that not an house started out of its due proportion Whereas the literall Ierusalem built by parcels at severall times on abrupt precipices ranged about with the wals rather for strength then beauty being on the East and South suburbless and without such correspondency either in the number or position of the gates thereof In a word that so exact structure in the Prophet never sprang by art out of earth but was let down by a miracle from heaven to which Saint Iohn alludes in his celestiall Ierusalem § 7. Lastly the Temple as framed by the Prophet is not suitable with Solomons and the very waters rising from under the threshold thereof encreasing by degrees unto an unpassable river doe drown all possibility of a literall sense therein Expect not here I should intermeddle with a particular description of the foresaid Land City and Temple both because they being meerly mysticall are alien from our subject and because I am deterred from so difficult an undertaking by the ensuing computation 1 Moses saith the days of our years are threescore years and ten 2 The Iews made an ordinance that none should read this vision till thirty years old 3 Villalpandus confesseth he studied this Prophesie twenty three years yet understood not the difficulties thereof If life be so short and we must begin so late and study so long on this Prophesie alone without attaining the full understanding thereof high time at the end of those studying years to leave the measuring of this vision and survey the dimensions of our own Graves § 8. To conclude as once our Saviour told Pilate My kingdome is not of this world so the sense of Ezekiels Land City and Temple is not carnall and corporall but mysticall and spirituall Yea God may seem of set purpose to have troubled and perplexed the text imbittering the Nibbles thereof with inextricable difficulties meerly to wean us from the milke of the letter and make us with more appetite seek for stronger meat therein For the main therefore it is generally conceived this vision imports the great inlargement and dilatation of the Church under the Gospell when the Gentiles shall be called to the knowledge of Christ and the Iews also as mainly concerned though not solely intended in this vision brought home to their true Messiah not excluding even those of the ten Tribes from having each one his Childs-portion in the performance of this Prophesie A word or two of whose condition since their captivity CHAP. II. What became of the ten Tribes since their captivity and where probably extant at this day § 1. POlitick was the practice of the Kings of Assyria when conquering a Countrey neither to kill the natives thereof nor to continue them any longer in their own land but to transport them into a far distant Countrey and in exchange planting other colonies in their room For first to kill them besides the cruelty thereof in cold bloud had been an improvident act men amongst them being precious to people their vast dominions which otherwise if empty had been more exposed to the invasion of enemies To continue them in their own land had not been safe who best knowing the advantages thereof would on all occasions practice the recovery of their lost liberty and therefore to prevent farther disputes the subject of the question was taken away and they advisedly disposed of in far distant places Lastly the removing them into other parts and substituting others in their land taught both these plantations an immediate dependence on their Prince having no other plea but his bare pleasure for their present possessions which made them like the Turkish Timarioâ—s more dutifull at home and daring abroad in their undertakings § 2. These reasons moved the Kings of Assyria to transport the Israelites from their native soil Indeed they if any people might term the land their own having a threefold tiâ—â—e thereunto by Donation from God the supreme Proprietary by conquest of the Canaanites the ancient owners by prescription
Libanus is not in respect of his soul a haires breadth nearer to heaven Besides some conceive they heare Palestine saying unto them as Samuel to Saul endevouring to raise him from his grave Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up Describing this Countrey is but disturbing it it being better to let it sleep quietly intombed in its owne ashes The rather because the New Ierusalem is now daily expected to come down and these corporall not to say carnall studies of this terrestriall Canaan begin to grow out of fashion with the more knowing sort of Christians § 6. It is answered though these studies are not essentiall to salâ—ation yet they are ornamentall to accomplish men with knowledge contributing much to the true understanding of the History of the Bible Remarkable is that passage of the Apostle Acts 17. 26. And hath made of one bloud all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation wherein we may see Divinity the Queen waited on by three of her principall Ladies of honour namely skill in 1 Genealogies concerning the persons of men and their Pedegrees of one bloud all nations 2 Chronology in the exact computation of the times afore appointed 3 Geography measuring out the limits of severall nations and the bounds of their habitations Our work in hand is a parcell of Geography touching a particular description of Iudea without some competent skill wherein as the blind Syrians intending to goe to Dothan went to Samaria so ignorant persons discoursing of the Scripture must needs make many absurd and dangerous mistakes Nor can knowledge herein be more speedily and truly attained then by particular description of the tribes where the eye will learn more in an hour from a Mappe then the eare can learn in a day from discourse § 7. But this last objection being forked hath the sharper point thereof still behinde challenging this our subject to be guilty of superstition A sinne always detestable to God but now adayes grown odious to man And well it were if the edge of their Zeal were equally whetted against Profanenesse Sure if this our work were faulty in this kind I my self would send it the same way with the Ephesian conjuring bookes Not all the water of Kishon of Iordan of the Red of the Dead of the Middle-Land Sea described in these Maps should serve to quench the fire but all should be burnt to ashes But no such haste I hope to condemn this innocent book wherein studiously we have abstained from all such pictures as come within the bounds of danger yea borders of offence and have onely made choice of those which the most precise approve usefull for the illustration of Scripture CHAP. 2. The different names and bounds of Judea § 1. THis Country which we now come to describe was successively called by severall names 1 The Land of Canaan from the sons of Canaan that first possessed it 2 The Land of Promise which name after four hundred and odde years honourably ended and was swallowed up in performance 3 The Land of Iudah and Israel consisting of these two Kingdomes 4 Iudea so called of Iudah the most puissant Tribe of the twelve 5 Palestine from the Philistines Herodotus being the first Author which I find so tearming it and all Greeks and Latins after him 6 The Holy Land because our Saviours Passion was acted thereon But fear makes me refrain from using this word lest whilest I call the Land holy this Age count me superstitious § 2. In bounding this Land a necessary distinction must be premised the neglecting or at least not observing whereof hath engaged many in inextricable difficulties Cannan was twofold 1. The Larger 2. The Lesser The Larger is described Deut. 11. 24. Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours from the wildernesse and Lebanon from the river the river Euphrates even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be This Land in full latitude was never peaceably possessed by the Iews as proper owners thereof any considerable time Say not God fell short of his promise Oh no the Iews fell short of his precepts who being narrow hearted in piety and straitned in their own bowels contracted their soil by their sinnes and obstructed the bounty of God intended unto them by their ingratitude For the Promise ran onely conditionally If ye shall hearken diligently to my Commandements And had not Gods mercy to them been more then their obedience to him their country had been narrowed to nothing and shrunk to an indivisible punctum or at the best and biggest had been but a prison fit for the punishment of so rebellious a people § 3. And yet in somemanner in a qualifyed sense we may observe the Iews did stretch their dominion to the bounds aforesaid in a double consideration 1 By victorious Salleys and Incursions Thus the Children of Reuben having conquered the Hagarites inhabited east-ward unto the entring in of the wildernesse from the river Euphrates 2 Per Gentes in amicitiam receptas By the nations which by amicable compliance though having absolute command in themselves accepted of the Jewish King to be honourary feodaries unto him Thus where David took some Kings by conquest as his Vassals more took him by composition as their Protectour And it is plainly said of Solomon that he had Dominion over all the region on this side the river from Tipâ—saâ— even to Azzah over all the Kings on this side the river and â—e had peace 〈◊〉 all sides round about See we here an Essay of Gods goodnesse made to the Israelites That froward people worshipped him by fits and girds starting aside like a broken bow and therefore God to admonish them of the unconstancy of their service vouchsafed onely to the 〈◊〉 a cursory and unsetled Tentâ—dwelling to Euphrates Whereas had that people solidly and seriously set themselves constantly to serve God no doubt their Incursions had been turned into fixed Habitations and the whole Nation not onely by the Synecdoche of this one tribe had peaâ—â—ably possessed the large limits allotted unto them And whereas now onely David and Solomon whom I may more fitly style Emperours then Kings of this larger Canaan rather commanded then possessed to Eupbrates God no doubt had extended their full Dominions to the same dimensions § 4. But the lesser Canaan was contented with naâ—rower bounds containing onely those Nations which God had designed for utter destruction and is described Gen. 10. 19. 〈…〉 and Admah and Zebojim even unto 〈◊〉 And whereas in the larger Canaan when the Israelites besieged any City God commanded them to proâ—fer peace before they proclaimed war against it in this lesser Canaan they were finally to root them out And where God commands men to destroy people but first let us
judgments were let loose and became the just executioners of divine vengeance on a wicked nation To conclude such the variety of cattell herein that from hence Noah might have fraught his Ark with a couple of most creatures some few onely excepted useless for mankind save for rarity and fancy as Apes and Peacocks perchance rather Parrats which Solomons navie fetched in and supplied from Tarshish CHAP. 6. Objections against the fruitfulnesse of Judea answered BUt seeing we live in so unbeleeving an age that some have brought the happiness even of heaven it self into question no wonder if such as doubt of the truth deny the type and though Scripture be positive in the point flatly argue against the fruitfulness of Iudea The first sort of their objections are taken from some passages scattered from pagan pennes sleighting Iudea as an unconsiderable countrey Thus Strabo speaking of Moses winning it from the first inhabitants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 easily saith he he obtained it being a land of which none need be ambitious and for which none would studiously engage themselvâ—â— to fight for it was a stony countrey To which we answer first in generall Heathen writers knew little and spake less good of the Iews because of the grand distance of Religions betwixt them My people saith God are like a speckled bird and therefore being of a different feather from other fowl in point of divine worship no wonder if their neighbours flocked about them to flout at them hooting at their strange devotion though such mocked at by men for Owles may be made of by God as Nightingales Excellently Iosephus in his book against Apion the Grammarian doth prove that no credit is to be given to Pagan reports against the Iews And as they loved not that people so they liked not their place causlesly raising slanders upon it More particularly Strabo in his rash censure counting Iudea not a prize worth the contending for is confuted by the course of history Let the Romans too cunning Merchants to venture on worthless ware tell how much the City of Ierusalem cost them paying an ounce of bloud for every inch of ground therein 2 Object It is said in the Scripture it self Numb 13. 23. that it was a land which eateth up the inhabitants thereof It seems it was a very lean hungry and barren land which in stead of feeding the dwellers therein fed upon them Answ. It is said so indeed but by whom The false spies whose tongues were no slander Now whatsoever they meant by this their expression certainly their words intend not any barrennesse in that countrey having formerly vers 27. confessed the transcendent fertility thereof Except any will say that these Spies did now revoke their former witness and if so we look no longer on the land of Canaan as devouring her inhabitants but on these unconstant liers as eating their own words However their first testimony when untampered with by the people they spake their own sense and gave in their true verdict of the Land is to be beleeved before their second character of this Countrey when infected with popular discontentments they studied cavills against the same Besides if the meaning of their words a land eating up the inhabitants thereof be as it is generally interpreted a land whose inhabitants by civill warres mutually destroy one another it tends more to the credit then disgrace of the Countrey It is no fault in that rich pasture if the grasse thereof be Provender in goodnesse so that the horses fed therein wax so wanton as to fight one with another 3 Object Water is a staple commodity for mans support whose life lame in it self soon falls to the ground if not held up by the Staffe of bread in one hand and water in the other Now Iudea had great want of this Element a Well being counted such a treasure amongst them that great strivings have happened about it Answ. Iudea wanted no water though dry in comparison of England We northern nations are ready to suspect the southern parts as afire with a Feaver whilest southern Countreys may fear lest our lands be drowned with a Dropsie such the superfluity of rain and Rivers amongst us Let Iudea be compared with her neighbours in the same Climate and she would be found not onely to equall but to exceed them in conveniency of water The Scripture describes it a land of brooks of water of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills c. And because many now adays will beleeve the Maids word before the Mistresses I mean humane before divine testimony hear how Strabo speaks to this point 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Countrey it selfe indeed was well watered but the coasts about were base and ill watered Besides Rivers Iudea had constantly save when the windowes of heaven were miraculously shut up the former and the later rain which like Trade winds on some seas came at set seasons at Seed-time and before Harvest So that heaven may be said to have kept an Ordinary for Iudea and to have fed it at eating hours with set meales of water whereas other countreys have no such standing Table kept for them being left at large to the uncertainty of weather and not always drinking when they were athirst but when they could get moisture 4 Object Ammianus Marcellinus reports that therein were no navigable â—ivers which must needs be a great hindrance of commerce in the Countrey Answ. The term navigable must be distinguished on Confesse we that Iudea had no vast streames in it like Nilus or the Danâ—w whose chanels are capable of Boats ships fâ—llows yet wanted it not Rivers to carry vessells of considerable burthens Every Tribe therein did border on the Mid-land sea or on the river of Iordan up which river even against the streame they used to sail in vessells bearing burdens not unlike our western Barges by the confession of other authors 5. Object It was full of mountains which generâ—lly are conceived destructive to the fruitfulness of a countrey Answ. Such dwarf-mountains or Giant-hills made the land insensibly larger in extenâ— no whit lesser in increase Was ever a great belly brought for an argument of barreness especially seeing these mountains in Iudea did not swell with a mock-mother Tympany but were pregnant with speciall commodities Some cattell as Goâ—tes and plants as Vines are never more triumphant on their throne then when advantaged on the sides of such hills The Geographer speaking of Trachonitis the coursest list and most craggy ground about the countrey of Iudea acknowledgeth there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grassie and fair fruitfull hills which as they afforded a delightfull prospect so they conduced much to make the cities impregnable which were built amongst them 6. Object Mention there is in Scripture of many deserts in Iudea as if the countrey were nothing else but a
heap of wildernesses hudled up together Answ. Indeed the word Desert sounds hideously to English eares it frights our fancies with the apparitions of a place full of dismall shades salvage beasts and dolefull desolation whereas in Hebrew it imports no more then a woody retirednesse from publick habitation most of them in extent not exceeding our greater Parks in England and more alluring with the pleasure of privacy then affrighting with the sadnesse of solitariness 7. Object Frequent famins are mentioned in this land and some most prodigious In the siege of Samaria a woman eat her own child unexampled almost in other histories and all things were sold at excessive rates Answ. The instances alledged argue not the barrenness of the countrey being extraordinary Punishments inflicted immediately by divine Justice This we confesse that as merry men when sad are very sad so this pleasant land when God frowned upon it was extremely dejected and the famins therein were famins with a witness 8. Object Saint Hierome who lived himself long in Palestine and must be acknowledged so skilfull in this matter that others could not deceive him so honest that he would not deceive others speaketh very meanly thereof It is ragged with craggy mountaines and suffereth the penury of thirst so that it preserveth rain water and supplieth the scarcity of wells by building of cisterns Answ. Saint Hierome in the same place and none fitter or abler to do it answers himself Neque hoc dico in suggillationem terrae Sanctae sed ut decutiam supercilium Iudaeorum c. I say not this to disgrace the land of Iudea as the hereticall Sycophant doth belieâ— me or to take away the truth of the history which is the foundation of spirituall understanding but to beat down the pride of the Iews which enlarge the straits of the Synagogue further then the breadth of the Church This Father did deâ—ry the literall to raise the mysticall Canaan and they that know Saint Hierome know that when he intends to praise or dispraise he will doe it to the purpose 9 Object Modern travellers which have lately surveyed the countrey report it to be a bare surface of sand at this day Answ. Who can guesse what Naomi was by what Marah is The stump indeed stands still but the branches are withered the Skeleton remains but the favour and flesh thereof is consumed Iudea is and is not what it was before the same in bulk not blessing for fashion not fruitfulness the old Instrument is the same but it is neither strung with stock nor plaid upon with the hand of skilfull husbandry The Rose of Sharon is faded her â—eaves lost and now nothing but the prickles thereof to be seen See what sinne can doe or undoe rather and the guilt of our Saviours bloud A fruitfull land maketh he barren for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein As therefore the cleare and lovely complexions the handsome and proper persons the bold and valiant Spirits the comely and courtly behaviour of the ancient Iews are not to be measured by the suspicious and louring looks the low and crooked statures the slavish and servil conditions the base and sordid demeanour of the Iews now adays no more are our judgments to contract the former fruitfulness of their soil to the present sterility thereof And yet as the sheep which fell to Iacobs share had strakes or speckles scattered here and there in their skins so granting the generality of Iudea barren yet by the confession of Travellers some spots and parcels of ground transcendently fruitfull are every where to be found retaining and transmitting to posterity the memory of the universall fruitfulness of Iudea before God had justly cursed it for the sinnes of the people CHAP. 7. Of the ancient division of the land betwixt the seven Canaanitish Nations HAving done with the description of the commodities of this Countrey we come now to the serverall divisions thereof which thing seriously considered conduceth much to the right understanding of the Scripture In severall ages the land fell under different divisions 1 In Abrahams time it was parted betwixt the seven Nations of Canaan 2 Afterwards the same was subdivided into one and thirty petty Kingdomes 3 By Ioshua it was parcelled into twelve portions betwixt so many tribes 4 In Rehoboams reigne it was rent into two kingdomes Iudah and Israel 5 After the Captivity it was divided into three Provinces Iudea Samaria and Galile 6 In Christs and his Apostles time it was carved into four Tetrarchies and some other appendent dominions We will first survey it in the originall condition thereof as it consisted of a Heptarchy or seven ruling nations of Canaan whose number names extraction and severall habitations require much care and diligence to rank and order them aright The first difficulty we meet with is in the number of these nations so variously reckoned up They are counted up thus two Gen. 13. 7. three Exod. 23. 28. five Exod. 13. 5. sixe Exod. 3. 8. 17. seven Iosh. 3. 10. ten Gen. 15. 19. eleven Gen. 10. 15. 1 Chron. 1. 13. and seventeen if a collective number of them all be cast up Now how come they to be so differently computed where one and the same Spirit is the Auditour to state their account It is answered that seven was the compleat and solemne number whereon God himself emphatically insists when repeating his favours to the Iews Seven nations greater and mighter then thou And perchance the beast in the Revelation with seven heads beareth some allusion thereunto Wherefore when these seven nations are summed up defectively under that number we must conceive such of them as are omitted to be implyed under the Genericall name of Canaanites But on the other side when above seven are brought then the inhabitants of the larger Canaan are cast into the account whose countrey was promised too but never peaceably possessed by the Israelites as we observed before We finde three severall Editions as I may call them of the nations of Canaan whereof the most authentick and common is Deut. 7. 1. which we will principally peruse as followeth 1 Hittites These come forth first as if it were to usher and make room for the rest as well they may being Giants of such strength and stature the Anakims being descended from them so formidable to their foes that some conceive them named from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hittah which signifies to scare and frighten such the terrible impression of them on their enemies As stout their men so their women were notable domineering dames witness Rebecca's complaint that she was weary of her life for the daughters of Heth which Esau had maried They lived about Hebron and Beersheba and their countrey was afterwards possessed by Iudah and Simeon 2 Girgashites It is hard to determin their exact habitation Wise Agur confesseth that he knew not the
way of a Serpent upon a stone so invisibly he slides away on a smooth place Such the clear conveyances of the Girgashites going into Africa as the Iews will have it after Ioshua's time that they cannot be traced by any memory left behind except some reliques of them remain in the countrey of the Gergesens whose swine the devills drawned by Christs permission whence Authors collect them to have lived on the east of Iordan near the Sea of Cinnereth afterwards in the juncture of the tribes of Gad and Manasseh 3 Amorites These sometimes are taken by a Synecdoche of eminency for all the seven nations The sins of the Amorites are not yet full Here we behold them as a particular people so called as some conceive from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Amar to speak as confident talkers such as the Psalmist describes We ought to speak who is Lord over us Yea some carnall cause they had to boast being compared by the Prophet to Cedars for their height and Oakes for their strength Their originall habitation was in the mountainous Countrey which fell afterwards to the lot of Dan and the west part of the possession of Ephraim Hence they made a â—ally over Iordan and setled themselves under Sihon their King eastward in the countreys which they had gained from Moab and Ammon afterwards possessed by Reuben and Gad. 4 Canaanites These also generally taken include all the seven nations growing from the root of Canaan Consider we them here as one branch of that tree Now though the false report of the spies was in some respect but a libell of this land yet they may be beleeved for the situation of the people therein that the Canaanites dwelt by the Sea and the coast of Iordan that is all the breadth of the Countrey northward which came afterwards to be possessed by Asher Nephthali Zebulun and Issachar 5 Perizzites By interpretation Villagers as dwelling in dorps and Hamlets not walled towns Which as it abated their civility so it advanced their manhood Their habitation not far from Bethel where the children of Ioseph afterwards received their portion whose land by Ioshua was bestowed upon them in case the country allotted proved too little for them Some of them also were dispersed in the northern part of the Tribe of Iudah 6 Hivites Their name in Hebrew signifieth Serpents So called as the learned conceive from their delight to live under-ground in caves whereof plenty in the sides of mountains I find two Colonies or plantations of the Hivites One in the center of the land where afterwards the tribes of Benjamin and Ioseph met together For the Gibeonites who put a new cheat on the Israelites with their old clothes were Hivites as also the inhabitants of Sichem were of the same nation Their other plantation was under mount Hermon or in mount Lebanon as severall Scriptures doe place them Now rather then any difference should arise herein Hermon will humbly confess it self parcell of Lebanon and so the seeming contradiction is reconciled 7 Iebusites Their abode is notoriously known to have been in and about Iebus or Ierusalem where they defied all Davids power to dispossess them and yet at last by Ioabs valour were ejected So much of the heathen Heptarchy in Canaan Come we now to consider a second edition of these nations as God gave in a list of their names to Abraham promising withall to give his posterity their countrey in possession Here we find them tenne in number the Hivites being omitted and four more added namely 8. 1 Kenites Of these no mention ever after in Scripture For the Kenites descended from Iethro part whereof flitted from the South of Iudah to the North of Nephthali were a different nation from these Kenites the subject of our enquiry we conceive therefore one of these two things most probable 1 Either after Abrahams and before Ioshua's time by famine sword and pestilence they were utterly deleted and their land shared betwixt the former seven nations of the Canaanites 2 Or within the term aforesaid being perchance too few and feeble alone to maintain the dignity of a distinct nation they lost their names by listing themselves under some other people 9. 2 Kenizites As deep silence of these in holy writ as of the former as if they had lived in the land where allthings are forgotten And probable it is that betwixt Abrahams and Ioshua's time if a day may bring forth much what alterations may four hundred years produce they were extinguished All flesh is grasse and not onely particular men like single blades may be mowed down by death but even whole nations plucked up by the roots never to grow again being buried without other monument over or epitaph upon them then that of the Psalmist their memoriall is perished with them 10. 3 Kadmonites That is by the notation of the word men of the east or Easterlings if you please These a learned man with great likelyhood conceives to be the Hivites both because as aforesaid the Hivites are omitted in this Catalogue and because they lived in the eastern part of Canaan under mount Hermon As for the opinion that Cadmus the Phenician with Hermione his wife were Hivites Serpents their name sounds in Hebrew as we observed before and therefore fabled by the Poet to be turned into Dragons such as exclude it their judgment because no solid truth may admit it into their fancy as a pleasing conceit 11. 4 Rephaims Their position is undoubtedly known living about Ashtaroth Carnaim in the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Iordan But though here was their principall nest we find some of their feathers scattered in other places in a valley near Ierusalem of that name and another in the tribe of Ioseph whither perchance they fled when smitten at home by Chedorlaomer But the last and largest volume of these nations of Canaan is Gen. 10. 15. where sixe more are added dwelling in those parts of Canaan which the Israelites never fully possessed The former nations were as I may say under the first qualification to dye without mercy but these had more favour afforded them according to the honour of Martiall proceeding These latter were never Servants in ordinary to the Israelites never wholly subdued by them but were onely retainers at large doing them homage at great solemnities and high festivalls understand thereby all the victorious reignes of David and Solomon We take them in order 12. 1 Zidonians Eminently known by their famous City whereof largely hereafter 13. 2 Archites These dwelt at Arca or Arce a City in Libanus over against Tripoly whereof mention in Ptolomeus 14. 3 Sinites In searching after their proper place we are at a losse like Ioseph when sent to seek his brethren onely he when wandring met with a man to direct him we with many to
distract us Some place them near the mountain of Sinai But that barren desert affords no more livelyhood then the Law there delivered could give life unto men Others seat them neare Sin by Ptolomy Simyra in the northern bound of the land And a third sort whom we will follow in the very south point thereof at the entrance of Egypt near Pelusium called Sin in the Scriptures whence the desert of Sin hath its name 15. 4 Arvadites These lived north of the Zidonians whereof largely in the description of mount Libanus 16. 5 Zemarites More uncertain for situation then the former because no more mention of them Had the land whereon they lived like the floor of Bels Temple been strowed with ashes some print of their footsteps would have remained whereas now no marks to discover them Learned men thus groping in the dark some seek for lack of other light to light a candle from a glow-worm their conceit being no better who from the vicinity of the sound make these Zemarites inhabit mount Shemir afterwards Samaria which is confuted by the Hebrew Orthography More probably they may be placed at Zemaraim a City afterwards of Benjamin 17. 6 Hamathites As formerly we had too little here we have too much direction finding two eminent places equâ—lly probable for their habitation Hamath on the north of Nepthali and another many miles off called Hamah the great and afterwards Antiochia And perchance they might remove from the one to the other So much of the nations descended from Canaan amongst whom the Philistims are not reckoned whose five Satrapies possessed the South-west part of the land because they came not from Canaan but from Mizraim his elder Brother of whom God willing largely hereafter in the descriptions of the tribes of Dan and Simeon To conclude Let the reader beware lest deceived with the similitude of sounds he condemne the generation of the righteous and mistake true Israelites by birth to be Canaanites by descent as namely 1 Caleh the Kenite undoubtedly of the tribe of Iudah onely his grandfathers name was Kenaz 2 Vriah the Hittite 3 Ornan the Iebusite so loyal so liberal to David The first might be a Proselyte Hittite but more likely an Israelite whose Father was called Heth and the latter of the tribe of Iudah or Benjamin who lived promiscuously with the Iebusites in the City of Iebus or Ierusalem 4 Hushi the Archite who out-achitophelled Achitophell in his policy was probably an Ephraimite of the borders of Archi otherwise unlikely that David would have chosen a stranger to have been his Cabinet counsellour 5 Simon the Cananite Christs Disciple certainly a Iew otherwise our Saviour would not have entertained him in so near a relation born it seems in Cana of Galile So much for caution lest Demetrius who was well reported of all men suffer for Demetrius Diana's silver-smith and these reall Iews be misrepresented under the notion of heathen extraction CHAP. 8. The second solemn division of the land of Canaan into thirty one Kingdomes § 1. NExt to the distinguishing of this land into seven nations we must observe the division thereof amongst one and thirty Kings Strange that their scepters except very short did not justle one another in so narrow a Countrey But we must know that the Genius of that age delighted not so much in scraping much together as in having absolute authority in that little which was their own Pride is commonly the sinne of young men covetousness of old folk The world in the youth thereof more affected honour then wealth high titles then large treasure And these Royolets contented themselves that their crowns though not so big were as bright their scepters though not so great were as glistering as those of the mightiest Monarchs being as absolute Soveraignes in their own small territories § 2. Let us consider how these one and thirty kingdomes were afterwards disposed of and how they were shared amongst the severall Tribes In reckoning up their names we observe the method in Ioshua as he marshalls them upon order following Kingdomes of 1. Iericho 2. Ali. 3. Ierusalem 4. Hebâ—oâ— 5. Iarmuth 6. Laâ—hish 7. Eglon. 8. Gezer 9. Dâ—ber 10. Gâ—der 11. Hormah 12. Arad 13. Libnath 14. Adullaâ—â— 15. Makkedaâ— 16. Bethel 17. Tappuah 18. Hepher 19. Aphek 20. Lasharon 21. Madâ—n 22. Haâ—or 23. Shimrâ—n-Mâ—ron 24. Achshaph 25. Taâ—â—aâ—h 26. Megiddo 27. Kedesh 28. Iâ—â—â—eam of Caâ—mel 29. Dor in the coasts of Dor. 30. The nations of Gilgal 31. Tirza allotted to 1. Benjamin 2. Benjamin 3. Benâ—amin Iudah 4. Iudaâ— 5. Iudah 6. Iudah 7. Iudah 8. â—phraim 9. Iudah 10. Iudah Simâ—on 11. Simeon 12. Iudah 13. Iudah 14. Iudah 15. Beâ—jamin 16. Benjamin 17. Manasseh cis Iâ—r 18. Mâ—nasâ—cis Iâ—r 19. Asâ—er 20. Zebulon 21. Nephâ—hali 22. Nephthali 23. Zebulon 24. Asher 25. Manas. cis Iâ—r 26. 〈◊〉 cisâ—or 27. Nephthali 28. Zebulon 29. Manasseb Issachar 30. Bâ—njaâ—in 31. Ephraim By the King of the nations of Gilgal understand a Soveraign over a miscellaneous company of people the master-bee of a swarm not yet fixed in an hive having a sufficient territory for his men but no considerable Metropolis of his kingdome In this Catalogue Sihon and Og are not reckoned whose dominions lay â—ast of Iordan and they make up thirty three Kings in all So much of these Cities for the present whereof largely hereafter in those respective Tribes to which they belong § 3. Amongst these Kings one may visibly discover two distinct combinations 1 In the southern circuit of Canaan Adoni-bezek King of Ierusalem seems to be chief of this knot at whose sending the Kings of Hebron Iarmuth Lachish Eglon c. assembled themselves against Ioshua and were destroyed by him 2 In the northern Association There Iâ—bin the King had the precedency with whom the Kings of Madon Shimron and Achshaph c. confederated themselves against Ioshua with the same success Had all at once ingaged against Ioshua the task had been hard had he fought them all severally the work had been long to subdue them For these thirty and one Kings who made up a full moneth in their number how many years would they have made up in their resistance Whereas now divine providence fitting the strength of Ioshua's arm parcelled his foes into two bundles that he might the more easily at two blows strike through both of them § 4. And here we present the Reader with a draught of the land as it was in the days of Abraham and continued till the time of Ioshua not well satisfied whether more properly to term it old or new Canaan If we count from the beginning of the world downwards it was young or new Canaan because nearest the creation if we reckon backwards from our time the old Canaan If the Reader discover any difference betwixt this and the next Map of the same land as it was constituted
crown of Iudah § 11. Seventhly if their home-achievements each against other be recounted the truest touch-stone of their severall strengths God often made them alternately hold up one another whilst he whipt them both for their sinnes But although Abijah once got a remarkable conquest of Ieroboam yet generally Israel worsted Iudah overpowering them with multitude of men Thus Baasha cooped up Asa in his own land Ioash overcame Amaziah and took Ierusalem and Pekah almost utterly consumed Ahaz and his kingdome § 12. To conclude if their lasting and continuance be measured herein Iudah clearly carrieth away the preheminence Grant Israel beat Iudah at hand yet Iudah beat Israel at length even out of distance For whilst the Babylonish captivity did onely snuffe Iudah for seventy years blazing the brighter when they returned from banishment the Assyrian conquest utterly extinguished Israel from ever appearing again in a formed Common-wealth in their own Countrey CHAP. 11. Of the partition of the Land into the Provinces of Galilea Samaria and Judea § 1. WHen these two kingdomes had determined the division of the twelve Tribes was out of date Palestine began to be distinguished into three Provinces whose number and posture we find in the Evangelists being traced in order by the feet of our Saviour 1. He left Iudea 2. And departed again into Galilee 3. And he must needs goe through Samaria It being denied to our Saviour himself to travail per saltum à termino ad terminum sine medio so that he could not ordinarily pass from Iudah in the south to Galilee in the north without traversing Samaria which lay in the midst betwixt both § 2. To begin with Iudea or Iury it is not taken here in that large acception wherein it contained the whole Countrey and entire subject of this our book in which sense Herod the great is styled King of Iudea but is taken as elsewhere it is termed the Province of Iudea for a third part of the whole land consisting of the ground formerly belonging to Iudah Benjamin Simeon Dan and Reuben For that this Province reached eastward beyond the River plainly appears in the Evangelists affirming that Christ came from Galilee into the Coasts of Iudea beyond Iordan A spacious Countrey it was and in our Saviours time the proper habitation of the principall Iews Nor is it amiss to observe that a portion of land with the governments of Lidda and Ramah lying in the juncture of Benjamin and Ephraim was in the time of the Maccabees taken from Samaria by King Demetrius and by him assigned to Iudea in reward of the friendship and faithfulness of the Iews in his service which gore or gusset of ground was called Apherema that is a thing taken away because parted from Samaria and pieced to Iudea § 3. Samaria succeeds whereby we understand not the City of that name for a long time Metropolis of the kingdome of Israel but a countrey formerly pertaining to Ephraim and Manasseh and Gad peopled after the Assyrian captivity with colonies brought thither from Babylon and the neighbouring Dominions At first this land did not fadge well with these new inhabitants Lions sent by God disturbing their quiet possession untill a Priest of the Israelites was remanded to teach them the manner of the God of the land But what betwixt an ignorant Master and indocible Scholars nothing was learnt to purpose He taught them no true worship but onely Ieroboams divinity as appears by their appointing out Priests of themselves for their high-places and they jumbled together their own numerous Idols with the service of God In so much as they are said to fear the Lord and in the next verse not to fear the Lord not that there is any contradiction in the text but an open opposition betwixt their pretence and practise seeing such as fear God otherwise then his will in his Word prescribes fear him not in effect § 4. However afterwards the Samaritans quitted their multitude of Idols and patched up a religion amongst themselves wherein 1 They adored one Deity but him so erroneously that Christ flatly told them yee worship that which you know not 2 They acknowledged onely the five books of Moses for Canonicall 3 They had a Temple on mount Gerizim stickling for the honour and holiness thereof to equall yea exceed that at Ierusalem 4 They expected a Saviour beleeving him as able so willing to resolve all important difficulties When Messiah is come he will tell us all things 5 They falsly accounted themselves extracted from the ancient Hebrew Patriarchs Thus the Samaritan woman had it rise in her mouth our Father Iacob though in very deed he was no more her Father then the man she kept company with was her husband being neither lineally descended from the one nor lawfully maried to the other Hear what Iosephus hath to this purpose The Samaritans says he are of this nature that when the Iews are high in fortune and success presently they embrace society with them and deduce the series of their own descent from the Patriarch Ioseph and his sonnes Ephraim and Manasseb But when the Iews are depressed and low in estate then they disclaim all kindred defie all affinity with them professing themselves as indeed they are to be originally Medes and Persians § 5. Generally great was the Antipathy betwixt the Samaritans and Iews The former persecuting every face that did but look towards Ierusalem on which bare account they churlishly denied our Saviour entertainment in their town because his behaviour was as though he would goe to Ierusalem Nor came the Iews behind them in hatred so far from familiar conversing with them that a Iew would rather contentedly endure thirst then to quench it crave drink of a Samaritan lest such hands should defile the water with the very drawing of it Yea when the malice of the Iews meant mortally to wound our Saviours reputation they said he was a Samaritan and had a Devill However the deluge of sin did not so generally drown all the Samaritans but that some dry Islands some good men were found amongst them One eminent for his gratitude to God being the tithe of the lepers cleansed by Christ who alone returned to give him thanks another no less commendable for his charity to man being Physitian Surgeon Host and in a word neighbour to the unknown traveller wounded by theeves in his journey to Iericho § 6. Galilee remaines so called as Melanchthon will have it because in Hebrew signifying a bound or limit lying in the northern marches of the land It was twofold The Upper formerly belonging to the tribes of Asher Nephthali and Manasseh beyond Iordan The Lower formerly belonging to the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar The upper Galilee is also called Galilee of the Gentiles or Galilaea Gojim whereof many reaasons are rendred
heed the differences aforesaid However we had rather offend on the right hand and be censured for overmuch caution Others will adjudge it fitter that the severall towns had been set forth in sundry maps not putting the new piece to the old so to make the rent the worse not mingling modern with ancient places but presenting them apart in entire descriptions But this being a matter of great expence we leave such mens judgments to be rectified by their purses when they seriously consider the price thereof § 3. And now what remaineth but that we humbly beg a measuring reed out of the Sanctuary to be lent us that so by heavens assistance we may be enabled to perform this survey of the land of Canaan This in the first place implored we proceed to our task It was Saint Pauls advice to the Corinthians Be yee followers of me as I am of Christ my humble request to the reader is that while I goe before him in this my description he would follow me in his own pace at his own pleasure so fast and so far as I follow the truth at least the most probability grounded on Scripture ancient Authors and modern Travellers who have been eye-witnesses of the countrey Finis Libri primi To the Right Honourable HENRY LORD BEAVCHAMPE Son to the Right Honourable WILLIAM MARQUES OF HARTFORD MY LORD AMongst many other meditations my serious thoughts have made enquiry concerning Government and Nobility whence each of them derived their originall For the first I finde it as ancient as Man and extracted from God himself Who because he was a Spirit and therefore invisible the better to try what Tribute of obedience Men out of Conscience would pay unto him stamped a character of dominion as his own visible Image in the infancy of mankind on the Father of the family that so honour and duty might be given to God in yeelding subjection to him who represented him These first Governours were termed Patriarches that is Father-Princes their compounded name speaking their mixt authority And Josephus writing of the death of Methuselah saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He left or passed over his principality to Lamech his son and this Prince-ship continued in the Primogeniture for many Ages till the method thereof was discomposed partly by the numerosity of mankinde partly by their far dispersed habitations Thus was Government the Mistresse first born in the world whilest Nobility her Maide came in not long after to attend her For such Persons whose vertuous dispositions commended them to the speciall favour of Princes in Power had in reward of their worth markes of Honour fixed upon them which afterward by succession descended unto their posterity Of these some imitating their Ancestours goodness continued in the splendor of their Nobility whilest others degenerating by their vicious courses invited neglect and contempt upon themselves Insomuch that in some the valour and spirit of their Progenitors which advanced them by the sword in time of war evaporated all into empty aire turning into a wild and riotous animosity And in others the gravity and wisdome of their Grandfathers which promoted them by the Gown in the days of Peace settleth into feculent earth leaving nothing but a tame and unactive stupidity behinde it Herethe Nobility of such had expired save that some of them seasonably perceiving the desperate Consumption thereof did follow the prescription of Physick and returned into the Native aire which first gave Honour her birth and being and did so repair their lost reputation by practising the Primitive vertues of Piety Courtesie Hospitality Valour Wisdome and Learning thus going home to the Climate wherein Nobility was first conceived But thanks be to God your Lordship is none of those personally guilty of any decay of dignity whose vertues preserve your Honour in the perfect health and strength thereof which hath been the main motive to make me so desirous to present my book to your Honour as a proper Patron even to the height for all purposes and intents Whose Iudgment can examine the whole Clemency Pardon what is amiss and Greatness Protect the rest in defiance of opposition Indeed Sir besides desire to shelter my self under your Patronage gratitude obligeth me to tender my service to your Honour For all my Books being my nether and upper milstone and such by the Leviticall Law might not be taken to pledge because a Mans life without which I had been rendered unable to grinde any Grist for the good of my self or others had been taken from me in these civill wars had not a Letter from your Lady-mother preserved the greatest part thereof Good reason therefore that the first handfull of my finest meale should be presented in thankfulness to your family And now my Lord bethinking my self of a blessing for your self and worthy Lady that she-pattern of Meekness Modesty Piety and Patience no fitter can be found then what the Psalmist pronounceth that you may see your childrens children and Peace upon Israel Here is the finest of wares and withall the largest of measures length of days to enjoy them Well may this prayer be read at Marriages there being a marriage in the Prayer wherein Long-life coupleth Posterity and Peace together Otherwise it is wofull to multiply for war to subtract and onely to be fruitfull for the Sword or Famine May this Benediction of the Psalmist light on you and yours in the highest performance thereof which is the desire of Your Lordships most humble servant THO. FULLER Here followeth the Map of Reuben THE TRIBE OF REVBEN The second Book § 1. REuben eldest Son of Iacob by Leah forfeited his Birthright by defiling his Fathers bed For which fact he was cursed that he should not excell Whereupon came such a dearth of eminent Persons of this Tribe that neither King Judge Priest nor Prophet descended thereof Yea few men of fame onely two notoriously infamous Dathan and Abiram Generalls of the mutineers against Moses haply in hope because of their extraction to recover the lost Birthright unto their Tribe Yet these Reubenites though not springing high spread broad little puissant very populous counting no fewer then forty six thousand five hundred at the generall muster in mount Sinai all which dying in the wilderness for their infidelity their children descended from them being forty three thousand seven hundred and thirty possessed this land east of Iordan § 2. A land that five times exchanged her owners in the old Testament First her originall inhabitants were the Emims a younger house of the Anakims accounted Giants being great in stature and many in number Secondly Moabites who though less and lower yet advantaged by divine assistance did overtop and overcome these voluminous Emims and possessed themselves of their land Thirdly Amorites under Sihon their King who somewhat before Moses conducted the Israelites hither acquired the soveraignty of this countrey beating out the Moabites and
was called Pisgah in the days of Saint Ierome § 24. Having now for a while reposed our selves in the pleasant Plains of Moab let us not tire when our task in this Tribe grows so near to an end Going a little northward we cannot misse the three Stations whither Balak brought Balaam to curse the Israelites For having first freely feasted Balaam at Kiriath-Huzzoth his chief City in the land of Moab he brought him over Arnon onely to see the utmost skirts of the people hoping if he could but kindle his curse in any corner it would quickly burn all the house of Israel But thrice he struck fire to no purpose 1t. In Bamoth Baal or the high places of Baal 2ly In the field of Zophim at the top of the hill 3ly In the top of Peor which looks towards Ieshimon building in each place seven Altars and sacrificing a Bullock and Ram on every of them What was the designe of the Sorcerer Conceived he that heaven was covetous like himself and might be bribed with sacrifices Surely the stench of his hypocrisie out-sented all the smell of his burnt offerings Or thought he by often changing the scene to act the more upon God He that is the same yesterday and to day and for ever receives no more impression from the shifting of place then from the changing of time Or did he hope with the mystery of his numbers Thrice seven Altars to flatter heaven into a consent All numbers are but bare Cyphers to him that is infinite O how he sweats for the wages of iniquity How is his tongue distracted between the Spirit of God and the spirit of gold All in vain the further he goes the worser he speeds but the better he speaks falling at last from â—lenting to down right blessing of Israel However though he did not his work he received his wages And if Balak at that time did not pay him with gold yet afterwards the Israelites did with steel justly slaying him with the sword § 25. Pass we now still more northward by the place where Elias ascending to heaven in a Chariot of fire left his mantle and a double portion of his spirit to Elisha his servant and successour and by Mephaah a City of the Levites to Sibmah so famous for her fruitfull vinyards Going through which the Reader may eat grapes to the full at his own pleasure A liberty lawfully allowed him but beware putting up any into his vessell lest he be apprehended for a trespasser For the same law which provides for his necessity punisheth his covetousness And what is this whole world with the wealth thereof but a vinyard wherein happy he who hath enough to serve his turn seeing when he dieth he shall carry nothing away with him It seems in Sibmah there was some one signall vine eminent for greatness above the rest or else that all her vines grew so close and uniform that they resembled one entire and continued tree The Prophets always addressing themselves unto it in the singular number O vine of Sibmah I will weep for thee c. § 26. Our work is ended when we have viewed the north part of this Tribe where it confineth on Gad. Where we onely meet with one place of note Heshbon anciently the royall Palace of Sihon King of the Amorites afterwards a City of the Levites Which the Scripture placeth sometimes in Reuben and sometimes in Gad. To accommodate this difference without making of two Cities of the same name such multiplication unwarrantable save where absolute necessity enforceth it I finde no fitter expedient then by setting Heshbon so equally between these two Tribes as partially in both and totally in neither Thus Bristoll is situated betwixt Glocester and Somerset shires and yet challengeth to be an absolute Liberty of it self as this Heshbon also was an entire demeans of the Levites One fair gate it had called Beth Rabbim gate nigh to which were most clear and pleasant fishponds to which the eyes of the Spouse are compared by Solomon Not that she was troubled with watery eyes like Leah the resemblance being recounted amongst her perfections not defects or that her eyes as some may fancy are compared to Pools moistened with teares for her sins but because of her clear and perspicuous vision and apprehension of heavenly Mysteries § 27. As for the mountains of Emek which Mr. More in his Map without alledging any warrant from Scripture otherwise his constant custome makes the bounds betwixt Reuben and Gad I have placed them accordingly yet so that the Reader without a miraculous Faith may remove these mountains to some other place when he finds just cause for the same At which time also when proceeding on more infallible principles for their situation let him take down our conjecturall Flags from the tops of Mephaah Zerethshahar c. now placed but by guesse and let him dispose of them if he can in a more exact position § 28. So much for Reuben not forgetting how in the days of Solomon when the land was divided into Purveyer-ships to make monthly provisions for his Courts Gebar the son of Uri had al the country once of Siâ—on King of the Amorites but then possest by Reuben in his circuit whence no doubt plenty of good fare out of this Pasture-countrey so abounding in cattell was brought to Ierusalem Now we have placed the name of Amorites on the sinister front of this our description because they were the old inhabitants of this Countrey our constant custome through this Book in the adverse page opposite to the Tribes name to insert one of the seven Nations of Canaan former owners of that land conceiving it to conduce much to the illustration of Scripture § 29. Modern Heralds by Commission authorized from the Jewish Rabbines assign to Reuben for armes Argent three Bars waveè azure in allusion to Iacobs Legacy Unstable as water thou shalt not excell For as water cannot hold it self but as it is held in a vessell so Reuben could not contain himself within the bounds of chastity till shame and sorrow did reclaim him Besides as water once shed is never to be gathered up again so Reuben could never after recollect his lost credit to recover the full favour of his Father Though once he endevoured to gather up some spilt drops of his reputation by projecting the deliverance of Ioseph from his brethren but his design miscarried § 30. For mine own part I cannot concur with the common opinion that these three Bars waveè were the Armes of Reuben principally because Armes are honorary ensignes assign'd or assum'd for the greater grace of the bearer Improbable therefore that this Tribe to perpetuate the infamy of their ancestour would always have water running in their shield as if Reubens crime were the Reubenites credit like such whom the Apostle reproves that glory in their shame Rather let us hearken
Sauls and his sons corps they took down from Bethshan bring them home burn the flesh and bury the bones thereof under a tree neare the City The Iews generally interring their dead under some Oak pleased perchance with the parallel that as those plants seemingly dead in winter have every spring an annuall resurrection so mens dry bones shall have new sap put into them at the day of Judgment David afterwards removed the bones of Saul and Ionathan buried them in the sepulchre of Kish their father in Zelab in the Countrey of Benjamin § 24. From the fords of Ephraim Iordan taketh his course by the Cities of Ataroth and Debir of which we can say neither more nor less but that they are called Ataroth and Debir For these places let Ataroth-shophan Beth-haran c. march in the same rank are so short-lived in Scripture that they live onely to be named and presently vanish away without any more mention of them Not long after Iordan leaving this Tribe runneth into Reuben § 25. More inland in Gad lay the large and fruitfull Countrey of Gilead whereof more fitly and fully in the next Tribe For though this Tribe of Gad had South-Gilead in her borders yet under favour I conceive that North-Gilead which belonged to Manasseh was the firstand best Countrey of that name Now whereas we read in Scripture that Gad had all the Cities of Gilead and few verses after that Manasseh had half Gilead know that Gilead is taken restrictively in the former and generally in the latter acception § 26. Ramoth-Gilead called also Ramoâ—h-mizpeh was metropolis of Gad-Gilead It belonged to the Levites and was also a City of refuge afterwards won by the King of Aram. Then alas that city which so often had saved others from the pursuit of their enemies could not preserve it self from the sword of the Syrians Here it was verified Quod non capit Christus rapit fiscus For upon Ieroboams introducing of Idolatry the pious Levites were outed of their possessions and now the pagan Syrians revenging their quarrell ejected Israel out of this City wrongfully wrested from the Levites § 27. However not long after Ahab and Iehoshaphat with joint forces besieged it when the army of the Syrians bad them both battell Iehoshaphat at Ahabs perswasion pretending his honour but intending therein his own safety appeared in his Princely equipage whilest the other disguised himself in the army Now the Syrians having received speciall orders to fight neither against small nor great save onely with the King of Israel mistake Iehoshaphat for the King of Israel directed in their conjectures unto him by the lustre of his royall Robes Bravery betrays men to danger and not onely sets up a fair mark but giveth malice the right ground to throw at it And was it not just with God that Iehoshaphat who in complement had profest to Ahab I am as thou art should in realty be taken to be the same indeed But upon his crying out the Syrians apprehend their errour and desist from further pursuing him § 28. But divine Justice continues the chace of Ahab Guilt cannot hide it self in a croud and there is no way for a notorious sinner to disguise himself from Gods eye but by his sincere repentance A man draws a bow at adventures and all-seeing providence guiding blind chance to the joints of Ahabs armour mortally wounds him It seems not onely the Corselet but also the putting on thereof must be of proof to fence death out which otherwise will creep in at a small cranny Yet Ahab was staid up in his chariot til even then the Sun his life set together Some years after King Iehoram Ahabs son at the same place received wounds of more honour and less danger when forcibly he recovered this Ramoth-Gilead from the Kings of Syria But of all Iehorams hurts here received none went so near his heart as that in this City a son of the Prophets sent by Elisha did anoint Iehu a Captain of the Hoste to be his successour and King of Israel § 29. We had wholly forgotten no shame to confess and amend our faults the small Countrey of Sharon in the north-east part of this tribe It seems it was parcell of the demeans of the Crown in the days of King David where his heards were fed under the care and charge of Shetrai the Sharonite David we see was not onely a good man and good King but also a good husband stocking this his land to his best profit knowing full well soon would the State of his Court-hall be abated if the thrift in his countrey Kitchin were not preserved Nor was Sharon a place less pleasant then profitable where plenty of fragrant roses grew to which Christ the Churches spouse is pleased to resemble himself not for any fading condition but fair sight sweet smell and cordiall vertues wherein he excelled § 30. Here some will inquire In what capacity did David hold his land in Sharon and elsewhere where his cattell was grased seeing being Iesse's youngest Son little land was left him from his Father and none at all in the Tribe of Gad. The difficulty is increased because in so pent and populous a countrey scarce a foot thereof but related to some owner not having power to alienate it from his heires to whom at the farthest it was to revert at the year of Iubilee when all dead possessions had a resurrection to their proper owners We conceive David held this land by one of the following Titles 1 By the fundamentall establishment of the Crown For sure when that Kings were made publick provision was made for their Princely support who as Lords of Manors have commonage sance number amongst their Tenants might feed their cattell any where in their own dominions 2 By improvement of wast grounds which fell to the King as Lord of the Soile Yea seeing God made provisionary Laws for the Kings behaviour four hundred years before any King was in Israel why might not a reserve of land be also left at the partition of the countrey by lot for their Kings future maintenance 3 By mutuall compact some subjects on valuable consideration as perchance the relaxing the tribute due from every person to his Prince might part not with the propriety but present profit of their land for the Kings conveniency 4 By attainder of Traitours whose lands it seems were at least for some term of time at the Kings disposall witness Davids granting all Mephibosheth had unto Ziba 5 By conquest as most probable it is this Sharon was won from the Ammonites when Rabba was taken from them However we may prefume that Davids title though unknown to us was undoubted in it self free from the least suspicion of injustice according to his own counsell Trust not in oppression become not vain in robbery
Disciples frequently repairing hither when he affected retiredness Here also learned men on good likelyhood Scripture being silent of the particular place conceive the miracle of loaves multiplied wrought by our Saviour And to avoid confusion we must carefully observe that this was twice wrought Place Guests Meate Fragments Gospels A desert nigh Tiberias 5000 men 5 loaves two fishes 12 baskets ful Mat. 14. 20 Mar. 6. 43. Lu. 9. 16. 10. 6. 23 Christs mountaiâ—â— 4000 men 7 loaves a few litle fishes 7 baskets ful Mat. 17. 37. Mark 8. 1. Behold in the latter though the meat was the more the mouths fewer yet fewer fragments did remain And good reason that our Saviour in working of miracles should observe no other proportion then his own pleasure § 19. Following still the Sea shore and going westward we light on the City Cinnereth which some conceive gave the name to the lake adjoining and also to the land thereabouts For when Benhadad in favour to King Asa to remove Baasha from besieging Ramah inroded Israel he smote all Cinneroth with all the land of Naphtali Some five miles westward we meet with Bethsaida of Galilee in English a hunting house Nor is it unlikely that at first it was a Mansion meerly made for recreation the neighbouring Desert frequently visited by our Saviour when desiring privacy affording the pleasure of the Game From a house it grew to be a village so called by Saint Marke and thence proceeded to be a City so graced in other Gospells Nor need learned men so trouble themselves about the difference seeing in a short time Hague in Holland may be an instance a great town with addition of walls may at pleasure commence a small City It was the native place of Peter Andrew Philip and another staple City of Christs miracles whose ingratitude forced our Saviours expression Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida c. § 20. In the confines of Bethsaida Christ by the hand led forth a blind man out of the town spat on his eyes so restoring him to a confused and imperfect sight to see men walking as trees well might his spittle give half sight whose breath gave man whole life at the Creation and then putting his hands upon his eyes compleatly cured him But how came it to pass that he who other whiles healed at distance by the Proxie of his word Subveniens priùs quà m veniens curing before coming to his Patients should here be so long not to say tedious in working a miracle Even so Saviour because it pleased thee Let us not raise cavills where we should rather return thanks seeing Christ that our dull meditations might keep pace with his actions did not onely goe slowly on set purpose but even stayed in the mid way of a miracle doing it first by halves that our conceptions might the better overtake him § 21. To clear this Corner before we goe hence north-east of Bethsaida on a tridented mountain standeth Saphetta two parts whereof are inhabited by the Turks and one by the Iews and is at this day a very considerable Place Here the Iews live in the greatest liberty or rather in the least slavery of any place under heaven having some tolerable Priviledges allowed them by the Turk So that they who get wealth enough elsewhere here seem to have some shew of a common-wealth Yea here there is a University of Iews And though commonly that Nation count their children to have learning enough if able to cheat Christians in their bargains here they give them studious education and the pure Hebrew tongue as also at Thessalonica now Salonichi in Greece is here usually spoken but industriously acquired the Iews being neitheâ— born to foot of land nor word of language then what they purchase by their paines What shall we say if this little place be left still to keep possession as an earnest that God in due time upon their conversion may possibly restore the whole countrey unto them § 22. Three Cities follow southwest Naphtali a city properly so called Thisbe different from the native place of Eliah and Naasson all their credits depending on the two first verses of the book of Tobit Now as Comoedians though often they adorn their interludes with fancies and fictions yet are very carefull always to lay their scene right in a true place which is eminently and notoriously known so grant the book of Tobit guilty of improbabilities and untruths surely the author thereof would be punctuall in describing the place past possibility of confutation Yet since the same book presents us with the pedegree of the Angell Raphael with Ananias the great his Father and Sammajas his grandfather contrary to our Saviours character that they neither marry nor are given in marriage and so by consequence can neither get nor can be begotten we may as justly suspect his Geography as Genealogy and conceive him false in the position of towns who is fabulous in the extraction of Angels And if Naphtali and Thisbe pass for reall places yet not onely doubtfull but desperate is the case of the City Naasson not being founded on the rock of the Greek text where no such town appears but on the quick-sand of the erroneous Vulgar Latine translation § 23. Having thus surveyed the east and south parts of this Tribe lest the other coasts thereof should justly complain of neglect we return to mount Libanus to give an account of the remainder In this Map though not in this Tribe no trespass I hope to look over the hedge behold Heliopolis in English the City of the Sun But how well it brooks the name they can best tell who of certain report that the height of the mountains adjoining shadow it from the Sun the better half of the day Was it therefore by the same figure that the mountains are so called from moving that Heliopolis got this name Or because the Sun as all other Blessings are valued is most worshipped where it is most wanted Not far hence the river Fons hortorum Libani or the fountain of the gardens of Libanus with which the banks thereof on either side are enamelled fetcheth his originall running thence by Hamah afterwards called Epiphania often mentioned in Scripture Thus far came the twelve spies sent to search the land and this place passeth in Scripture from the entring of Hamah for the northern Boundary of the land of Israel not onely before the expression of Dan came into request but also long after the mention thereof in holy Writ was disused We shall in due place speake as of Hamah the great so named by the Prophet since called Antiochia in Coelosyria and by vulgar unskilfulness often confounded with this Hamah in Naphtali so also of Ashimah the topicall or peculiar Idoll of this place § 24. Hence that river runneth by Hazor anciently the Metropolis of the Canaanites
to sing as an harlot Siren songs to allure Merchants to be her lovers as before counting trade and profit t◠be her richest pleasure And so she did flourish againe as much or more then ever during the Persian Monarchy about two hundred six years till Alexander the great made her change her tune alter her notes and turn her merry love songs into mournfull Elegies on her selfe For being denied by the Tyrians in their City to sacrifice to Hercules the Tutelar God of that place Alexander not so superstitious as ambitious with vast pains and expence as one whom no perill could affright nor labour weary sacked the City putting such to the sword as resisted and causing two thousand moe to be hung up in rank on the sea shore At which time he built a Castle of his own name now corruptly called Sandalium two miles south of the City § 19. Yet Tyre afterwards recovered it self to considerable greatness like a cunning Broaker though often proving quite bankrupt she set up again though having nothing to give her credit but the conveniency of her situation as indeed an harlot needs no other wares then her self to set up her trading Insomuch that the Poets fiction of the Phoenix springing again out of his own ashes being disclaimed by naturall History for a falshood may mythologically finde a truth in and probably fetch its ground from this Phoenix or Phoenician City of Tyre always arising fresh and fair out of his own ruines In our Saviours time it was a stately place and yet though with Dives it was clothed in purple Tyre could not with him fare deliciously every day unless beholding to Herods land of Galilee to afford it constant provision because its countrey was nourished by the Kings Countrey Sensible hereof when Herod was highly displeased with these of Tyre and Sidon they politickly compounded the breach knowing that to fight with him who fed them was the ready way to be famished and opening the breast of Blastus the Kings Chamberlain with a golden key through that passage they made their access to pacifie King Herod § 20. Tyre at this day is reduced almost to nothing Here it is seasonably remembred that Ethbaal Father of Iezebel was the King as Tyre was the chief City of the Sidonians and I finde a great conformity betwixt the fortunes of his daughter and this place In their 1 Outward happiness She a crowned Queen and Tyre a Crowning City whose Merchants were Princes 2 Inward wickedness both of them styled Harlots in Scripture 3 Finall wofulness she eaten up by the dogs to the short reversion of her skull feet and palmes and Tyre so consumed by all-devouring time that now no other then an heap of Ruines yet have they a reverent respect and doe instruct the pensive beholders with their exemplary frailty Enough of Tyre if not too much fearing that long since the Reader hath sadly sympathized with the sufferings of Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander guessing their pains to be great in the long siege of this place by the proportion of their own patience in reading our tedious description thereof All I will adde is this that though Tyre was a sink of sin yet is this recorded in excuse of her profaneness and mitigation of her punishment that if the miracles done in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have long since repented in sackcloth and ashes § 21. Two bowes shoot from the east gate of Tyre the place is showen where the woman made that spirituall-carnall exclamation Blessed is the wombe that bare thee and the paps that gave thee suck when Christ not disproving her words diverted his Auditours from this and directed them to a more necessary trut◠Yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it A little mile south of old Tyre are four fair pits the least twenty five cubits square commonly called Solomons Cisterns Surely the water of them is more clear then is the place alledged out of the Canticles to prove Solomon the Authour thereof where but obscure and oblite mention is made of those water-works More probable some King of Tyre made these and the neighbouring Aqueducts for the use of the City § 22. Seventeen miles north of Tyre lay the City of Sidon so named from the eldest son of Canaan A city of great antiquity seeing Tyre is termed by the Prophet the daughter of Sidon Sure here the Hebrew proverb held true As is the mother so is the daughter both of these Cities being of great wealth and wickedness Insomuch that to live carelesse quiet and secure is in Scripture phrase to live after the manner of the Zidonians § 23. It was also a place of very great extent therefore termed in holy writ Zidon Rabbah or great Zidon Not that there was ever a lesser Zidon though there be one grand Cairo it followeth not there is also a pety Cairo but it is emphatically so named in comparison of other Cities Yea Diodorus Siculus and Pomponius Mela make Sidon the greatest city of all Phenicia understand then anciently whilest as yet she suckled Tyre her little infant which afterwards outgrew her mother in greatness This haply is the reason why Homer so often making honorable mention of Sidon is so silent of Tyre because reputing this latter a parcell of the former § 24. Many and great were the fortifications of Sidon but in vain was the arme of flesh with it when God himself saith Behold I am against thee O Zidon whereupon in generall it felt the same destruction with Tyre which here we forbear to repeate Onely we will adde that as bad a place as Sidon was after Christs resurection a Church was quickly converted therein and Saint Paul sailing to Rome touched here and was courteously refreshed by his friends § 25. Near the east-gate of Sidon they shew the place where the Syrophenician woman begged so importunately for the cure of her daughter not disheartned though likened to a dog by our Saviour In deed she shewed one of the best qualities of a dog in keeping her hold where once she had well fastened not giving over or letting goe untill she had gotten what she desired § 26. So much for the City of Sidon The Countrey of Sidon was larger adequate almost to Phenicia and full of many fair harbours Amongst these Zarephah or Zarepta styled both in the old and new Testament a City of Sidon The land round about it was fruitfull of the best Wine as we have formerly observed During the three years drought in Israel here dwelt that widow whose thrift had so evenly ordered her bread and oile that a little of both were left till she got a spring in her cruse by entertaining the Prophet Elijah As for her son restored to life by Elijah that he was Ionah that eminent
to procure heat to his decayed age Time was when he boasted that his youth was renewed as the eagles but eagles notwithstanding the often casting of their bills and years therewith are at last seised on with age and death as it fared then with decrepit David Adonijah David's Son afterwards lost his life for petitioning to have this Abishag for his wife What was his fault Incest or treason Surely neither effected no nor attempted in any clandestine way without leave from the King Let it suffice Solomon saw more then we in this matter his eies also not wanting the magnifying-glass of State-jealousie to improve his discoveries herein But this accident was onely the hilt or handle for Solomon to take hold on Adonijah's former fault was the edge to cut off his life Thus let those who once have been desperately sick of a Princes displeasure and recovered know that the least relapse will prove deadly unto them § 18. In Shunem dwelt that worthy woman who prevailed with her husband to harbour Elisha in his passage this way Gods Prophets are no lumber but the most profitable stuffe wherewith an house can be furnished Landlords prove no losers by such Tenants though sitting rent-free whose dwelling with them pays for their dwelling with them At Elisha's prayer God made this woman barren before the happy mother of an hopefull Son Somes years after this child grown a stripling and going into his Fathers field to see his reapers was there smitten with a deadly sickness So that the corn on the land might pass for the emblem of this childs condition save that that being ripe and ready wooed the cycles to cut it whilst this green grain was mow'n down in the blade thereof At noon the child dyed Had one the same morning beheld the Sun arising out of the east and this child coming forth of his fathers house in perfect health he would not have suspected that the noon of the one would prove the night to the other But by the prayers of Elisha he was restored again unto her § 19. This Shunamite was afterwards seven years absent in the land of the Philistines during which time the profits of her estate as appears by the text x were seised on by the Kings officers Custome it seems intitled the Crown to their revenues which resided not on their lands especially if living as she did in the land of a forein foe She addressed her self by petition to King Ioram for restitution of her meanes Formerly she had no use of the Prophets profer to speake for her to the King or to the Captain of the host who now was fain to prefer her suit in her own person None know what hereafter may befall them Such whose young feet were onely taught to traverse their own ground may in their old age be learnt a harder lesson to trudge abroad in attendance to others Gehazi happily there present attests her the woman whose Son was restored to life and by the Kings command her lands and profits were restored to he Let her under God thank Elisha for this favour for that place in her house where his bed table stool and candlestick stood kept possession for her in her absence of all the rest of her Demesnes and procured the speedy restitution thereof § 20. To return to Kishon which somewhat more northward leaveth this Tribe and entereth into Zebulun having first divided it self into two streames whereof the easternmost being the north-boundary of Issachar runneth by Tabor a city so called from the vicinity of the mountain we formerly described Hereabouts Zeba and Zalmunna made a massacre of many Princelike Israelites for which fact Gideon ordered their execution And here we take notice of two neighbouring mountains lovingly agreeing together 1 Tabor on the north whereof formerly in Zebulun of so eminent note that it passed for a proverbiall expression of any unquestioned certainty As sure as Tabor is among the mountains This place was in after ages much profaned with Idolatry as appears by the Prophet complaining of the priests that they had been a net spred upon Tabor 2 Hermon hard by on the south of this Tribe the top-cliffe whereof is called Hermonium as a modern Traveller doth describe David puts them both together The north and the south thou hast â—reated them Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy name However others understand the Psalmist of another Hermon that famous mountain formerly described in Manasseh beyond Iordan being the east-border as Tabor was in the heart of the land of Canaan meaning thereby that middle and marches out-side and in-side center and circumference all the whole world must rejoyce in Gods power which made and providence which preserveth them § 21. This east-stream of Kishon in modern Maps called Kedummim runneth to Daberah in the confines of Zebulun but belongeth to this Tribe out of which it was assigned a city for the Levites Then falleth it into the sea of Cinnereth or Tiberias somewhat south of Tarichea a famous city whereof frequent mention in Iosephus but none in Scripture to which we chiefly confine our description § 22. The east part of Issachar is wholly taken up with the mountains of Gilboa where the Armies of the Israâ—lites and the Philistines met having formerly measured most part of this Tribe with their military motions The Philistines marching first from Shunem to Aphek thence to Iezreel backward and forward to finde an advantageous place for fight thence to mount Gilboa where they encountred and conquered the Israelites in battell Saul being here grievously wounded desired his Armour-bearer to slay him who refused it as bearing his Armes for the defence not destruction of his Master Hereupon Saul slew himself and his Armour-bearer followed his example Both which having since cast up their Audit can tell what is gotten by the prodigall thrift of throwing away ones life to prevent the losing thereof Then a fourfold division was made of what remained of Saul His head sent into the land of the Philistines body hung up upon the walls of Bethshean Armour offered in the Temple of Ashtaroth Crown and bracelets brought by the Amalekite to King David For though his tongue spake lies his hands told truth presenting the very regalia of King Saul Wonder not that Saul should weare these ornaments in battell where an helmet had been more proper then a Crown seeing we read in our English Chronicles that in Bosworth-fight King Richards Crown-ornamentall was found among the spoiles in the field and then and there set by the Lord Stanley on the head of King Henry the seventh § 23. David on this dysaster of Sauls death cursed Mount Gilboa Let there be no dew or rain upon you But Brochardus travelling over them Anno Dom. 1283. found and felt both being well wetted in his journey What! were
Davids words guilty of infidelity seeing it is easier to withhold rain from a mountain then to remove it from its foundation and cast it into the sea and yet our Saviour assures us this shall be done if in faith desired But be it known David intended not his curse should take effect but meerly to manifest his great grief and to shew how far he was from delighting at the death of his greatest enemy Better to fall under Davids Dirae as he was a Poet then as he was a Prophet the latter lighting heavily indeed as Iudas in Achitophel could witness the weight thereof Nor remaineth any thing more observable in this Tribe save in the east part thereof on Iordan they shew Pilgrims the place where Naaman patient at last by his servants perswasion washed seven times and was cleansed of his Leprosie § 24. Thus all the remarkable places of Issachar but not all those in Issachar are already by us described For as the text expresly saith the Tribe of Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher even three Countries that is lying in Issachar and Asher but environed round with those Tribes possessions yet pertaining to the portion of Manasseh Let none blame Divine Providence of ill Architecture for not well contriving the rooms in the house of Israel the division of the land by lot not being well designed wherein Issachars Chamber his portion was made a thorough-fare Manasseh having three closets three small countreys within the same So that neither Tribe could enjoy his own with privacy and intireness and Manasseh if but stepping out of the high-way must in a manner trespass on Issachar or crave leave of him to come through his to his own inheritance But know all was ordered by the counsell of Gods will for reasons best known to himself who would not have his children Churles to ingross habitations by themselves but by such mixture of their portions invited yea ingaged their persons to mutuall intercourse seeing the very lots of their Tribes gave loving visits and their Countreys by Gods own appointment came so curteously and confidently one within another § 25. But very hard it is to conceive how Manasseh could have any land within Asher which Tribe lay many miles more northward and beyond the Tribe of Zebulun interposed The Jewish Rabbins being much perplext at the Pedegree of Aâ—zel why it is twice reckoned up in Chronicles use to say that they need four hundred Camels loaden with Commentaries to give the true reason thereof But their expression is more appliable to this present difficulty how Manasseh could have any ground in Asher except as we have presented it in our Map some part of Asher lay southward at distance dis-jointed from the main body of that Tribe which we have formerly described Who knows not that pieces of Parishes parcells of Manors portions of Counties though far off dismembred relate unto them notwithstanding the intermediate distance betwixt them § 26. But let not Issachar or Asher repine that Manasseh had so much land in their Countreys seeing though the right was assigned unto them the Canaanites for a long time till about Davids reign kept all the same in their possession as will appear by the ensuing parallel Joshua 17. 11. And Manasseh had in Issachar and Asher Bethshean and her towns and Ibleam and her towns and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns and the inhabitants of Taanch and her towns and the inhabitants of Meggido and her towns even three Countrys Judges 1. 27. Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns nor Taanach and her towns nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns but the Canaanites would dwell in that land Of Bethshean more conveniently hereafter By Ibleam Ahaziah was wounded as was formerly observed Dor mentioned for a sea-town in Ptolemy had the King thereof conquered by Ioshua Endor whither Sisera's souldiers defeated in fight not far off at Taanach which alsoâ—was a regall city in the days of Ioshua and afterwards belonged to the Levites fled were pursued perished and became as the dung of the earth Hither Saul repaired to a witch to raise Samuel and received cold comfort from the dead or Devill rather informing him of his future destruction so that Saul formerly sick with fear of the worst lived to hear Satan toll his passing-bell in his sad predictions § 27. But Megiddo was the most eminent City Manasseh had in Issachar The King hereof was destroyed by Ioshua and many years after Iosiah was slain in the vale of Megiddo bidding Pharaoh Necho battell in his march against Charchemish by Euphrates Never Prince shewed more devotion in his life or less discretion in his death courting that danger which declined him seeing Pharaoh desired peaceably to depart But haply Iosiah conceived himself ingaged to fight him in point of 1 Honour because without leave he had made his land an high way to pass through it 2 Policy suspicious though Pharaoh went forth as a friend he would returne as a foe especially if puffed up with success in his expedition But what shall we say it was the sin of his subjects would not suffer Iosiah to keep quiet at home Their impieties made him to march thrust him into the field forced him into the fight yea shot the fatall arrow which wounded him at the heart § 28. Now let none be troubled because Iosiah who rather deserved two lives seems to have two deaths one text making him to die at Megiddo another at Ierusalem Understand it death arrested him with a mortall wound at Megiddo but did not imprison him till he came to Ierusalem where he expired Much less let any challenge God as worse then his word with Iosiah having promised him by his Prophet to be gathered to his Fathers in peace for besides that that promise principally related to the captivity of Babylon from which Iosiah was exempted even such may be said to die in peace which swim to their graves in their own bloud if withall imbarqued in a good conscience § 29. All Israel and principally the Prophet Ieremy dropped many a precious teare on his hearse whose Lamentations are an Elegy on Iosiah's death yea their grief was no land-flood of present passion but a constant channell of continued sorrow streaming from an annuall fountain it being made an Ordinance in Israel The Prophet speaking of a grand and generall grieving for mens sins compareth it to the mourning of Hadadrimmon conceived to be a place hard by in the valley of Megiddon § 30. Iehosaphat the son of Paruah was Solomons purvey our in Issachar but the dis-jointed piece of Manasseh in this Tribe pertained partly to Baanah the son
Tabernacle where the Benjamites as yet unprovided for wives lying in ambush in the vineyards violently seised some of those maides for their brides happy man be his dole making strange matches if each interest concerned therein be seriously considered § 15. First for the Fathers of these virgins Did this equivocating expedient satisfie their consciences who had formerly sworn not to give their daughters to the Benjamites to wife and yet now by laying the design themselves did in effect give these women in marriage to these men § 16. Secondly for the young men What assurance had they they could love not choosing the fittest whom they liked of but catching the first they lighted on Or that they could be beloved storming their wives with violence in stead of taking their affections by mutual composition § 17. As for these Brides of fortune may we not presume that many of them which danced this day wept on the morrow Yet one thing might comfort them they were all richly married to mighty matches of landed men seeing the fair and fruitfull Tribe of Benjamin with all the Cities therein was to be shared amongst their six hundred husbands alone as the sole survivers and absolute heires of the whole Countrey § 18. In Shiloh Eli lived Priest and Judge of Israel whither Elkanah and Hannah Samuels parents repaired to Gods publick worship This Hannah though silent when twiâ—ted by Peninnah for barrenness found her tongue when here taxed by Eli of drunkenness because a meer sufferer in the former but in the latter a sinner had the accusation been true Samuel here prayed for afterward here served God in a linen Ephod and though generally there was a dearth of visions in this age here he had many revealed unto him But Eli's dim eies connived here at his sons impieties Whose servant with his Trident an Innovation no doubt and none of the utensils made by Moses according to the pattern of the mount would have raw flesh for his Master so that what between the raw flesh here sacrilegiously stolne and the strange flesh wherewith those Priests abused themselves at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation any pious eares would now tingle to hear their faults as hereafter at their punishment § 19. For soon after happned the destruction of Hophni and Phinehas slain in battell the Arkes captivity Eli's heart-breaking with the news neck-breaking with his fall the death of Phinehas his wife newly delivered whose son got the sad name not of Benoni a name calculated for private pangs but of Ichabod from this sorrowfull accident because born in this grand eclipse when the glory was departed from Israel § 20. Yea the very city of Shiloh it self may seem in some sort to expire on the same occasion which as it owed its life and lustre to the Tabernacles residence therein so sinks down in silence at the captivity thereof For we finde no after mention of any eminent act therein onely that Ahijah the Prophet long after lived there He was the Jewish Tiresias though blinde a Seer who discerning Ieroboams wife through her disguise foretold the death of her sick son Abijah So much of Shiloh proceed we now to the more northern and mountainous part of this Tribe § 21. Amongst the remarkable places in mount Ephraim we find Timnath Serah or Timnath Here 's by inversion of the letters on the northside of the hill Gaash where when they had made an end of dividing the land the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Ioshua See here his publick spirit not improving his power though ComaÌ„nder in chief to pickout the fattest pastures fairest meadows fertilest fields for himselfe but as if he counted it possession enough for him to have gained possessions for others when the meanest man was first served he was contented to stand to the peoples courtesie what they would bestow upon him If it sound to the praise of a Generalls valour to come last out of the field when it is won no less is the commendation of his temperance to come last into it when it is divided In Timnath Serah asked and built by him Ioshua afterwards was buried and as Saint Hierome reports that in his time the Sun was depicted on his monument This I dare boldly say that whereas modern Heralds blazon armes by the specious titles of Planets their fancy is with most truth appliable to Ioshua's shield bearing Sol and Luna indeed having made both Sun and Moon stand still by his prâ—yers Also Eleazar the High priest was buried in mount Ephraim in an hill which pertained to Phinehas his son § 22. Tirzah was another city near mount Ephâ—aim whose King was conquered by Ioshua In the days of Solomon it was a place of great repute Thou art beautifull ô my Love as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem terrible as an army with banners Ieroboam chose it to be his Royall-seat perchance because near Zereda his native place where he and his successours lived for welnigh sixty years Indeed Baasha had a project to make Ramah the place of his residence as nearer to Ierusalem and therefore more convenient to mark the motions of the Kings of Iudah but frustrated of his designe he was fain to return to Tirzah reigned and was buried here Elah Baasha's son was here drinking in the house of Azzah his steward when a dear reckoning was brought in and no less then his life extorted from him by Zimri his successour Afterwards when Tirzah was taken Zimri either out of envy that the royall Palace should survive him or desire to prevent a more shamefull death burnt himself and the Kings house together We read of King Asa that after his death his subjects made a very great burning for him but Zimri exceeded making a bone-fire for and of himself when alive herein standing alone except seconded by Sardanapalus who in like manner destroyed himself on the same occasion Thus dyed Zimri a King onely for a week whose Reign like a winters day was short and dirty yet long enough to leave this taunt for Iezebels mouth and Proverb to posterity Had Zimri peace that slew his Master Hard by is Tiphsaph where King Menahem barbarously ripped up the women with child because the city opened not to receive him § 23. Besides cities many private dwellings were sprinkled on mount Ephraim as the house of that Levite whose concubine the men of Gibeah abused to death the house of Micah well stored with Idols where first the five spies then the sixe hundred men of Dan took up their lodgings when marching to Laish Ungratefull guests who in stead of discharging their quarters plundered their Land-lord taking his Images and priest away with them Thirdly the house of Deborah under a Palme-tree betwixt Ramah and Bethel where she judged
was brought hither for the instant occasion and afterwards returned back unto Shiloh § 51. Dothan lay east of Shechem wherein the Prophet Elisha for some time made his abode Here he was complained of to the King of Syria for being the pick-lock of his Cabinet-councels and therefore an army was ordered to apprehend him But why so many to attach a single person and his servant Indeed no more then needed For Elisha alone was an army in himself being the horsemen of Israel and chariots thereof His servant seeing themselves surrounded cryes out till having his eyes opened he discovereth themselves guarded with a fiery army on the tops of the mountains Thus Angels are good mens Janizaries to protect them and those Natives of heaven grudge not to guard those who are onely free Denizens thereof The Syrians are smitten with blindness and they that came for the destruction are glad to follow the direction of Elisha Indeed to whom should blind men goe but to the Prophet the Seer to guide them He leads them for the present the wrong way to their intents and desires but in fine the right way to Gods glory and their safety in stead of Dothan bringing them to Samaria How easily are those misled who lack the use of eyes And alass whither will implicire faith and blind obedience steer the followers thereof Yet here all came off in a peaceable close so that their lives being saved sight restored bodies feasted and mindes better informed they returned to Damascus If I must be a captive may I be a prisoner to a pious Prophet so shall I be best used and my ransome easiliest procured § 52. This Dothan I take to be the very place where Ioseph found his brethren and there was put into the pit and sold to the Merchants For being sent by his Father to Shechem he was by a man directed to Dothan whither his brethren had removed their flocks and which probably was not far off but some few miles from the former place Wherefore when formerly in the description of Zebulun we placed Dothan in the northern parts of that Tribe threescore miles from Shechem therein we were carried away with the common current of other mens judgements and now have watched our advantage to swim back again and shew our private opinion in the position thereof And besides the aforesaid text setling Dothan near Shechem in this Tribe of Ephraim it is proportionable to divine providence that the place whereon Ioseph was betrayed and pit wherein he was put should in after ages fall to the possession of the sons of Ephraim descended from him § 53. But here a materiall Question will be started how Ioseph could properly say that he was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews when the Hebrews at that time had none inheritance in it no not so much as to set their foot on Say not that Ioseph being a child when taken away might be allowed to speak incongruously for we behold his words as uttered by him when a man And surely he who then could expound dreames could express himself in proper language Some conceive it was termed the Land of the Hebrews 1 From those few Hebrews the family of Iacob living there though not as inhabitants but onely as sojourners therein 2 It was the Land of the Hebrews by promise and in due time should be theirs by possession 3 The Land of the Hebrews though not in linage in language the Canaanites speaking the same tongue with Iacobs family 4 Some conceive this land anciently belonged to Heber as all Asia to the sons of Shem and that the Canaanites had before Abrahams time encroached on that Countrey To strengthen this last conjecture we must remember that Melchisedech King of Salem who generally is conceived to be Shem the ancestour of the Hebrews still retained his kingdome in the land of Canaan And it might be that the other Hebrews were ejected by the Canaanites If so the Israelites afterwards got the land under Ioshua by a double Right of Conquest and Recovery § 54. In this Tribe no doubt was the city Ephraim in a Countrey near to the wilderness where our Saviour that Sun of righteousness clouded himself for a time when the Iews took counsell to kill him Wonder not that we cannot find the exact situation of this place For Christ chose it on purpose for the privacy and obscurity thereof Thus though willing to lay down he was not willing to cast away his life unfit to be a Saviour of mankind if a destroyer of himself And though he knew well that all the weights of mans craft and cruelty could not make the clock of his time strike one minute before his hour was come yet he counted it his duty by Prudentiall means to endevour self-preservation § 55. Two eminent places remain which we have reserv'd for the last because of the uncertainty of their particular situation though both of them certainly in this Tribe One the hill of Phinehas which was given him in mount Ephraim Let no sacrilegious hands hasten hither with their Spades and Mattocks to pare and abate this hill as too large a possession for the high Priest seeing a greater had been too small for his deserts who stood up and executed judgement and so the plague ceased This Hill of Phinehas certainly was with in the circumference of some Leviticall city in this Tribe and we conjecturally have placed it within the circuit of Beth-horon the upper Here religious Eleazar the son of Aaron was buried in this hill belonging to his son Phinehas § 56. The other the Mount of Amaleck in the land of Ephraim But how came the Amalekites to have any thing in the heart of Ephraim whose own countrey lay two hundred miles more south-ward near the Red-sea And yet it is no wonder to finde theeves and robbers such were the Amalekites in any place who like the Devill their father goe to and fro in the earth walking up and down therein But we are confident this mountain was so called from some eminent thing here done or suffered by the Amalekites For we finde them joined with the Midianites in the days of Gedeon to destroy Israel and finde afterwards this Tribe of Ephraim very succesfull in doing execution on the remains of the Midianitish Army when defeated Why then might not this mountain of Amalek be so named from some Amalekites then slain in this place As Danes-end in the west-side of Hartford-shire took its name from a battell thereby wherein the Danes were overthrown In Pirathon a town on mount Amalek Abdon one of the peaceable Judges in Israel was interred § 57. I conceived all memorable places described in this Tribe but on review do discover a guilty town lurking besides Ephraim as if conscious of the treachery committed therein it endevoured to
escape our observation namely Baal-hazor where Absolom sheared his sheep If any demand how he came by any land in this Tribe to feed cattell therein no doubt he held it by gift or grant from David his Father and how David when King became possessed of demesnes in all Tribes hath formerly been largely resolved Nor was it any disgrace to a Kings son to be master of sheep seeing the King himself is maintained by husbandry As commendable the thrift so damnable the cruelty of Absolom in this place causing the murder of his brother Amnon just when his heart was merry with wine as if his wild revenge would imitate divine justice to kill both body and soul together This Amnon was he that feigned himself sick when he was well and now dyed before he was sick § 58. Let Archelais not be forgotten half ashamed to bear the name of wicked Archelaus the builder thereof son and successour of Herod in Iudea whose cruelty frighted Ioseph from returning to Beth-lehem and diverted him to Nazareth As Archelais took its name from a wicked man so Iscariot a village not far from it gave name to a worse that traitour of his Master being born in this place as Adrichomius out of Saint Hierome will have it But other reasons are rendered of Iudas his syrname and the place of his exemplary death is more certainly known then that of his obscure nativity As for Apollonia by the sea side Addida over against the plain with some other petite places in Ephraim they are well known by their severall markes not to be mentioned in Canonicall Scripture § 59. The Son of Hur was Solomons monethly Purveyour in mount Ephraim The standard of Ephraim was pitched first on the west side of the Tabernacle Armes anciently depicted thereon an Oxe sable passant in a field argent founded on Moses his words His beauty shall be like the firstling of a bullock to which we may ad the prophecy of Hosea Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught and loveth to tread out the Corn. Which perchance gave occasion to the postnate armes usually assigned to this Tribe though later by twelve hundred years then their ancient standard erected in the wilderness Here the Map of DAN is to be inserted THE TRIBE OF DAN CHAP. 10. § 1. DAN was eldest Son of Iacob by Bilhah Rahels maide and his concubine Of his body but one Hushim went down into Egypt yet of his Posterity came forth thence no fewer then threescore and two thousand and seven hundred males of twenty years old and upwards all which falling in the wilderness for their faithlesness in Gods promises threescore and four thousand and four hundred entered the land of Canaan § 2. There passeth a generall tradition taken up by some Fathers continued by some middle to modern Popish writers that the Antichrist should descend of the Tribe of Dan. And why conceive or conceit they rather so uncharitably of this Tribe Confess we that Dan hears ill on severall occasions in the Scripture 1 Dan Father of this Tribe had a foul mouth which made Ioseph bring in a complaint thereof to Iacob 2 The first personall blasphemy recorded amongst the Israelites was committed by a Mongrell Danite being the son of Shelomith for which he was stoned 3 The first tribuall defection to idolatry Dan was guilty of publickly setting up and worshipping a graven Image 4 A moity of the nationall apostasie of the Idolatrous Iews was solemnely acted on the theatre of this Tribe one of Ieroboams golden calves being set up at Dan. 5 When twelve thousand of Gods sealed ones are reckoned up out of every Tribe Dan is omitted as consigned to malediction say some as formerly in the first of Chronicles no mention of Dan where the genealogies of all other Tribes are recounted The reader may judge whether these roots be deep enough to bring and beare the branches of so far spread report that therefore the Man of sin must derive his pedegree from this Tribe Little probability of Antichrist coming from Dan literall long since carried captive with the rest of his brethren into Africa but as for Dan mysticall many have sought and many conceive they have found him in another and nearer place But leaving the uncertainties of Antichrist most sure it is that Samson one of the liveliest types of Christ was descended of Dan. And so was Aholiab that excellent artist who was joint master of the fabrick of the Tabernacle as Hiram also in the work of the Temple was a Danite on the mothers side § 3. The land allotted to Dan seems for the most part first to fall to the share of Iudah at the partition of the Countrey And because the bounds of Iudah were too great the surplusage thereof by a new grant was made over to the Danites Some will wonder that God who divided Manna so equally a homer for every man should part the land so unevenly that one Tribe should leave and another lack so that the thirst of Simeon and Dan was quenched with those few drops which overflowed out of the cup of Iudah May such remember Iudah was the Princely Tribe out of which Messiah was to arise and his portion cut out in state leaving the superfluous reversions thereof to others may typifie Christ himself who is anointed with oile of gladness above his fellows of whose fulness not onely of sufficiency and abundance but even of redundance we have all received grace for grace Nor will the reader be moved when he finds some cities ensuing sometimes mentioned as belonging to Iudah other whiles to Dan because to the former by originall assignation and to the latter by actuall possession § 4. This Countrey was bounded with Ephraim on the north Iudah on the east Simeon on the south and the Mid-land-sea on the west From above Lydda to the brook Soreck some thirty miles and litle less east and west from the sea to the edge of Iudah A land at the best but half Iudah's leavings and that not entirely possessed of the Danites For herein the Amorites did both cut and chuse for themselves reserving the fat and flesh thereof all the fruitfull valley for their own use whilest the Danites were glad to pick the bones crowded up into the mountains Besides three of the Satrapies of the Philistines are found in this Tribe A puissant nation and at deadly fewd with the people of Israel This put the Danites on the necessity men over-pent will some way vent themselves of seeking new Quarters in that their memorable expedition whereof formerly in Nephthali If any aske why they did not endevour the enlargement of their bounds at home against the Amorites and Philistines before a far adventure an hundred miles off Let such know the designe was conceived easier suddenly to surprize the secure
ran with the swiftest and held out with the longest Having aâ— King in the days of Abraham and continuing themselves in a considerable condition till after the captivity Returning almost as many forcible impressions as they received from the Israelites What though Shâ—â—gar smote Samson 〈◊〉 and Samuel humbled them yet they grew so great in the reigne of Saul that they left all the Israelites swordlesâ— though afterwards there was one sword too many in Saulâ— hand wherewith he slew himself when overcome by the Philistines Indeed David brought them and Solomon kept them under But in the days of Ioram they so recovered themselves that they plundered Iudah rifled the Kings palace killed and carried captive the seed royall Uzziah after ordered them into obedience but under Ahaz they regnined their lost cities and wan more unto them In a word of the heathen people left for thornes in the sides of the Iewes none had sharper prickles or pierced nearer to their hearts then the Philistines Yea such their puissance that from them the Greeks and Latinos called all this land Palestinaâ— because the Philistines lived on the sea-coast most obvious to the notice of foreiners As in deed a small Port makes a greater report in the eares of strangers far off then a land-locked place though far greater in proportion § 24. The bounds of Philistia are not precisely to be set down For whilest tame cattell are kept in pastures beasts of prey such this warlike people are onely bounded by their own ravenous appetite The best way to measure the borders of the Philistines is to behold the sins of the Israelites For when they were encreased then the Countrey of the Philistines was accordingly enlarged Thus in the days of King Saul they roved and ranged as far as Dor and Bethshean in the half Tribe of Manasseh and had Garisons in the heart of most Tribes of Israel But their constant habitation their den as I may terme it was atract of ground from Gath in the north to Gaza in the south Some fifty miles in length and about halfe as broad in the lands allotted to Iudah Dan and Simeon Their government was a mixture of Monarchy and Aristocracy For as their chiefe Cities had Kings over them which seem absolute in their own dominions so these kingdomes were but Cantons in relation to the whole as members making up one entire Common-wealth § 25. There need no other evidence be produced to prove the fruitfulness of their Countrey then the vastness of their bodies whereof the rankness of their ground must be allowed a partiall cause Our English Proverb saith shew me not the meate but shew me the man The well batling of the Giants bred in Philistia chiefly in Gath their Seminary being Heteroclites redundants from the rules of nature sufficiently attests the fertility of their soil Some of these Giants had their hands branching out into six fingers though they who had one fewer had enough to kill them Let Naturalists curiously inquire whether or no this stock of Giants be wholly spent in our age And if so what the true causes thereof Whether intemperance of diet or over early marriage seeing every one that is raw to work count themselves ripe to wed Let them consult whether nature hath not some other way recompensed in our age that want of strength by giving them quicker wits wheras in voluminous men commonly there is much empty margent However mens lesser strength and stature amounts not to a proof of an universall decay in nature as a most learned pen hath unanswerably demonstrated § 26. One thing more we must observe of the Philistines that they are also called Cherethims or Cherethites in Scripture Know also that the Cherethites were a kind of lifegard to King David Now because it is improbable that so wise a Prince would intrust his Person in the protection of the Philistines his conquered enemies therefore learned Tremellius by Cherethites understands such Israelites as afterwards possessed the Countrey of the Philistines expulsed by David Which seems to some but a forced interpretation For what unlikelyhood was it that David might entertain Proselyte Philistines converts to the Iewish religion if there were such to be attendants about his body Not to instance in the French Kings double gard of Scots and Switzars as improper to this purpose because though forein yet free and friendly nations David out of policy might retain such to wait upon him both for their present encouragement and future engagements of the fidelity of the Philistines Whose service might not onely be free from danger but full of advantage especially when they were under the conduct of so wise and valiant an Israelite as Benajah the son of Iehojada placed governour over them To render this still more probable Consider how Ittai the Gittite with six hundred men of Gath was no native of Israel as appears by Davids words thou art a stranger and an exile and yet was intrusted with the Command of a Terce of the army in the battell against Absolom Wherein he excellently acquitted himself according to his loyall resolution to attend the Kings fortunes whether in life or death § 27. Come we now to describe the Countrey Philistia where in the north part thereof we finde Gath a regall City before Achish the son of Maoch the King whereof David to save his life counterfeited himself mad But whether guilty or no in so doing Divines have not yet determined It would incline me to the more charitable side that he had good warrant for what he did because at the same time understand it immediately before or after he composed two Psalmes Which shew his soul not out of tune solemnly to serve God But David went to Achish a second time with sixe hundred men it seems upon better assurance before-hand then formerly and was with great kindness entertained by him dwelt with him in Gath and after obtained Ziklag from him and by Achish his minde should have been the keeper of his head Achish the son of Maachah tributary no doubt to Solomon was King of Gath. For Shimei confined to Hierusalem by Solomons command and his own consent did fetch from him his fugitive servants Time was when Shimei's tongue ran too fast in railing on David his Master and now his feet moved too far in running after his servants so that breaking the Tedder of his Commission of the pieces thereof a Halter was justly made for his execution This City of Gath was afterwards fortified by Rehoboam and many years after taken by Hazael King of Syria and in the next age had the wall thereof broken down by Uzziah King of Israel § 28. Betwixt Gath and Ekron lying thence south west we are as certain there were Cities as ignorant how to call them For the present let them pass by the name of Samuels Cities
of the people when conscious of their sins and sensible of Gods anger they drew water that is plentifully powred forth tears before the Lord. Say not that their weeping was a labour in vain and such drawing of water like the bottomless buckets of the Belides never to be filled ineffectuall for the expiation of sin because no sorrow for the same is sufficient seeing not the intrinsecall worth of their tears but Gods gracious appretiation of the sincerity thereof gave the value to their weeping Afterwards at Mizpah Saul out of modesty or policy was hid among the stuffe when found there fetched thence and presented to the people for their king appearing so proper a person that nature might seem to design him for supremacy and mark him out to be the Overseer of Israel who was higher then any of the people from the shoulders and upwards § 48. In the days of King Baasa Asa King of Iudah frighted with fear made a pit in Mizpah for his retreating place No doubt though the entrance and orifice thereof did promise no more then a plain pit yet it was contrived into rooms and fortified with substructions therein fit for the receipt of a Prince Wonder not that he would prefer to trust his person here rather then within the walls of his royall City Ierusalem for surely this was not provided for a place of long residence but for present privacy and sudden safety if extremity required it After the Babylonish captivity when Gedaliah was made governour of those poor Iews which were left to till the land he made Mizpah the seat of his short government Thus have I often seen fishermen when they have caught store of fish cast the young fry worth neither the keeping nor killing into the river again to be breeders in which consideration the King of Babylon preserved these poor Iews from destruction Slight not Gedaliahs place as disgracefull to be Prince of beggers for they were in a thriving way and probable to improve themselves to a considerable condition had not Ismael an unhappy name to persecute Gods children a Prince of the bloud killed him with his followers casting them into the midst of the pit that Asa made now employed to bury the dead but first intended to preserve the living In the days of the Maccabees whilest Ierusalem was possessed and profaned by the heathens they repaired to Mizpah as a place formerly fortunate for that purpose to fast pray and beg Gods blessing on their undertakings against their enemies § 49. South of Mizpah lay the place called Eben-ezer that is the stone of help so named by way of Prolepsis in Scripture 1 Sam. 4. 1. for otherwise for the present this place was no help but an hindrance to the Israelites who here were twice beaten in battell by the Philistines At the second time they brought their Reserve I mean the Ark into the field carnally conceited that victory would fly along with them on the wings of the Cherubims over the Mercyâ—seat But the sanctity of the Ark did not so much invite as the profaneness of the managers Hophni and Phinehas did repell Gods gracious presence from going along therewith insomuch as the Ark it self was taken captive and carried into the land of the Philistines Some years after the Philistines again charge the Israelites in the same place presuming on their former victories that in so fortunate a place they might prescribe for conquest but God turned the tide of their success At the importunate suit of Samuel whose prayers were more potent then formerly the presence of the Ark to obtain victory the Philistines were routed and smitten untill they came under Bethcar Whereupon Samuel set up a stone between Mizpah and Shen and called it Eben-ezer the stone of help to perpetuate so memorable a conquest § 50. Hard by is Beeroth once a City of the Gibeonites with Chephirah not far off afterwards the birth-place of Baanah and Rechab the murderers of Ishbosheth Gittaim whither those of Beeroth fled for fear of the Philistines saith Tremellius when Saul was slain and west thereof Bozer and Seneh two famous rocks which Ionathan and his armour-bearer clambred up upon their hands and feet They found it more hard to come at then to conquer their enemies yet wheÌ„ on the top of the rock they were but at the bottome and beginning of their work They lay about them and kill many in a little space so that they climbed not up the hill so slowly but their enemies more swiftly ran down the same Yet such as will justifie Ionathans act herein for pious and prudent must retrait to Divine inspiration and plead that his undertaking as his success was extraordinary otherwise his tempting of God had been higher then the rock he climbed up to adventure himself on such visible disadvantages § 51. Anathoth remains lying hence south-east a city of the Levites yea of the Priests yea of the High-priests as a country-house or retiring place for them out of the populous city of Ierusalem Abiathar being deprived of the priest-hood for practising with Ioab without the privity of David to promote Adonijah to the Crown was sent hither by Solomon and confined to live privately on his own lands Hence plainly appears the power of the Kings of Israel over the Priests which on their misdemeanour in civill matters were subject to secular punishment But Ieremy the Prophet was the honour of Anathoth that man of mourning famous for his book De Tristibus or most poeticall Lamentations though therein not bemoaning his own but the publick calamities born in this city As here he drew his first so he was likely to have drawn his last breath by the conspiracy of the people against him had not God frustrated their wicked designe Herein the observation of our Saviour was verified A Prophet is not without honour save in his own countrey and his own house Afterwards Ieremy at Anathoth bought the ground of his unclâ— Hanameel with all the formalities of bargain and sale most solâ—mnly passed betwixt them Is a Prophet amongst the purchasers commonly they are as clear from money as the Apostles were but this was râ—ally yet mystically done to foreâ—ell the future felicity of Israel after the captivity of Babylon that men should have setled estates with good title to and tâ—nure of their land therein § 52. Michmash is still behinde which we name last because not entirely in this Tribe but in the confines of Benjamin and Ephraim It lay cast from Beth-aven often mentioned in Scripture as the Rendesvouz sometimes of the Israelites in the reign of Saul and sometimes of the Philistines The latter marched hence three severall ways on design to extirpate all the smiths in Israel Mark their motions 1 One party went the way that leadeth to Ophrah to the land of Shual
an unequall yoke and fitting her with an husband better suiting with her deserts even David himself § 36. But Carmel had not such a fool but that Giloh hard by had as wise a man for the owner thereof even oraculous Ahithophel This was he that gave the wholesomest but Hushai the toothsomest counsell to Absalom best pleasing the palate of a vainglorious traitour Ahithophel advised as a cruel hunter that David should presently be pursued not giving him any breath but either running him down outright or killing him in the form where they should finde him Hushai counselled to prolong the sport for their greater pleasure and seeing all the game was surely in their own hand to give David the larger law to shift away a while for himself that so he might be put to death in the greater state and with more ceremonious magnificence Ahithophel seeing his counsell neglected at Court and foreseeing in the causes Absaloms ruin and Davids return to prevent farther shame and save the executioner the paines fairly went home set his house in order and hanged himself § 37. Tekoah is not far off where a wise woman once lived the subtilest subtilest manager of Ioabs design to David for the bringing back of Absalom and a wiser man Amos called from an heardsman and a gatherer of wild figs to be a Prophet Near Tekoah Iehosaphat obtained a memorable victory against the children of Ammon Moab and Mount Seir though at the first hearing of their coming Iehosaphat is said to have been affraid Did he not discover much cowardice herein considering what multitudes of men Iehosaphat at that time did command Namely 1 Under Adnah the chief of Iudah three hundred thousand mighty men of valour 2 Next to him Iehohanan captain over two hundred and fourscore thousand 3 Next him Amaziah with two hundred thousand mighty men of valour 4 And of Benjamin Eliada with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield 5 Next him Iehoshabad with an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war What need then Iehosaphat fear except as in Gideons case suspecting he had too many for God to give victory by having an Army if well disciplined with advantage of time and place able to to encounter all mankind especially on the defensive side to make good their own Countrey against any invasion § 38. It is answered the suddenness of the news might adde much to his fright that an enemy was come into the bowels of his Countrey Behold they be in Hazeron-Tamar which is Engedi before the first intelligence was brought thereof Secondly Iehosaphat feared not so much his foes as his faults guilty to himself of great offences good men the less sinfull the more sensible thereof and chiefly of his matching at home and marching abroad with the Idolatrous family of Ahab Lastly those vast numbers of his souldiers lately specified were not all at any one time but severally and successively during the five and twenty years of Iehosaphat his reign Wherefore those words in the list of Iehosaphat's Generalls thrice repeated Next him Next him Next him imply not a gradation in honour as if all of them though subordinately were extant together but import a succession of time the latter entering with his men on the office of a Generall after the displacing or death of the former § 39. However Iehosaphat puts his people into a penitent posture falling to fasting and prayer and obtains a memorable conquest which was purely heavens Donative Sine cura without mans care cost or charge to atchieve it Prince and people stand still look on believe God sing Psalmes accounting their conquest gotten because promised by the Prophet Mean time their enemies amazed with ambushments of Gods setting fall foul one on another till Moab and Ammon had destroyed first the Edomites then themselves Three days are the men of Iudah employed in gathering the spoile and so return to Ierusalem with wealth in their hands joy in their hearts musick in their mouths having left behind them the name of Berachah or blessing imposed on the place where this celestiall victory was bestowed upon them § 40. But now it is high time that we enter on the severall Stages and removalls of David in or near this Tribe after that he having formerly suffered much from Saul as a private person began to Prince it and to stand on his guard The text saith he and his men went wheresoever they could go David herein being like the Son and Lord of David who had not where to lay his head Indeed David confesseth that God made the stony rocks for the Conies but yet he himself was glad to be their In-mate and share with them in their habitations and yet his soul was never so discomposed in any hole or cave but that in the darkest of them he could see to make Psalmes and praise his Maker No place came amiss to his pious soul above or under ground all alike to him to serve his God therein Now seeing it is Davids expression of himself that he was hunted as a Partridge on the mountains Partridge a bird innocent whose fine flesh is its greatest guilt and importent not armed with beak or talons whose chiefe might consisteth in the flight thereof Now whilest Saul followed him we will follow Davids Metaphore in our ensuing description But be it premised that Saul was no fair Faulconer who more desiring the prey then the sport came with his nets and setting dogs with full intent to kill David wherever he might catch him § 41. We begin at the cave of Adullam which we may call his nest wherein he composed the fifty seventh and the hundreth fourty second Psalme Hence he made wing taking a long and strong flight to Mizpah in the land of Moab Here the Partridge shewed much of the Stork in him feeding his parents and taking order with the King of Moab for the maintenance of his Father and mother § 42. Hence by the advice of the Prophet Gad not to trust himself again in the cave of Adullam by the forest of Hareth to the City of Keilah The Inhabitants whereof David had lately obliged to himself by saving them from the Philistines notwithstanding which favour God assured him of their intentions to betray him to Saul If a skilfull Gardiner can in the depth of winter by beholding the bare root and knowing the kind thereof foretell when and what flowers the same will bring forth many moneths after well may the God of heaven the searcher of hearts know mens thoughts afar off and infallibly conclude what they will be before they have any being Base Keilites who had rather pick thanks with Saul then pay thanks to David to whom they were due Thus deliver an ungratefull man from a danger and he will be the first to
bring you into the same condition This sad occasion did spring the Partridge hence § 43. To Hachilah hill in a wood in the wilderness of Ziph south of Iesimon Here Ionathan came and renewed his amity with David Behold how they two is embracing one another Reader my phrase trespasseth on the rules of Grammar no◠of friendship and made a Covenant before the Lord Nor was it a small comfort to David though Saul and Doeg and Keilites and Ziphites were against him that besides his own innocence he had the Prince the Priest and the Prophet Ionathan Abiathar and Gad good mens prayers and Gods providence on his side Here the Ziphites Sauls setters having winded David Saul to catch him comes with his net but either made too much noise or too little speed for before he came thither the Partridge was flown § 44. To the wilderness of Maon Here onely a mountain was betwixt David and Saul and that not long likely to keep them asunder seeing Sauls men being many in number began to compass David round about But seasonable ill news was brought that the Philistines had invaded the land which made Saul turn his forces another way against a forein foe Commendable his ingenuity that he preferred rather to oppose an enemy of another Religion then to dispatch a domestick adversary whom he now had at advantage However judicious eyes behold not this as an act of Sauls pity but Gods providence hereupon David called the place Sela-hammahlekoth or the rock of Division § 45. Hence he fled to the holds at Engedi Here he had Saul in a cave and was seemingly courted by heaven certainly urged by men to destroy him and yet he refused O why is a golden opportunity put into a leaden hand which wants activity to make use of it What hard heart could have thrust away so fair an advantage But oh though all things else were here one thing was wanting a Lawfull command A Crown is over bought which costs a sin David durst not kill him onely he cut off the skirt of his garment and withall felt a greater gash in his conscience then he made in Sauls clothes for being too bold with Gods Anointed This courtesie of David in sparing his life made Saul half a convert drawing tears from his eyes fair words from his mouth but what intentions from his heart He onely knows that knew the secrets thereof It is suspicious that Sauls truth therein was not much because Davids trust therein was none at all who notwithstanding the Court-holy-water of Sauls tears gat him and his men again up into the hold § 46. Hence David took a voluntary flight unto Carmel Here the Partridge was like to turn Hauke and become a Bird of prey to kill all the the innocent family of Nabal as we have already observed had not that God who formerly protected him from Sauls here preserved him from his own sword and from avenging himself with his own hand § 47. Hence he fled back again to Hachilah hill which is before Iesimon Here the Ziphites bring Saul second tidings of his being there So boundless was the stock of their malice no danger of breaking who though they failed at their first return would adventure again Onely thei◠malice did this good that it gave David the occasion to make the fifty fourth Psalme Here he had Saul at a second advantage finding him with Abner and his men round about him fast asleep even as still as the Spear and Cruse of water that stood at his head These David took away but with intent truly to restore them after he had kept them a while 〈◊〉 monuments of his own integrity Hereupon Saul a second Convert clears David chargeth himself prayeth for pardon and promiseth amendment whilest David having had experience of his former falshood gives him the hearing not the beleeving For § 48. Hence he flew to Gath in the land of the Philistines and Saul sought no more again for him leaving off his pursuit now the Partridge had took Covert in an enemies Countrey whence he removed to Ziglag and thence made many incursions against the Geshurites Gezrites and Amalekites but withall telling King Achish that he matched the clean contrary way against Iudah and the friends thereof Here the Partridge had in him too much of the Lapwing which by its hypocriticall fluttering pretends its nest far distant from the true place thereof Such dissimulation in David cannot be excused must not be imitated From Ziglag he marched along with Achish King of Gath to Aphek in the Tribe of Issachar where he was dismissed and cashiered by the Philistines from any further service Returning home he found Ziglag his nest spoiled yea all his Covie therein wives and children catched in a snare as hath formerly been described in the Tribe of Simeon After the recovery of his losses from Ziglag § 49. He flew to Hebron Here the Partridge turned Eagle being solemnly made Soveraign first of Iudah then of all Israel And now being quietly setled in his Throne he may joyfully sing Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all § 50. But besides these eminent and noted Gests of David he had many more which were obscure and intermediate as appears by the list of the places where he haunted and to whom he sent part of his spoils taken from the Amalekites viz. 1 Bethel in Benjamin 2 South Ramoth in Simeon 3 Iattir in Iudah a Levites City 4 Aroer in the tribe of Gad. 5 Siphmoth 6 Eshtemoa a Levites City in Iudah 7 Rachal 8 Cities of the Ierahmeelites descended from Iarahmeel an eminent man in Iudah 9 Cities of the Kenites 10 Hormah in Simeon 11 Chorashan in Simeon in Iudah 12 Athach 13 Hebron eminent in Iudah As for Siphmoth Rachal and Athach because they appear not again in Scripture their position is unknown but may be presumed in or near the Tribe of Iudah The best is though our tracing of Davids travels may be imperfect and we fail in the reckoning thereof yet Gods Arithmetick is exact and what is defective in our's is supplied in his observations Thou tellest my wanderings put my tears in thy bottle are they not written in thy book § 51. Now besides the Cities mentioned in our description many more remain which were obscure without any memorable act atchieved in them and are thus reckoned up in Ioshua 1 Towards the coast of Edom south-ward twenty nine 2 In the vale Fourteen in the first Sixteen in the second Nine in the third Catalogue 3 On the Sea two Ekron and Ashdod 4 In the mountains Eleven in the first Nine in the second Ten in the third Six in the fourth Catalogue 5 Two by themselves Kiriath-Baal and Rabbah 6 In the wilderness Six In all an
rejoycing in carnall comforts when drains and for ditches down their own cheeks had been more proper water-works for the present sad occasion 3 Admiring their own handy-works without thankful relating for to God the principall as if they had created those pools and springs of their own industry and ingenuity Whereas all Grottoeâ— conduits and Aquaducts though allowed the lawfull issue of art and off-spring of humane invention are but stiâ—born babes at the best except God quicken and enliven them mediately or immedately with moisture from above He onely is the Father of the rain and is by consequâ—nce the Graâ—d-father of all pools and conduits whatsoever Justly therefore were the Iews reproved for having their stegâ—atick Souls dabling too much in water without once looking up to God according to Davids divâ—â—â—ty freely confessing All my fresh springs are even in thee § 7. But how well soever the ponds pools and conduits were perfected at this time soon after all their curiosities were discomposed when Seâ—â—â—â—heriâ— sent the railing message and letter though words whether spoken or written storme no Cities to King Hâ—zekiah in Ierusalem Who fearing a siege by the assistance of his Princes and people in a short time stopt all the fountains and the brook which ran through the midst of the land saying Why should the Kings of Assyria come and finde much water Hezekiah knew that Sâ—nnacheribs blasphemous tongue would be sooner silenced and his roaring throat easier stopt with Thirst then with any other answer And although Sennacherib out of the plentifull Magazeen of his malice shot his arrows even bitter â—ords â—gainst Hezekiah yet according to Gods promise he came not into Iâ—â—usalem nor did he shoâ—t an arrow there having all his Army soon after confounded from heaven and he himself reprieved from the Angels was executed by his own Sons sword in his own Countrey § 8. Here if any demand what is meant by stopping the brook which ran through the midst of the Land we understand not Cedron thereby which to save them the pains in summer stops it self as onely the cistern to receive the land-flouds from mount Olivet but rather conceive the constant waters of Gihon or Siloam therein intended running through the midst of the Land of Moriah wherein Ierusalem is seated § 9. After Sennacheribs departure Hezekiah fell a fresh on opening those springs hee had formerly obstructed yea to make them reparation he improved them to an higher perfection then at first he found in them for 1 He made a pool and a conduit 2 He stopped up the upper water-course of Gihon and brought it straight to the west side of the City of David 3 He brought water IN TO THE CITY of Ierusalem Hereby no doubt Hezekiah got many a blessing and hearty prayer from the poor servants in the City whose weary shoulders had formerly fetched their water so far off for the use of their masters family § 10. Here some will object that such an altering of the course of this river from the ancient channel thereof and the enticing of it by Art into a new passage was a violence and a trespass offered to Nature Yea did not man herein pretend to more wisdome then his maker as if by such variation he could direct the veines in the body of the earth to a fitter posture then that wherein God himself had disposed them But let such know that when God gave the earth with the water therein as making up one Globe to the Sons of men in the same charter he derived a right unto them to mold it as might be most convenient and advantageous for their habitation And although it belongs to God alone to put a sandy girdle about the loins of the Ocean because otherwise a giant too great for men to manage Hither shalt thou come and no farther yet lesser brooks fall under the jurisdiction of humane industry to order them for mans most commodity § 11. Others will admire that this new river was brought no sooner to Ierusalem and that a project so honourable profitable necessary and feasable lay so long unperformed How came this design to escape the searching eyes of Solomon especially seeing as he confesseth himself he dealt much in that moist Element See we here Solomon himself saw not all things and Hezekiah coming many years after him might supply his omissions And to speak plainly many of Solomons projects were but voluptuous essays for his own personall not to say carnall contentment whereas holy Hezekiah in his undertakings might have a more publick spirit for the generall good of his kingdome § 12. The well or fountain of the Dragon near the Valley gate might be made at the same time probably taking its denomination from some artificiall resemblance of a Dragon about it A conduit in a Dragon-fashion though such Anticks are more commonly presented spitting of fire then venting of water is made here by Adrichomius Tremellius conceiveth it called Dragon or Serpent well because the waters thereof which contrary to other Authors he maketh the same with Siloam glide snake-like soft and gentle yea crooked and winding with many intricate flexures thereof But it is impossible to assign the certain cause of such names as are meerly ad placitum finding a Well and Gate in the Cose of the City of Sarisbury of the same name yet hitherto could never hear any probable reason thereof § 13. Amongst the waters meerly naturall the fountain or pool of Siloah with the stream flowing thence into the brook of Kidron justly claimeth the preheminence Fountain which both in the name and nature thereof was the lively embleme if not the reeall type of our Saviour Name which is by interpretation SENT and we know When the fulness of time was come God SENT forth his Son made of a woman made under the law Nature for the waters thereof as the Prophet observed ran softly 1 To the eye sine impetu moving slowly and not rushing with a rapid stream like an impetuous torrent 2 To the eare sine strepitu stil quiet not offensive to the neighbours with the noise threof So Christ 1 Was leasurable and treatable in his going on foot but if mounted onely on a slow paced Ass and doing not rashly precipitate in his proceedings 2 Not querulous or clamorous in his discourse He shall not strive nor cry neither shall any hear his voice in the streets but meek and quiet Now as God was eminently in the still voice so also was he effectually once in this still water when our Saviour sent the blind-born man hither to wash and thereby he recovered his sight § 14. This was he who afterwards proved so constant a confessor of Christ avouching him a Prophet and his cure by him really effected notwithstanding the Pharisees menacing to the contray Hoping in vain though Christ had
in the Oracle did begin his familiar discourse with the Israelites or the foundation of the Temple taken in hand Then Solomon enters on the work employing in mount Lebanon a vast army of workmen in their severall distances to advance this Fabrick § 2. Namely for servile work an hundred and fifty thousand bearers of burdens and hewers of stone and wood All these were strangers Solomon reserving his native subjects for their purses to pay taxes not persons to bear burdens Secondly for plain work in which thirty thousand Israelites were imployed yet with such alternation that divided in three parts they stayed one moneth in mount Lebanon and the other two at home Thirdly for carved-works herein the Sidonians onely were used whose exact number is not specified But they must needs be numerous if we may guess the men by their mouthes and their mouthes by the proportion of victualls allowed them Lastly above all for direction three thousand three hundred were appointed surely so many officers would suffer no drones to be in the whole hive to oversee the rest § 3. Such who admire how so many could so long be busied in such a building would haply have wondred more how so few in so short a time could have finished the same had they beheld the magnificence thereof Two great gulfes there were which insensibly swallowed up the labours of many thousands of men First the want of horses in Iudea plenty whereof were brought out of Egypt towards the latter end of King Solomons reign whereupon massie timber in those mountainous countreys were managed by the main strength of men The second was a religious Criticisme peculiar to this structure all things being beforehand so framed and fitted in mount Lebanon that not so much as the sound of an Axe or Hammer was heard in Ierusalem when it came to be erected Which exactness must needs occasion many chargeable essayes and samples before it could be attained Nor wanted there a mystery therein because as the moving Tabernacle typified the Church Militant so the Temple resembled the Triumphant where those who shall be thought worthy to be admitted into glory shall have nothing to doe but to be admitted into glory § 4. Some will say with Nicodemus How could these things be that no noise should be made at the erecting thereof suppose but a bedstead having head sides feet posts tester cords and curtains fitted before it cannot be set up without some necessary noise Yea grant their hammers or mallets cased with some soft matter to bribe them to silence yet they could not be made so mute but that the very contusion and enforcement of the aire would unavoidably advance some sound Nor were the beams of the Temple so far in love with their mortises as to run into them or the mortises so fond of the beams as to embrace them of their own accord § 5. In answer hereto some plead miracle others exquisite Art and several kindes of cementing souldering rivetting screwing glewing and other devices unknown to our age As for the Rabbinicall fancy that Solomon with the bloud of the worme Thamyr effected this matter most will account it improbable in it self and unproportionable to Scripture Others distinguish on the degrees of the noise small in comparison of so great a work and not obstreperous to a publick disturbance But the best interpret it that no laborious sound was heard from the hewing or squaring of timber or stone but onely a more cheerfull yea melodious harmony from the happy conjunction and compacting of parts together now easily matched which had been contracted before This I am sure that what tongue-tied tools soever were used at the erecting of the Temple too clamorous instruments were imployed at the destruction therof when they brake down the curved work thereof at once with axes and hammers § 6. Besides the two gulfes aforesaid the quick-sands of many mens labours it is also to be considered that though so wise a King as Solomon would not burden himself with superfluous numbers yet in this Fabrick wherein he did personate and represent the great God of heaven he consulted more with his magnificence then his frugality not minding so much how many the building in bare necessity did require but how many the builders with full authority could command § 7. Notwithstanding so many labourers entertained in the work seven years was this Temple in building Here some will behold the sanctity and perfection of the septenary number so often occuring in Scripture whilest we conceive this the best reason why just seven years were spent in the building thereof because it could not be ended in six nor accomplished within a shorter compass of time Indeed almost twice as much time thirteen years did Solomon spend in building his own house whereof this fair and ingenuous reason is rendered by Iosephus because he was not so intent and earnest therein as in the structure of the Temple It is in another case reported to the praise of Boaz the man will not be at rest untill he have finished the thing so Solomon during those seven years of the Temples building did not sleep in a cessation from nor slumber in an interruption of that work which was intended for the honour of God Though in erecting his own Palace as he made it for his pleasure so he did it at his leasure as conveniencies would permit CHAP. III. Of the generall dimensions of the Temple § 1. THe length of this Temple was sixty Cubites besides ten Cubits for the Porch which compleat the whole length seventy the breadth thereof twenty the height thirty Here we may take notice of a manifest difference betwixt the Scripture and the writer of the Jewish antiquities both for the time wherein the Temple was built and the dimensions thereof Scripture 1 KING 6. 1. Four hundred and fourscore years after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt 1 KING 6. 2. The height thereof thirty Cubits Iosephus Ant. Iud. li. 8. c. 2. Five hundred ninety and two years after the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt Ibidem The whole height of the Temple was six score Cubits A difference which will make no impression on his Faith who hath read Saint Peters resolution We ought to obey God rather then man Such passages not unusuall in Iosephus witness when he saith of King Iehojachin c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being just and mercifull of whom the Scripture once and again reporteth and he did that which was evill in the sight of the Lord. § 2. A Cubit say some is the length from the elbow to the wrist say others to the tip of the longest finger some making it the fourth others the sixth part of a man Some allowing it a foot others a foot and half with whom we concurre But it is mainly materiall that the Cubits
eyes Of these buildings in Libanus that tower which looks towards Damascus was the principal to which the Nose of the Spouse in the Canticles is compared for the whiteness uniformity and proportionable largeness thereof whereby the generousness and animosity of the Church is intimated The Philosopher telleth us that a tower-fashioned Nose round and blunt at the top is a signe of magnanimity § 12. From this tower we may take the Prospect of all the adjacent countrey wherein we take no notice of the division of Syria according to humane writers but confine our selves to Scripture expressions 1 Rehob 2 Aram or Maachah 3 Syria of Damascus 4 Zobah 5 The land of Hamah 6 Syrophoenicia 7 Coelosyria 8 Phoenicia Aram Rehob or Beth-Rehoh so called from a principall City therein lay south east of mount Libanus Herein was Dan the place where Abraham overtook the four Kings who after many victories had took Lot and his wife captives By Dan we understand not the city of Dan formerly Laish which some hundreds of years after was so named though Levi is said vertually to pay tithes in the loines of Abraham Dan cannot be conceived formally to name cities being as yet in the body of his great Grandfather but the eastermost fountain of Iordan anciently called Dan. And surely springs the issue of nature are seniours to all cities the result of Art Here Abraham overtook them and with three hnndred and odde men conqueredand pursued them being numerous and flushed with former victorys to Hobah which is on the left side of Damascus Thus that army which is but a handfull of men managed by Gods hand will work wonders Hereby Lot recovered his liberty the King of Sodome his subjects they their goods the Auxiliaries of Aner Eshcol and Mamre received their pay out of the spoile Melchisedec had the tithes Abraham the honour and God the glory of the victory § 13. Aram-Maachah lay southeast of Aram-beth-Rehoh the King thereof appeared very active though bringing into the field but a thousand men in the battell against King David It seems Ioab the politick Generall reputed these Syrians valiant who took the choicest men of Israel under his own conduct to oppose them consigning the refuse under Abishai against the Ammnoites presuming they would fly of course if the other were worsted as indeed it came to pass Appendants to this Aram-Maachah were 1 Geshur hereof Talmai the King and Maachah his daughter was maried to David and mother to Absalom No wonder then if the child proved a cross to his Father begotten on a heathen woman contrary to Gods command And here Absalom changing his climate not conditions staid three years clouded with his Fathers displeasure for murdering his brother Amnon 2 Ishtoh which contributed twelve thousand men in the generall engagement of the Syrians against King David 3 The land of Tob that is the good-land or Goth-land if you please so called from the goodness thereof Though all the good we know of it is this that it afforded a safe refuge to Iephthah when persecuted by his brethren who hence was solemnely fetched to be Judge of Israel Adrichomius and other Authours here make the Land of Uz where Iob dwelt I cannot blame any place to be desirous of so pious a man to be an inhabitant therein But both Iobs friends and foes forbid the situation of the land of Uz here abouts His foes the Sabeans his friends Eliphaz the Temanite c. who are known to live far south of this place of whom properly in the description of Edom. 14. Aram of Damascus succeeds lying northeast of Aram-Maachah watered with the rivers of Abanah and Pharphar This Abanah in humane writers is called Chrysoroas or golden-streame from the yellowness of his banks and water Otherwise as little gold is to be found in his chanell as at the golden grove in Caermarthen-shire or at the golden-vale in Herefordshire However Abanah and Pharphar were highly beholden to Naaman who preferred them before all the waters of Israel as possibly they might equall yea exceed them in some outward respects But what if the water in the Cistern chance to be clearer then that in the Font Know it is divine institution which puts the difference betwixt them leaving the one a plain Element and making the other a soveraigne Sacrament This river Chrysoroas running northward is afterwards swallowed up in the sandy ground and there is the visible end thereof So that Solomons rule All rivers run into the Sea must admit of an exception or exposition namely either openly or secretly as no doubt this river hath an underground recourse to the Ocean § 15. Coming near to Damascus we finde the place where Saint Paul was cast down to the ground as he went with a Commission from the high Priest to persecute the Saints of Damascus Now seeing Damascus was not in Iudea if any demand why Paul should straggle so far from his own Countrey hear his own answer Being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange cities and it is reason enough for the actions of blind zeale that they are the actions of blind zeale Besides it seems the high Priests at Ierusalem had a kind of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction over the Iews in all places Some seeming contradiction but on serious thoughts easily reconciled appears in the history of Saint Pauls travells Acts 9.7 The men also which journeyed with him stood amazed hearing a voice but seeing no man Acts 22.9 Moreover they that were with me saw indeed a light and were afraid but heard not the voice of him that spakâ— unto me For two things considerable in this viâ—ion 1 The generals thereof communicated to his fellow-travellers that they might attest the truth of this miraculous accident No seeming fancy but really acted Hereupon they heard confusedly that there was a sound but heard not distinctly what that sound was and were admitted to see a light but did not discover the person of Iesus appearing 2 The particulars thereof imparted to Paul alone as calculated onely for his conversion whose eares and eyes plainly heard and saw the voice and apparition Hence Saint Paul was conducted to the city of Damascus whither we follow after him § 16. Damascus is by some conceived to have been founded by Eliezer Abrahams Steward onely because he is styled Eliezer of Damascus But if so then signall was the piety of Eliezer who preferred rather to live a servant in Abrahams good family then to rule as a Lord in a great city of his own building Various was the success and fortune of Damascus under severall Lords and we will onely instance in such as are mentioned in Scripture 1 It was inhabited by the Syrians and accounted the Metropolis of the Countrey 2 It was probably conquered by David when he put garisons into Aram of Damascus 3 In the days
their backs with a staffe in their hands to intimate their ambulatory and ever-moving condition Here we may remember how Hagar being with child with Ishmael was found by the Angell wandering in the wilderness and as if the pregnant mothers condition had made an impression on her child and his posterity we find their home to be in a constant roving and wandering in a desert Countrey Leave we these Ishmaelites and come to men of a milder temper and more fixed habitations I mean the Moabites § 13. MOab Son and Gran-child of Lot was incestuously begotten on his edest daughter in his drunkenness after which act no more mention of Lot or what befel him in the history of the Bible drunkenness makes men to forget and to be forgotten drowning their memories in neglect and obscurity onely after this the new Testament epithets him Righteous Lot That Spirit of meekness naming good men not from the obliquity of some acts but habituall integrity of their hearts Yea for love to Lot God granted many great favours to the Moabites assisting them to conquer the Giants Emims and peaceably possessing them of their Countrey with speciall command to the Israelites not to disturb or molest them in this enjoiment thereof § 14. Yet the Moabites ill requited Israels kindness unto them That falling out which was first begun betwixt the servants and heardsmen was afterwards continued and increased betwixt the Sons and posterity of Lot and Abraham Yea upon all occasions the Moabites were backfriends to Israel witness Balak who barked at and Eglon who bit them whom Israel served eighteen years Note by the way that under the Judges all the heathen which bordered on Israel Edom almost onely excepted the cause whereof hereafter Aramites Ammonites Midianites Philistines c. did all successively â—yrannize over Israel No shrub growing about on the banks of Canaan was so little but it was big enough for God thence to gather a Rod to whip his wanton children Now if it be any ease to the sickâ—man to have his bed not disease often altered Israel had the favour of exchange of tyrants and variety of oppressors amongst whom I dare say the Moabites were none of the mildest More might be said of their malice to the Iews but I spare them for good Ruth their Countreywomans sake who when all her sister Orpha's complementall Religion came off with a kiss persevered to wait on Marah her mother-in-law for so she desired to be called into the land of Canaan § 15. But because the Moabites could not be perswaded to love David was the first who forced them to fear the Kings of Israel Moab is my washpot that is one condemned to servile imployments yea such was Davids absolute command over this countrey that he measured the Moabites with a line casting them down to the ground even with two lines measured he to put to death and with one full line to keep alive At the first sight he may seem to have killed two and saved one A merciless proportion But on better consideration it may possibly be that the preservative might equal both the destructivelines though not in number in measure as one overflowing cup may contain as much as two sparingly filled What caused this severity in David against the Moabites the Scripture is silent and I had rather be so too then affirm with the presumptuous Rabbins without warrant that it was because the King of Moab had slain Davids Father and Mother whom he had left there for protection whilst Saul persecuted him § 16. If any object this Act of David was a breach of Gods command Distresse not the Moabites neither contend with them in battell it is answered 1 This prohibition was temporary to Moses conducting the Israelites that they should not molest Moab in their passage by his countrey out of Egypt 2 Israel might not begin with offensive war to provoke them but being stricken might strike again and follow their blow as David did 3 Moab might be distressed to subjection not to ejection might be brought into obedience not dispossessed of their countrey After the defection of the ten Tribes from the house of David Moab remained tributary to the Kings of Israel till the death of wicked but valiant Ahab After which time Moab rebelled and though attempted was never reduced into obedience by the Kings of Israel § 17. Moab had the river Arnon on the north the Dead-sea on the west Edom on the south and Arabia on the east It contained about a square of an hundred miles fit for grazing and the peoples industry following Natures guidance to their own profit principally imployed it to that use Yea Mesha their King is tearmed a sheep-master Husbandry doth no more eclipse the resplendent beams of Majesty then the oile in the Lamp hindreth the bright shining thereof Guess the greatness of the Grist by the Toll the multitude of Moabs flocks from the Tribute he rendered to the Kings of Israel a hundred thousand Lambs and a hundred thousand Rams with the wooll § 18. To come now to the particulardescription of Moab let it not be censured for a needless Tautology in this Map that therein all the cities of Reuben are again represented being done deliberately on a double consideration 1 Formerly that land belonged to Moab before Sihon King of the Amorites had forcibly wrested it away from them 2 After the Reubenites were carried away captive by Tiglath-Pileser the Moabites reassumed their ancient possessions as appears by the Prophets As for the particular description of those cities we remit the Reader to what formerly hath been written in the Tribe of Reuben § 19. In the north-east bound of Moab towards Midian in the border of Arnon which is in the utmost coasts stood a nameless city where Balak met Balaam standing as it were on his tiptoes on the very last labell of his land to reach forth welcome to that false Prophet who hither rode in state with his two men to attend him whilst many Ministers of the Truth are forced to be slaves to others and servants to themselves But that these two men of Balaam were Iannes and Iambres the â—gyptian enchanters the Chaldee Paraphrase shall never perswade me whilst the distance of time and place protest against the possibility thereof Not to say that it is likely that the sorcerers so frequent in the presence of Pharaoh had long before waited on their Master through the red sea to another world Hence Balak conducted Balaam to Kiriath-huzoth or the city of streets which at that time seems to be the Metropolis of Moab § 20. Mizpah of Moab followeth where the Father and Mother of David reposed themselves whilst their Son was persecuted by Saul Ar of Moab and Rabbah of Moab were also places of great note in this land and besides these many other cities of inferiour note But
as many mean men living obscurely so that the world takes no notice of them if surprized by some unusuall and strange mortality become remarkable for their deaths who were never memorable for their lives so some cities of Moab whereof no mention in Scripture for any action done in or by them are onely famous in holy writ for their strange ruine and destruction by the Prophet sadly foretold and therefore certainly accomplished Such are Misgab Horonaim Luhith Baith Eglaim Ber-elim Holon Kirioth Kirherez and Madmen The last as I conceive is note-worthy not for its own merit but others mistake For in the Bibles and those numerous printed Anno Dom. 1625. the verse in Ieremy is thus rendered O Maiden the sword shall pursue thee where the Corrector of the Press conceiving it incongruous to join Thee a singular pronoune with Madmen which he mistook for an appellative no proper name ran himself upon that dangerous errour § 21. But Kirharasheth seems the Metropolis of Moab Near to this three Kings Iehoram of Iudah Iehosaphat of Israel and the nameless Kingdeputy of Edom marched on a designe to chastise Mesha the rebellious King of Moab into subjection But wandring in the wilderness of Edom they encountred a worse enemy Thirst it self wherewith all of them were ready to saint But happily it happened that Elisha who powred water on the hands of Eliah by the same Element seasonably refreshed the hearts of the distressed armies respecting Iehosaphat for his own goodness the other two Kings for his company How many generall benefits doe the very Tares enjoy because inseparably mingled with the Wheat in the field of this world Yea Elisha was an instrument to give them not onely water but victory heavens favours goe commonly by couples after this miraculous manner § 22. The Moabites beholding water miraculously brought in that place where never any was seen or known before and the same at distance appearing red unto them guilded with the beames of the Sun concluded it to be bloud and that that Paroyall of Armies had smitten one another Wonder not that their conjecture was so wide and wild for well might the Comment be out of the way of Truth when the Text was out of the Rode of nature and the Moabites on the suddain not capable to suspect a miracle Hereupon the word is given Moab to the spoâ—le which in some sense was true that is not to take but become the spoile of others For the tents they assaulted being lined with armed men quickly overcame them And it is worth our observing that this victory was bestowed on Iehosaphat my eyes are onely on him on whom alone the looks of Elisha reflected just in the morning when the Meat-offering was offered as procured by the Propitiatory virtue thereof all favours being conferred in and for the merits of Christ the truth of all sacrifices § 23. God gave man used this conquest Improving their success they beat down the cities and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone and filled it and stopped all the wells of water and felled all the good trees This was contrary to Gods express command but none could better dispense with the Law then the lawgiver who in detestation of the rebellion of Moab against Israel enjoined this severity Onely the City of Kirharasheth was left and that they besieged untill the King of Moab therein took and sacrificed his eldest Son who was to succeed him either out of a bad imitation of Iephthah and their Idols we know were adored with sacrifices of men or to give assurance to the besiegers that they were men resolved to endure all extremities so that they might presume he that would sacrifice his Son would not spare to spend his souldiers on any desperate adventure Hereupon the foresaid three Kings surceased their siege either out of policy perceiving the same desperate and unlikely to prevaile or out of a royall sympathy that it was revenge enough to distress though not destroy a King or which is most probable out of a religious horrour the trembling whereat made their swords fall out of their hands as unwilling to provoke the besieged any further to such impious and unhumane performances lest heaven should arraign them as accessary thereunto by giving the occasion thereof whatsoever was the cause home they returned content with the spoiling without the finall conquering of the Countrey § 24. Many are the invectives of the Prophets against Moab for their sins The people thereof are charged to have been at ease from their youth and setled on their less because not emptied from vessell to vessell neither carried into captivity whilest poor Israel was posted from Canaan to Egypt from Egypt to Canaan from Canaan to Babylon from Babylon to Canaan backward and forward God therefore threatneth because they had not been emptied from their vessell to break them in their vessell and foretelleth that Moab should be made drunk haply alluding to his geniture seeing he was begotten in a fit of drunkenness and wallow in his vomit and come to utter destruction Thus never to be acquainted with any affliction in youth is a certain prognostick of finall confusion in old age So much for Moab leaving it to learned men to dispute what is intended by the restauration of Moab foretold in the latter days as also let them enquire whether that passage in Daniel that after a generall overthrow Edom Moab c. should escape must not mystically be meant of the enemies of the Church in which sense we may be sure the devill will have a Moab as long as God hath any Israel in the world § 25. AMmon another base Son of Lot had Midian on the east Moab on the south Gad on the west and Syria on the north a circular countrey extending about sixty miles every way The ancient inhabitants hereof were the Giants Zamzâ—mmims These were conquered and cast out by the Ammonites who afterwards dwelt in their countrey being a fruitfull land and too good for these Ammonites that bare an inveterate malice to the people of Israel manifested in many particulars 1 In their oppressing them eighteen years till Iephthah gave them deliverance 2 In their cruell conditions such Ravens and birds of prey first peck out the eyes tendered to the men of Iabesh-Gilead 3 In their barbarous abusing Davids ambassadours 4 In ripping up the bellies of the women with child in Gilead 5 In their Clapping their hands stamping with their feet and rejoycing in their heart at the sacking of Ierusalem by the King of Babylon 6 In their contriving the destruction of Gedaliah and the poor remnant of the Iews left behind in the land by the Babylonians 7 In retarding the building of the Temple after the Iews return from captivity And although David and some other Kings amongst whom Uzziah most remarkeable forced the
seems thereby that what his hast and hunger had conveyed his profaneness did deliberately confirme and by that his neglect and contempt he acknowledged a Fine cutting off his heires from any recovery thereof Indeed afterwards Esau made it a main matter of quarrell with his brother but never a matter of conscience in himself But enough hereof onely I will adde the crossing of the common rule Caveat venditor let here the seller beware for God took Esau at his word and accordingly deprived him of his birthright § 31. But Esau set a greater valuation on his Blessing wherein being prevented by Iacob he sought it with teares though they were not a kindely showre of repentance but onely some heate drops of anger and indignation not so much grieved that he had lost as vexed that Iacob had gotten the Blessing At last his importunity got from his Father a Blessing though not the blessing the severall clauses whereof we are seriously to consider because thereon dependeth the right understanding of the conditions of the people and countrey of Edom which we are now to describe Behold thy dwelling shall be the fatnesse of the earth and of the dew of heaven from above Earth is by Isaac first mentioned because by Esau most minded But oh the difference betwixt the dew of heaven in Iacobs and Esau's blessing In the former it signified Gods favour with an undoubted right unto and sanctified use of divine promises service and Sacraments whereas in this blessing of Esau heavenly dew was in effect but earthly dew temporall terrestriall fertility allowed to this mountainous land of Edom whose lean hils were larded with many fruitfull vallies interposed Heathen Authors confesse no less Dulce nemus florentis Idumes The fair grove of flourishing Idumea Quicquid nobile Ponticis nucetis Foecundis cadit aut jugis Idumes What ever noble worth destils On Pontus nut-trees or what fils The fruitfull Idumean Hils However divine providence seems to have suited the Countreys to the conditions of Isaacs children giving plain-dealing Iacob a more low and levell Land and fitting the haughty minde of aspiring Esau with high-swelling and ambitious mountains though he who was nearest to heaven was farthest from God And by thy sword shalt thou live and shalt be thy Brothers Servant It is observable that though God in the time of the Judges made use of almost all other heathen nations bordering on the Iewes successively to oppress that his own people Midianites Ammonites Moabites Philistines c. Yet he never permitted the Edomites at any time to Lord it over Israel because according to Isaacs Blessing subjection to Iacob not soveraignty over him belonged to Esau and his posterity This prophecy of Esau's serving Iacob was fully accomplished in the days of David when he put a Garison in Edom throughout all Edom put he souldiers and all they of Edom became Davids servants and so remained tributaries to the Kings of Iudah and governed by their deputies for one hundred and fifty years and upwards But it shall come to passe when thou shalt get the mastery that thou shalt breake his yoke from thy neck This was fulfilled when the Edomites rebelling against King Iehoram finally recovered their liberty whilest he more cruell to kill his brethren at home then valiant to conquer his enemies abroad could never after reduce them into subjection nor his successors after him § 32. The Horims first inhabited this Countrey of Mount Seir whose Dukes are reckoned up by Moses of whom Duke Anah is most remarkable for his first finding out of Mules as he fed his Father Zibions Asses A creature or rather a living beast which may be called a reall fallacy in nature whose extraction is a conclusion unduely inferred from the premises of an Hee-asse and a Mare joined together Yet this is commendable in Mules they imitate rather the virtues then vices of their Sire and Dam having in them the dulness of the Asse quickened with the metall of the Mare and the Mares stubbornness corrected with the Asses patience Barren they are as to whom God never granted the Charter of increase and yet Pliny reports but it is Pliny who reports it that in Rome Mules are often recorded to beare young ones but then always accounted ominous Let others dispute whether Anah was the Inventour or onely the Repertour of Mules the industrious Founder or the casuall Finder of them Let them also discuss whether such copulations be lawfull for men of set purpose to joine together severall kinds which God hath parted asunder yea they may seem to amount to a tacite upbraiding of Gods want of wisdome or goodness in not providing sufficient Creatures for mans service without such monstrous additionals in nature If they be concluded unlawfull let them argue whether the constant use of Mules be not continuing in a known sin and yet some good men in Scripture rather then they would goe on foot used to ride on them though our Saviour himself accepted of a plaine Asse for his own Saddle § 33. These Horims were at last conquered and exâ—irpated by the Edomites who succeeded them and dwelt in their stead The civill government of the land of Edom was sometimes Ducall sometimes Regall Moses reckoning up eleven Edomite Dukes leaveth it doubtfull whether they were successively one after another or went all a brest as living at the same time which is most probable and so the land divided into Eleven Dukedomes This is most certain that eight severall Kings reigned in Edom one after another and all before there reigned any King over the children of Israel Thus the wicked as they have their portion in this world so they quickly come to full age to possess the same whilest Gods children are long children long kept in nonage and brought up in the School of affliction Now it is recorded in Scripture that every Edomite King had successively a severall city of his royall residence namely Kings Parentage Royall-city Bela The son of â—eor Dimhabah Iobab The son of Zerah Bozrah Husham of the land of Temani Teman Hadad The son of Bedad Avith Samlaâ— Â Masrâ—kah Shaut  Râ—hoboth by the river Baal-banan The son of Achbor  Hadaâ— Â Pan. It is plain those Kings were not by succession and probably they were not by election but onely by strength and power as they could make their parties according to Isaacs prediction By thy sword shalt thou live Now this their frequent removall of their royal City was politickly done 1 To declare the fulnes and freedome of their power and pleasure that they were not confined to follow the footsteps of their predecessours 2 To disperse and communicate civility and courtship into all the parts of their kingdome 3 To honour and adorne the place of their birth for probably their native was their royall city 4 To cut off from one place the occasion of
two Barnes for her provision However I dare boldly say that though Sicily was the nearer Egypt was the bigger and better Barn and yeelded greatest store of corn in time of scarcity § 4. Flax also was a stable commodity of Egypt much whereof at this day is imported and used in England Of this the finest linen in the world was woven The Harlot could tell the silly young man she sought to inveigle I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry with carved works and fine linen of Egypt as commonly the worst of women get the best of wares to please their luxury As for the making of this linen cloth it will hardly be beleeved what Pomponius Mela hath reported that the ancient Egyptians used to have their men keep home and spin while their women managed their greater businesses abroad But surely where the man puts his hand to the spindle and the woman to the plough there the whole family will be ill clad and worse fed § 5. Horses of the best kind were very plentifull in Egypt Those were a prohibited commodity forbidden by Gods law to be brought by great numbers into Israel whose King was charged Not to multiply horses to himself nor to cause the people to return into Egypt partly lest whilest they went thither to course horses they should change religions and fall into love with Egyptian Idolatry partly lest they should place too much confidence in the legs of horses or arme of flesh whom God would have immediately to depend on his own protection § 6. Paper most usefull for intercourse anciently grew in Egypt alone being a sedgy weed on the rivers side which they divided into thin flakes whereinto it naturally parteth then laying them on a table and moistening them with the glutinous water of the River they pressed them together and so dried them in the Sun God foretelling his punishments on Egypt threatneth that The paper reeds of the brooks by the mouth of the brooks and every thing sown by the brooks shall wither be driven away and be no more § 7. Mummy must not be forgotten being mans flesh at the first embalmed for forty days together and afterward for many years buried in that hot and sandy Countrey Yet all art cannot finally avoid the curse pronounced on mankind Dust thou art and to dust thou must return so that if left alone these corpses of themselves moulder to ashes Oâ—herwise such cost and curiosity used for their longer preservation accidentally occasioneth their speedier destruction such bodies being taken up out of their graves bought and brought into forein Countreys for medicinall uses What is there such a dearth of drugs such a famine of Physick in nature that as in the siege of Samaria one man must feed on another However whilest some squeamish stomacks make faces to feed on the dead perhaps their hard hearts at the same time Eate up the living as if they were dead either by fraudulent contracts or forcible oppressions § 8. But these grand commodities of Egypt were also allaied with some great inconveniencies many noxious and venimous creatures swarming therein The Prophet called it the land from whence come the young and old Lion the Viper and the Viper and the fiery-flying Serpent This though mystically meant of the Kings of Egypt their Lion-like antipathy and cruelty to Israel styled also Serpents for their craft flying for the swift marching of their Armies winged on horse-backs fiery for the fierceness and heat of their fury yet was it also literally true of plenty of such beasts in Egypt where that moist and hot Countrey was both the pregnant mother to breed and tender nurse to feed them in great abundance Especially in the western deserts towards Cyrene an hideous and dismall place and therefore the Author of the book of Tobit fitted it with a meet inhabitant banishing thither and binding there Asmodeus the evill spirit in the utmost parts of Egypt § 9. Rain is very rare in this land and that onely in winter the windows of heaven here having no casements and the Egyptians supplying the want of rain by making gutters out of the river of Nilus into all their grounds and gardens God therefore in this respect preferreth the land of Canaan before this Countrey For the land saith he whither thou goest to possess it is not as the land of Egypt from whence ye came where thou sowedst thy seed and watered it with thy feet as a garden of Herbs But the land whither thou goest to possess it is a land of mountains and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven Surely as it is more honour to receive a boon immediately from the hand of a Prince then in an indirect line from him by his servants so more peculiar was the favour of God to the Iews and the familiarity of the Iews with God having their land watered from heaven whilest the Egyptians looked not upward as men but downwards as beasts on that moisture which constantly procured the fruitfulness of their Countrey But this pleased them best as carnall souls had rather be at a certainty of plenty from Nature then at an uncertainty thereof even from the God of Nature himself However they are much mistaken who have confidently reported that it never raineth in Egypt seeing I have been informed the contrary by a right worshipfull Person and well accomplished traveller a great Patron and bountifull promoter of my present studies an eye-witness of much and violent rain at Grand-Cairo in Egypt but such as presaged a great mortality which ensued not long after § 10. The River of Nile is the happy Genius of the Egyptian soil called in Scripture Nachal Mitzraim or the river of Egypt as a most learned Authour hath observed Yea from this Nachal he clearly derived the name of Nilus with excellent proportion For as from Bahal Bââl Beel Bel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is deduced so  Nachal Nââl Neel Neil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  And to make the matter more plain Pomponius Mela reporteth that the fountain of Nilus is called Nachul by the Ethiopians A river wherein nature hath observed an even tenour of admirableness so that the birth the life and the death thereof I mean the fountain flowing and fall of the river are equally composed of a concatenation of wonders 1 Fountain The particular place thereof being never as yet known certainly So that as the Tares in the Gospell were beheld not when sown but when grown Nilus appears even at the first in a full stream and fair chanell 2 Flowing which constantly beginneth with the rising Sun on the seventeenth of Iune swelling by degrees untill it mount sometimes twenty four Cubits and that the uttermost for anciently sixteen was the highest it attained unto and answerable to the increase of this river is the plenty of scarcity of the following year Nor
better put on then Ahabs was that no chinkes may be left betwixt the joints thereof Offensive those either to use cominùs at handpush or stroke as sword dagger spear or eminùs at distance as bow sling dart and other artificiall engines whereof King Uzziah was the ingenious inventour or of a mixed nature as a Iavelin which was a spear-dart sometimes cast out of their hands as Saul at David sometimes kept in and thrust through their enemies in which manner Phinehas did execution on Zimri and Cozbi It is enough barely to name these weapons as having no peculiar Iudaisme in them but common with other Countreys For though God enjoyned the Iews some ceremonious observances in their wearing-apparell distinguishing them from other nations yet in the fashion of their armes he suffered them to conform with the heathen as might be most for their own safety and advantage § 6. But amongst all martiall accoutrements we must not forget the souldiers girdle the inseparable companion of military men Thus when Ionathan stript himself he gave David his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle understand his gift exclusively these three things not comprehended therein as being unsouldier-like to part with them Ioab promised to give him that could kill Absalom ten shekels of silver and a girdle as a proper military Donative And perchance such a Girdle Balteus militaris bestowed by a Generall in a field after the fight amounted to the honour of our modern Knighthood not to say Banneretship Conquerors used to besmear their girdle with the bloud of those they overcame a Bend or Fess gules we know is an honorable Bearing in avowance and justification of what they had done And therefore David taxeth Ioab that having killed Abner and Amasa not valiantly in the field but treacherously by fraud he shed the bloud of war in peace and put the bloud of war upon his girdle that was about his loines and in his shooes that were upon his feet Not that it casually spirted upon them but that of set purpose he put it there misapplying an hostile ceremony of lawfull conquest to his act of perfidious and cowardly murder Leave we now our souldier thus completely armed in all respects going forth to fight wishing him to be valiant for his people and for the Cities of his God and for success the Lord doe what seemeth good in his eies § 7. But if in stead of victory he meeteth with overthrow and destruction so that with Iobs messenger he himself hardly escapes to bring the dolefull tidings of their defeat behold him in the following sorrowfull equipage of a Mourner With baldness on his head not naturall but occasioned by the shaving thereof to make room for a sad Peruke of Ashes or earth thereupon beard shaved or else his upper lip covered clothes rent yea flesh it self cut not wounded by the enemies sword but as a penance imposed upon himself feet bare and whole body next the skin clothed in sackcloth wherein he used to lie and according to the occasion more or less was his humiliation May he meet with seasonable comfort and good counsell whilest we proceed § 8. Some few years after 't is strange to see how insensibly age hath surprised him so that he beginneth now to become an Elder If you finde him not at home in his house you shall certainly meet him amongst those of his own rank in the gate of the City where a Consistory Court was daily kept and he a Judge therein wrap'd with Samuel warme in his mantle and having in his hand a staffe 1 Not of any infectious infirmity being an heavy curse Let there not fail from the house of Ioab one that leaneth on a staffe 2 Much less of Idolatry an hainous sin My people aske counsell at their stocks and their staff declareth unto them 3. But a staffe of Antiquity accounted a great blessing Every man with a staffe in his hand for very age To which we wish him another staffe for his better support even dutyfull children and so leave him § 9. At next return we finde him beddred reduced to aged Davids condition though they cover him with clothes he getteth no heat We wish him in stead of a young Abishag good kitchin-Physick carefull attendance and serious meditation on his latter end SECT IV. Their habits how differenced by their severall professions and conditions § 1. PRobable it is that all vocations of people besides the Priests and Levites as Husbandmen Tradesmen Citizens Merchants Doctors Judges c. were distinguished by their severall apparell though we can onely insist upon some few we finde in Scripture First Fishermen had their coates made with the best advantage not to hinder the wearers swimming therein Thus Peter hearing that the Lord stood on the land girt his fishers-coate about him for he was naked and did cast himself into the sea Oh that men would but use the wealth of this world as Saint Peter his coate onely for civility as a covering in their passage through the waves of this life without danger of being drowned in the Deep with the weight thereof § 2. Shepheards succeed sufficiently known by their bag and staffe or hook except any will adde thereunto the dog of their flock as so necessary an attendant they seem naked without him Their clothes were made large and loose easie to be put on without any adoe so that they might run and ray themselves Hereupon it is prophesied of Nebuchadnezzar that he should array himselfe with the land of Egypt as a shepheard putteth on his garment that is quietly quickly in an instant the conquest thereof should cost him no trouble as meeting with no considerable opposition § 3. But my pen is soon weary of the worthless wardrobe of such poor and painfull people longing to come to Court the center of bravery where those Men of clothes to whom gallantry is essentiall have their continuall residence Such saith our Saviour as weare soft clothing are in Kings houses Insomuch that there was a law in the Court of Persia that None might enter into the Kings gate clothed with sackcloth as a disparagement to the place Though the Porters which shut out sackcloth could not stop out sorrow from entering into the Palace of the mightiest Monarch § 4. Courtiers were apparelled often in fine linen which the chiefest of them need not blush to weare finding Angels themselves waiters on an higher King clothed in pure and white linen Now although Iudea had store of home-growing flax yet she fetched far finer from Egypt whence in Solomons time the Kings Merchants received linen yarn at a price Kings Merchants being a Guild or company of men with a badge Royall upon them probably priviledged with a preemption
sheep of Israel not debased by mixture of Gentilisme in their bloud like the Samaritans whom Christ declined whilest he constantly conversed with these Galileans Philol. You say that the City Naasson depends meerly upon the credit of the vulgar translation Tobit 1. Whereas looking on the Hebrew Map graven at Amsterdam by Abraham Goos but designed and made by another Abraham a great Rabbin skilled in the land and language of his own nation this Naasson appears there in Hebrew characters the Author no doubt having good assurance for the same Whose Map I can tell you is much valued by many Antiquaries as appears by their difficult procuring dear purchasing and carefull preserving thereof And you may finde it solemnly set up at the upper end of Sion Colledge Library Aleth It ill becomes me to detract from the pains of any being also my self a man under authority of the pens and tongues of others and Candidate for the Readers good will in this my description Yet give me leave plainly to profess that the Map by you alleadged answereth not the great price and generall praise thereof being nothing else but Adrichomius his Map translated into Hebrew What once Sir Iohn Old Castle Lord Cobham spoke jeastingly that the Priests made Christ to be boots and spurs and all in the Sacrament may I serously say that Adrichomius with his faults and failings dross dirt and all together without any correction is cast into this Abrahams overvalued description so that the Map you alledge is not gold but mean metall gilded over containing surreptitious names out of the Vulgar Latine therein Hebraized and presenting many spurious places utterly disclaimed in the Originall CHAP. VI. Objections against Asher answered Philol. I Admire you have altogether omitted the River Eleutherus in this Tribe much mentioned in Maccabees and which Adrichomius makes to fall into the Mediterranean in the mid-way betwixt Zidon and Tyre Yea M. George Sandys in his travels going from Sarepta to Tyre crossed a little valley divided by the River Eleutherus called Casmire at this day by the inhabitants thereabouts Aleth By what name or title soever the water he there went over is known at this day sure I am it cannot be the ancient Eleutherus which by Ptolemy Strabo and generall consent of all Authors falls above sixty miles more northward into the Mediterranean And therefore the error of Adrichomius and others herein is briefly taxed by judicious Sir Walter Ralegh Philol. You make Asher to border on Zidon contrary to the description of Wolsegangus Wiseburgius and learned Tostatus who set Zebulun in the same place as the most north-west of all the Tribes and alleadge Iacobs words to avouch the same prophecying that Zebuluns borders shall be unto Zidon Aleth Gods Word the coast of the Countrey and all good authors justifie our description those two onely excepted which you alleadge being both deceived by taking Zidon restrictively in Iacobs prophecy for the City so called whereas the whole Countrey thereby is intended as Sarepta is called a City of Zidon and the name of Zidonians adequate to Phenicians in which sense Zebulun confined on the Countrey though Asher onely on the City of Zidon Philol. You peremptorily place the defeat of Benâ—adad and fall of Apheks wall on his flying Army in this Tribe not remembring the while that there is another Aphek in Issachar nearer to Samaria which puts in with more probability to be the theater whereon that tragical accident was acted Aleth I confess Aphek a place in Issachar but finde it not charactered to be a City such an one as our Aphek in Asher is described and whose walls are therefore more probable to doe the foresaid execution However be it known unto you whensoever two places are with equall likelihood corrivals for actions therein atchieved we adjudge it to that place that falls first under our description Thus the start of half an hour bestows on the elder twin the whole inheritance To avoid confusion and prevent repetition first come first serv'd the place first occurring carries away all history in our describing thereof CHAP. VII Objections against Zebulun answered Philol. YOu very confidently make Iordan continue his unâ—ixit stream clean through the Galilean-sea a course somewhat irregular in nature without alleadging any authority for the proof of so improbable a passage Aleth Excellent Authors avouch the same Tacitus amongst others tells us of this River Unum atque alterum lacum integer perfluit tertio â—etinetur One and another lake viz. the waters of Merom and Galilean-sea it runneth through entire but is stopped in the third namely in Asphaltite-lake or Dead-sea More full is the testimony of Philostorgius and deserveth our serious perusall thereof Who speaking of this River 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which saith he passeth through the lake of Tiberias cutting it in the middle and flowing clean through it in its own proper channell Which cutting of the lake implies the entire continuance of Iordans water otherwise that knife doth not cut the loaf but is cut by the loaf which is broken in the dividing thereof Philol. I wonder you pass over Shimron-Meron in such silence which appears a place of great note yea a Royall City in the days of Ioshua as the Coronet thereupon doth inform us Aleth I confess it signed with a Coronet and with something more a flag of uncertainty having nothing sure of the location thereof the chiefest cause that I willingly declined the mention of it However we will scrue our selves into as much certainty of this place as may be extracted out of Scripture and observe the four first wreaths of my scrue are undoubtedly the fifth and last more then probably true as followeth 1 Shimron-Meron was one of the Royall Cities whose King Ioshua destroyed 2 The same City is elsewhere called plainly Shimron without any addition 3 It lay on the northern part of the land because the King thereof associated in the northern and second combination of the Canaanites against Ioshua 4 A City named Shimron was alloted to the Tribe of Zebulun 5 Most probably this is the same Shimron whose King was destroyed by Ioshua This is all which my best industry could collect out of Scripture or good Authors concerning the situation of this place Philol. What mean you by that third smooty circle which as the Meteor Halo about the Sun surroundeth the Levites City of Iockneam Aleth It signifieth nothing being a meer aberration of the Graver which now but obscure will in process of Printing wholly disappear And I could hartily wish no other faults in our Maps would be of longer continuance Philol. You make the Galilean-sea all along the east boundary of this Tribe Whereas I am altogether of the minde of Masius that no part of Zebulun touched on that sea with him principally grounding my opinion on the Scriptures silence which mentioneth not any conterminating of this Tribe
or in two Rankes two and two as they are ordered by Mercator Skuls in a charnel-house never justle for the upper place and as sensless is the contention betwixt these dead Cities which shall stand first whose foundations long since were doubly destroyed with fire and water But the sole motive of my placing Zeboim most northern of these four Cities is because I finde the valley of Zeboim in the Tribe of Benjamin which probably lay near the influx of Iordan into the Dead-sea denominated from the vicinity of Zeboim thereabouts Philol. The Hebrew Orthography confutes your conceit For Zeboim by you last alledged is spelled with different letters from the City which was burnt with fire from heaven Aleth I confess a threefold variation in the writing of this name though all the same in effect 1 Gen. 14. 2. and so also Deut. 29. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 1 Sam. 13. 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Hoseah 11. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall set thee at Zeboim c. Here to mollifie the word the Gutturall is either altered or wholly omitted neither amounting to make it a new word How variously are the names of the same English towns spoken and spelled as Lester Leicester Legeocester Legecester yet the same word dressed in severall spellings and pronunciations Philol. Why make you Hebâ—on being a noted City of the Priests and City of Refuge different from all the rest onely with a single circle about it Aleth Because the fields and villages thereof were none of the Priests but were given to Caleb the son of Iephunneh for his possession Philol. If so then Hebron ought not to have had any circle at all about it being a bare City of the Priests without any suburbs belonging thereunto Aleth The Priests in Hebron had and had not suburbs pertaining thereunto according to the severall acception of suburbs If by them you onely understand aedificia suburbana buildings though without the City walls contiguous thereunto these no doubt belonged to the Priests who had Hebron with her suburbs otherwise if you extend them to ager suburbanus the fields surrounding the City these related to Caleb as the proper owner thereof Philol. You might well have afforded conjecturall flags to most of the Cities in Iudah going generally by guess in your placing of them and differing from all other authors therein Aleth The Learned in Anatomy have informed me that veins are alike in their trunks but not in their branches so that although the great Channels of bloud run alike in all bodies yet the smaller veines as is most visible in their divaâ—ication on the back of the hand disperse themselves diversly in divers persons The like is confessed in all Maps of Iudah wherein the grand Cities Hebron Debir Bethlehem c. have their certain position agreed on by most Authors whilest their inferiour places and no Tribe afforded more obscure Cities but once named in Scripture are subject to much variety according to the fancies of Authors Wherein we hope we have observed as much as might be these short and small directions we finde in Scripture Philol. But you are not constant to your self in the location of those lesser places as appears by some diversity of their distances both amongst themselves and from Ierusalem in the particular description of Iudah and in the generall Map of Palestine Aleth I confess the same who having discovered some errors in the particular Map reformed the same in the Map-generall Which may be beheld in this point as a new Edition of the former corrected and amended Request I therefore the Reader in such small differences to rely rather on the credit of the Map-generall Philol. You once placed Hepher a royall City in Manasseh on this side Iordan which since you have removed into Iudah without giving any account of the alteration Aleth Some probability perswaded us to our former opinion Cheifly because Hepher is mentioned in Ioshua's list next to Tapuah which is known to be in Manasseh But since finding also a Tapuah in Iudah and a land of Hepher near Sochoh a place also in Iudah it hath staggered our judgment and caused us to remove Hepher into Iudah with a flag of uncertaintie thereon all Authors finding an Ignoramus for the exact position thereof Philol. The land of Goshen is sufficiently known to be in Egypt And how stragleth of Countrey of Goshen into this Tribe Aleth You know that besides this England wherein we live there is an Anglia in Denmark whence our Ancestors are said to have come and there is England beyond Wales whither some of our nation removed Some such occasion to us unknown might give the name of Goshen to a petty tract of ground in Iudah Or else it might be so called from some assimilation in the fruitfulness thereof Wonder not at a Goshen in Egypt and another in Iudah when we finde two Ziphs two Zenoahs two Socohs c. As two Kirbies market-townes in Westmorland within the compass of this Tribe Philol. Conceive you that any wildernesses wherewith Iudah abounded were places of any pleasant habitation Aleth I am confident thereof For instance Engedi though a Wilderness was so delicious a place that the Spouse is compared to a cluster of Camphire in the Vineyards of Engedi Besides it had the conveniency of Palmtrees therefore in Scripture called Hazazon-Tamar which is Engedi Tamar being in Hebrew a Palme Nor can I omit the testimony of Pliny as the best comment herein in Gods word who speaking of people living on the west of the Dead-sea amongst these saith he is the town ENGADDA Second to Ierusalem in fruitfulness and WOODS OF PALME-TREES but now become another heap of Ashes Philol. I finde indeed a City and wilderness of Maon in this Tribe but were the dwellers therein those same Maonites which are said Iudg. 10. 12. with the Zidonians and Amalekites to have oppressed Israel Aleth O no. I take these tyrant Maonites to have been a fierce and forein Nation Saint Hierom de locis Hebraicis conceives Maon to be the Countrey of Moab The vulgar Latine translates it Canaanites because Maonites signifieth inhabitants and the Canaanites we know were the ancient and originall dwellers in the land whose Relicks left in the land contrary to Gods command were constant thornes in the sides of the Israelites But I conceive rather with learned Cajetan on this place these Maonites were a distinct neighbouring nation whose certain habitation is to us unknown Philol. Saul when marching against the Amalekites is said to have numbred the people being two hundred and ten thousand in Telaim which by the coast of the Countrey seems south in or near Iudah Yet no such place appears in your Map thereof Aleth The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is variously interpreted the Rabbins render it appellatively in Lambes affirming the Saul did not
count them in specie but for more safety or expedition computed the people by their Paschall Lambes proportioning such a number of men to a Lambe Others read it He numbred them as Lambes that is now grown meek and quiet whereas at the first there were some animosities of the people against him Shall Saul reign over us contentedly submitting themselves to his command But I take Telaim for a true City and the same with Telem Iosh. 15. 24. which you may finde in our description CHAP. XV. Objections against the Land of Moriah answered Philol. I Perceive the imperfection of your description by the omitting of a memorable valley therein namely the vale of Baca mentioned by the Psalmist pronouncing him blessed who passing through the vale of Baca maketh it a Well You in stead of passing through pass by this vale unmentioned Aleth I reserved my observations on this vale for this place Some render it appellatively The vale of weeping meaning thereby the militant condition of a Christian in this life incumbred with constant afflictions If so this vale of Baca is too big to come under my description all the mountains in the world being but part of this valley the extent whereof is adequate to the whole earth But if you be pleased to take this vale for a proper place I embrace the opinion of learned Ainsworth on the text that this vale of Baca or Mulberry trees for so also it signifieth was near to Ierusalem out of the tops of which trees God sounded the Alarum to David when he conquered the Philistines CHAP. XVI Objections against the City of Jerusalem answered Philol. VVHat is charged unjustly on Saint Paul and his companions that they had turned the world upside down may truly be laid to your charge you have in your description of Ierusalem tumbled all things topsie turvy in the position of the gates thereof yea the foundations of the City as presented by you are out of course and contrary to the rules of other writers Aleth Let God be true and every man a liar In this particular I profess my self a pure Leveller desiring that all humane conceits though built on most specious bottomes may be laid flat and prostrated if opposing the written Word In conformity whereunto we are bound to dissent from such Authors otherwise honouring them for their severall deserts to accommodate the Description of the Gates and Towers of Ierusalem according to a threefold eminent Directory which we finde in Nehemiah Philol. Give us I pray you an account of them in order Aleth The first main Scripture direction we are to observe is the night survey which Nehemiah took of the walls or rather ruines of Ierusalem described in this manner NEHEM 2. 13 14 15. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley even before the Dragon Well to the Dung port and viewed the walls of Ierusalem which were broken down and the gates thereof were consumed with fire Then went I out to the gate of the fountain and to the Kings pool but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass Then went I up in the night by the brook and viewed the wall and turned back and entred by the gate of the valley and so returned The second is the severall reparations where the same were required done on the Gates and walls of the City by severall persons in a circular form from the Sheep-gate surrounding the whole City till they returned to the same place where they began Whose names we have carefully inscribed on those portions of buildings upon which their cost and pains were expended The third but most materiall because most declaratory of the method of the Gates is the solemn Processions which the people divided into two Quires made round about the walls each of them measuring a Semi-circle both of them incompassing the whole circumference of Ierusalem and at last joining together in the best meeting place the Temple of God First Quire Nehem. 12. 31. One great company went on the right hand upon the wall towards the Dung-gate consisting of half the Princes of Iudah and Ezra the Scribe before them And at the fountain-gate which is over against them they went up by the staires of the City of David at the going up of the wall above the house of David even unto the water-gate eastward Second Quire Nehem. 12. 38 39. And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them and I after them and the half of the people upon the wall from beyond the Tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall And from above the gate of Ephraim and above the old-gate and above the fish-gate and the tower of Hananeel and the tower of Meah even unto the sheep-gate and they stood still in the prison-gate So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God Now I request the Reader with his eye to examine whether the walls of Ierusalem as designed in our draught agree not with these directions of Scripture To purchase the favour whereof I pass not for the frowns of any Authors Omne excelsum cadet down with whatever dare oppose our embracing of the Text. This we hope for the main will satisfie any indifferent Reader otherwise if being as impossible for me in this short discourse to meet with the severall exceptions of private fancies as for a Geographer in the Map-generall of a Countrey to set down the house of every particular person Philol. You set Sion south of Ierusalem clean contrary to the description of the Psalmist Beautifull for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion on the Sides of the North the City of the great King Aleth The place by you alleadged is difficult much canvassed by Comments who fasten upon it two principall interpretations 1 Sense Some make this verse a description of Sion alone the latter clause by Apposition so referring unto it that Sion it self is solely charactered to be the City on the side of the North. 2 Sense Others make this verse the full description of all Ierusalem consisting of two principall parts by the figure of Asyndeton coupled together 1. Sion Beautiful for situation the â—oy of the whole earth is Mount Sion 2. Properly Jerusalem On the sides of the North the City of the great King That the latter is the truer interpretation we send the Reader to the voluminous labours of Villalpandus proving the same out of Scripture Iosephus and other Authors Besides though time and casualty hath made many alterations on Ierusalem yet what Peter in his time said of Davids sepulcher even in our age true of mount Sion it is with us unto this day standing still full south of Ierusalem as Travellers doe affirme no doubt in the ancient place and posture thereof For although Ioseph could remove the Egyptians from one end of the borders of the land
Ribera in altari Lateranensi infra quod dicitur esse Arca In the Lateran Altar say they in Rome beneath within which IT IS SAID the Ark is but both of them speak so uncertainly and put it on publick fame that they teach us to deny the Truth thereof Philol. You are very briefe in the destruction of the City and Temple by the Romans whereas so memorable a subject deserved a fuller description Aleth It is largely related by Iosephus to whom the Reader is referred onely I will adde a word of the remarkable time thereof God graciously promised his people Neither shall any man desire thy land when thou shalt goe up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice a year Obedience is better then an Army to secure ones estate As the Meniall-servants of great Persons are protected in some cases from Arrests whilest they waite on their Masters in publick imployment so Gods people were priviledged from damage during their attendance on him thrice a year in his Temple no invasion being found to befall them on that occasion clean through the Scripture But at last in token that they by their wickedness had out-lawed themselves of his protection and he withdrawn his defending of them the Romans besieged them in Ierusalem coming up thither on the solemn feast of the Passeover and soon after both Temple and City was destroyed by Vespasian and Titus his son seventy two years after our Saviours birth Not one stone of the Temple left upon another though three towers of the City Maâ—iamne Phaselus and Hippicus were left standing not out of pity but pride their devouring sword leaving this mannerly bit on purpose that posterity might tast how strong the place was to the greater credit of the conquerours Philol. To adde to the solemnity of the State Titus with his Father Vespasian made a solemn Triumph in Rome wherein the golden Table and Candlestick with other sacred Utensils of the Temple formerly reverenced now derided made once for Gods service now served to adorn the Trophees of Pagans We read what befell Belshazzar when he quaffed in the vessels of the Temple Some perchance might here expect that God to punish the profanaâ—ion of these holy instrumentâ— should then have shewed some signall judgment on the profaners But the case was altered because the date of Ceremonies was then expired the use of Types ended Christ the Truth being come and the Moon may set obscurely without any mans taking notice of her when the Sun is risen Aleth The last and greatest Trophee then carried in triumph was the LAW OF THE IEWS probably that very numericall book the Authentiâ—k or Originall of the Law which by Gods command was constantly to be kept in the Temple And this perchance was permitted by divine providence not without a peculiar mystery therein to shew that the Law which formerly bound men over to damnation was now bound it self in captivity outed of its former dominion deposed from its condemning power having now the Gospell of Grace succeeding in the place thereof Lastly orders were issued out to the Governour of Syria to set the whole land of Iudea to sale which was done accordingly Time was when by the Leviticall Law Iewish land though â—old yet at the year of Iubile was to revert to the ancient owners but now the King of heaven granted such a license of Alienation that it was fully and finally passed away from its ancient possessors Philol. To perpetuate thâ— memory of this Roman conquest besides many other monuments Coins were stamped both in gold and silver with the Image of Vespasian and Titus on the one side and on the reverse a woman placed in a pensive posture under a Palme-tree which tree was the Hieroglyphick of Iudea onely differing herein that the Palme-tree the more depressed the more it flourisheth whereas Iudea sunke under the weight of her woes and never again outgrew her miseries And lest men should miss the fancy of the Impress they are guided thereunto by the Motto subscribed Iudaea capta Iudea taken Aleth What â—an on sight hereof would not call to minde the complaint of the Prophet How doth the City sit solitary that was full of people how is she become as a widow she that was great among the nations and Princess among the Provinces how is she become tributary Great no doubt was the grief of the Iews hereat But few drops seasonably showred would preserve the green blade from withering when much rain cannot revive the roots once withered Eyes dry for their sins are vainly wet after their sufferings and a drought in the Spring is not to be repaired by a deluge in the Autumn CHAP. XX. Objections concerning the Description of Mount Libanus answered Philol. YOu make Libanus to be the north-ridge of these hills and Anti-Libanus to be the south part thereof clean contrary unto learned Munster in his description of it Aleth Munster is singular therein unseconded by any other Authors However the controversie is not important as touching Scripture wherein this distinction appears not at all both the north and south chains of those mountains being promiscuously called Libanus in Holy Writ Some humane Authors lay this distinction in point of east and west so great is the difference among them If I may freely profess my opinion herein I conceive that the inhabitants of this mountain termed the place of their own habitation wheresoever they dwelt Libanus and named the mountains of their overthwart neighâ—bours Anti-Libanus as commonly men account their own Religion onely to be Christianity and all such opinions as are opposite to their own Antichristian Philâ—l In your Map generall of old Canaan the Island of Arvad or Aradus is not above forty miles from Zidon which in this Map of mount Libanus are fourscore miles asunder Indeed I have read of a floating Isle in Scotland moving from place to place with the winde and waves But is this Isle of Aradus fixed to no firmer foundations so that it hath swom forty miles more northward in this then in your former draught thereof Aleth May you be pleased to remember that in our instructions premised to the Reader we gave notice that places standing on the Um-stroke or utmost line of any Map denote not their accurate position but situation thereabouts to clear the continuation of the Countrey Such the location of Arvad in our former Map which in this of mount Libanus is placed according to the true distance thereof Philol. You make the River Abanâ— in heathen Authors Chrysorrhoâ—s to sink into the ground without communicating it self to the sea This is out of the common road of nature that this River should be free from paying tribute to the Ocean to which all smaller waters are indebted Yea and Adrichomius no doubt on good authority maketh it when passing from Damâ—scus to run through a plain called Arch abod and so
of more then seven hundred years peaceable possession thereof But this threefold cable was broken with the weight of their sins and so was Israel carried away from their own land to Assyria unto this day Even Lands as well as Goods are moveables though not from their Center from their Owners at leastwise the owners are moveable from their lands § 3. Yet God did not all at once begin and end the captivity of the ten Tribes but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at sundry times and in diverse manners For 1 Pâ—l King of Assyria in the reign of Menahem carried the Reubenites Gadites and half Tribe of Manasseh away to the Cities of the Medes 2 Tiglath-Piâ—â—eser in the days of Pekah transported besides Gilead and the remains of the aforesaid Tribes Galilee namely so much thereof as was in the land of Naphtali unto Assyria 3 Shalmaneser cleared all the rest in the ninth year of Hoshea carrying them away to Halath and Habor by the River Gozan in the Cities of the Medes Probably the second or middle captivity of the Naphtalites afterwards removed themselves into Tartary where Ortelius findes their very name and a City called Tabor Asnoth-Tabor we know was a place in the border of Naphtali imposed no doubt to perpetuate the memory of their native Countrey § 4. Scripture gives us no account what afterwards became of these ten Tribes Onely in Esdras â— book accounted by some as the Apâ—â—rypha of the Apocrypha because never owned for Canonicall either by the Iews Romish Church in generall or Protestant writers we finde them travelling over Euphrates miraculously dried up in their passage towards Arsareth or Tartary a great way namely a journey of a year and an half A long stride indeed and yet might be but little if mending their pace no more then their ancestors did in their passage between Egypt and Canaan But waving Esdras his single testimony these ten Tribes appeare not since in any authenticall relation strange that the posterity of the two Tribes Iudah and Benjamin should be found almost every where whilest the off-spring of the ten Tribes are found no where Thuâ— God hath on them 〈◊〉 that curse which he formerly threatned To scatter them into corners and make the remembrance of them to cease Not that he hath utterly extinguished the being an opinion as unreasonable as uncharitable but hath hitherto concealed the known bâ—ing of so numerous a nation whom we may call the lost-loâ—t sheep of Israel both in respect of their spirituall condition and corporall habitation § 5. Some conceive the modern Amâ—ricans of the Jewish race collecting the same from some resemblances in rites community of customes conformity of clothes fragments of letters foot-steps of knowledge ruines of language though by a casuall coincidence some straggling words of the Athenians may meet in the mouths of the veriest Barbarians and many other Iudaismes amongst the Indians And lately a Jewish Rabbin of Amsterdam tels us that beyond the Cordiller hills and river Maragnon a fair people are found with long beards and rich in clothes living by themselves different in religion from the rest of the Indians whom he will have to be the ten Tribes there remaining in a body together His arguments so prevaile on some formerly contrarily minded as to turn the tyde of their judgment to concur with his with others they make it dead water not to oppose his opinion whilest a third sort listen to his relation as onely priviledged from confutation by the remoteness thereof § 6. For mine own part I behold his report as the Twilight but whether it will prove the morning twilight which will improve it self into full light or that of the evening darkening by degrees into silence and utter obscurity time will discover When the eleven Tribes so virtually may I term them brought news that one lost Tribe Ioseph was found Iacobs heart fainted for he beleeved them not till afterwards he was convinced on clearer evidence How much more then may I be permitted to suspend my judgment when one man brings tydings of ten lost Tribes all found in an instant untill farther proof be made thereof Surely we who now secretly smile at some probable insinuations in his report shall on better assurance have our mouthes filled with laughter not Sarahs laughter of distrust but Abrahams of desire delight and beliefe when his relation shall be confirmed to us from other hands And indeed the messenger deserves to be well paid for his pains who brings clear proof thereof the discovery of the posterity of these ten Tribes being an happy Forerunner and Furtherer of their future conversion CHAP. III. Of the Jews their repossessing their native Countrey § 1. IT is a conceit of the modern Iews that one day they shall return under the conduct of their Messias to the Countrey of Canaan and City of Ierusalem and be re-estated in the full possession thereof If any object that their land now base and barren is not worth the regaining They answer when they shall recover their Countrey the Countrey shall recover its former fruitfulness as if God would effect miracles as fast as man can fancy them With them concur some Protestant Divines maintaining that the Iews shall be restored to a flourishing Common-wealth with the affluence of all outward pomp and pleasure so that they shall fight and conquer Gog and Magog the Turke with many other miraculous achievements One Author so enlargeth the future amplitude of the Jewish State that thereby he occasioned a confining to himself His expressions indiscreetly uttered or uncharitably construed importing that all Christian Princes should surrender their power as homagers to the temporall supreme Empire of the Jewish nation § 2. For the proof of this their position never did the servants of Benhadad more diligently observe or more hastily catch any thing of comfort coming from the mouth of Ahab then the Iews search out and snatch at every gracious promise made to them in the old Testament Such principally as Deut. 30. 3. Then on their repentance the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity and have compassion upon thee and will return and gather thee from all nations whiter the Lord thy God hath scattered thee Isaiah 11. 12. And he shall set up an Ensigne for the nations and shall assemble the out-casts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Iudah from the four corners of the earth Levit. 26. 44. And yet for all that when they be in the land of their enemies I will not cast them away neither will I abhor them to destroy them utterly and to break my covenant with them for I am the Lord their God § 3. This last place the Iews highly price and such of them as live in Germany call it Simiam auream or the Golden Ape And why so Because forsooth in the
Hebrew it begineth with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ve Ape And yet A frivolous conceit on the similitude of sound of two words of different sense in the Hebrew and Dutch tongues Indeed all the loud threatnings in Scripture may more fitly be termed Lions all the meek promises therein Lambes amongst which this cited out of Leviticus is of especiall note whilest it is to be feared such Iews as found hence their temporall kingdome will prove themselves Apish in their ridiculous comment thereupon § 4. But most learned Divines are of a contrary opinion because totall and finall desolation is in Scripture so frequently denounced against their Countrey and Cities therein The Virgin of Israel is fallen she shall NO MORE rise I will NO MORE pity the inhabitants of the land and out of their enemies hand I will NOT deliver them I will love them NO MORE The land shall fall and NOT rise again I will break this people and this City as a Potters vessell which can NOT be made whole again § 5. As for the Scriptures alleadged by the Iews for their temporall restauration to an illustrious condition in their own countrey they have found their full accomplishment in the return of that nation to their own land from the Captivity in Babylon and therefore farther performance of such promises is not to be expected and accordingly it is resolved in their own best Authors Possessionem primam secundam habituri erant possessio autem tertia non erit illis And if any more fulfilling of those promises remaineth behinde it must be made up in the sprirituall conversion of the Iews in Gods due time to the knowledge of Christ and embracing of the Gospell Some of their own writers affirming that all things which relate to the office of their Messiah whom they expect are heavenly and not corporall § 6. The farther prosecution hereof we leave to those Authors who have written large discourses of this subject Onely we will observe a remarkable difference betwixt a place of Scriputre written in the Old alleadged and applyed in the New Testament Amos 9. 11 12. In that day will I raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen and close up the breaches thereof and I will raise up his ruines and I will build it as in the days of old That they may possess the remnant of Edom and of all the heathen which are called by my name saith the Lord that doth this Act. 15. 16 17. After this I will return and I will build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and I will build again the ruines thereof and I will set it up That the residue of men might seek after the Lord and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called saith the Lord who doth all these things Here the Apostle Iames more following the sense then the words of the Prophet as an Expositor rather then Translatour renders the possessing of the remnant of Edom to be by seeking after the Lord by which Analogy we collect that those Topicall promises to the Iews of their conquering and possessing such and such places in and near their own Countrey import onely a spirituall propriety and shall mystically not carnally be accomplished in their sincere conversion to Christ. § 7. More probable therefore it is that the Iews shall not come back to their land but their land shall come back to them I mean those severall places in Europe Asia and Africa wherein they reside shall on their conversion become as comfortable unto them as ever the Land of Canaan was to their Ancestors Forti quaevis terra patria and a contented minde in them shall make any mountain their Olivet river their Iordan field their Carmel forest their Libanus fort their Zion and city their Ierusalem But as for their temporall regaining of their old Countrey in all outward pompe and magnificence even such as are no foes to the Iews welfare but so faâ— friends to their own judgments as not to believe even what they desire till convinced with Scripture or reason account this fancy of the Iews one of the dreams proceeding from the Spirit of slumber wherewith the Apostle affirmeth them to be possessed CHAP. IIII. Of the generall calling of the Jews § 1. BY Iews we understand some left of every Tribe as formerly hath been proved being banished their own Countrey since the death of our Saviour not extending it also as some doe with small probability to the ten Tribes carried captive by Shalmaneâ—er and never since certainly known where existent By calling we intend their reall converting by the word to the knowledge and love of God in Christ. By generall we mean not every individuall Iew whereof some refractary Recusants will ever remain were it but to be foiles to Gods favour in saving the rest but a considerable yea conspicuous number of them And it is a charitable opinion ancient and conformable to Scriptures that in this sense the Iews in Gods due time shall be generally called § 2. Come we now to the places of Scripture alleadged for the proof of this opinion Now as Mesha King of Moab when his Countrey was invaded stood not the choosing of select souldiers for fight but gathered all that were able to put on armour and upwards so authors muster up all places of Scripture which put on any probability to this purpose and can carry any countenance thereunto amongst many others these ensuing Num. 24. 17. Isa. 33. 17. Ezek. 16. 61. Mat. 23. 38. Deut. 32. 43. Isa 41. 15. Ezek. 20. 34. Mat. 24. 23. Psal. 68. 22. Isa. 43. 1. c. Ioel 2. 28. Luk. 21. 24. Psal. 69. 32. 33. Isa. 49. 16 17. Amos 9. 8. Rom. 11. 25. Psal. 110. 2 3. Isa. 51. 1 2. Obad. ver 15. 2 Cor. 3. 16. Cant. 8. 10. Ier. 3. 12. Micah 7. 7. 2 Thes. 2. 8. Isa. 14. 2. Ier. 30. 3. Zeph. 3. 8. Revel 16. 12. Isa. 30. 21 22. Ier. 33. 6. Zech. 2. 9. c. Revel 19. 5. Should these quotations be severally examined many would be found rather to perswade then prove rather to intimate then perswade the matter in hand and that onely to such free and forward apprehensions as are prepossessed with the truth thereof But amongst these and many more numerous Scriptures cited that one place Rom. 11. 25. principally deserveth our serious perusall thereof § 3. The words of the Apostle run thus For I would not brethren that yee should be ignorant of this mystery leâ—t yee should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is hapned to Israel untill the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved c. This is conceived the strongest and clearest Charter for the Iews generall conversion § 4. It will be objected that by all Israel the believing Gentiles are meant for Gods Church
effectuall for others § 5. It is safest for such to insert conditionall clauses in their prayers If it may stand with Gods good will and pleasure used by the best men not to say the best in bests in their petitions Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean Such wary reservations will not be interpreted in the Court of Heaven want of faith but store of humility in such particulars where such persons have no plenary assurance of Gods pleasure Yea grant the worst that God never intended the future conversion of the Iews yet whilst he hath not revealed the contrary as in the case of Samuels mourning for Saul all mens charitable desires herein cannot but be acceptable to the God of heaven O Lord who art righteous in all thy ways and holy in all thy works we acknowledge and admire the justice of thy proceedings in blinding and hardening the Jews as for their manifold impieties so especially for stoning thy Prophets despising thy Word and crucifying the Lord of life For which thou hast caused them according to the prediction of thy Prophet to abide many days without a King and without a Prince and without a Sacrifice and without an Image and without an Ephod and without Teraphim But thou ô Lord how long How ô Lord holy and true How long Lord with thou be angry for ever Thine anger is said to endure but a Moment but Lord how many Millions of Millions of Moments are contained in sixteen hundred years since thou hast first cast off thy first and ancient people the Jews Remember Abraham Isaac and Jacob not for any merit in their persons which was none but for the mercy in thy promises which is infinite so frequently made and so solemnly confirmed unto them But oh remember the Oratour on thy right hand Christ Jesus our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and the Oratour in thine own bosome thine essentiall and innate Clemency and let these prevaile if it may stand with thy good will and pleasure that thy people the Jews may be received into the armes of thy mercy As once by a wilfull and wofull imprecation they drew the guilt of his bloud on them and on their children so by thy free imputation drop the merit of his bloud on them and on their children For the speedying of whose conversion be pleased to compose the many different judgments of Christians into one truth to unite their disagreeing affections in one love that our examples may no longer discourage but invite them to the embracing of the true Religion Oh mollifie the hearts rectifie the wills unvaile the eyes unstop the ears of those thy people whom hitherto thou hast justly hardened Reveale to their understanding those Oracles which thou hast committed to their keeping That so our Saviour who long since hath been a light to lighten the Gentiles may in thy time be the glory of thy people Israel that so there may be one shepheard and one sheepfold Grant this ô Lord for Christ Jesus his sake to whom with Thee and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory now and forever Amen FINIS Here followes the draught of Fragmenta Sacra Necessary directions for the use of the INDEX AN Index is the bag and baggage of a book of more use then honour even such who seemingly slight it secretly using it if not for need or speed of what they desire to finde Our Table for the better expedition is contrived into severall Columnes The first presenting the names of Scripture places within the land of Palestine If any literall difference appear not onely such as betwixt Zidon Kidron in the Old Siden and Cedron in the New Testament but concerning the same place diversly written the discretion of the Reader wil easily reconcile it Immediately after the name the addition of C. donoteth City F. Field L. Land M. Mountain Pl. Plain Ri. River Ro. Rock S. Stone St. Station of the Iews in the Wilderness T. Town V. Vaile We. Well Wi. Wilderness The second Column interprets the Hebrew names into English though great the variety of Authors in rendring their signification This party proceeds from the laxity of Hebrew words admitting sundry senses partly from the vicinity of Primitives so that the same derivative may seem to spring from two roots and be son as directly to his Father so collaterally to his Vncle I mean to words akin and alluding whence the same in probability may be deduced and this subjecteth it to much variety of interpretation In this diversity we have wholly followed Gregorius Gregorii in his Lexicon Sacrum as a work meerly expository of proper nams though some perchance will say that what is the credit of the good wife she bringeth her food from far is sometimes his discredit in his over strained and far fet derivations Expect not here from me after the meaning of the name a reason of the meaning how conformable to the nature of the place Many Townes were called so because they were called so ad placitum of the first imposer Other places when first denominated had just reason of the same but this kernell long since hath been eaten up by all-devouring time leaving nothing thereof but the huske of the empty name to posterity Now to fix the Hebrew names the better in our memory we have here and there as the propriety of our language and commodities of our Countrey will admit inserted some English Townes as Synonyma's and parallel to the Hebrew in signification The fourth Column is reserved for those texts of Scripture wherein is made either the first or most important mention of those plces As the fifth exhibits the Map wherein the same are to be found The sixth tenders to the Reader the Longitudes of most places and the rest may be supplied by proportion But oh the difference of best Authors herein As in populous Cities an houre is lost in measuring of time the lag clock about noon striking the most when the forwardest strikes the fewest so a whole degree of Longitude is swallowed up betwixt the difference of Geographers Yea so great is the uncertainty therein that in most Maps lines of Longitudes as onely for generall direction ne toto coelo errent serve to lace their Maps that they grow not without forme or fashion but are not reducible to an exact agreement More is the certainty of Latitudes the work of the next Column as greater their concernment in our Description because effectuall in the length of the days and heat of the climate in Palestine It is situated for the main betwixt thirty one and thirty four the longest day being fourteen houres and a quarter though the Iews as if it were always Equinoctiall with them divided both day and night evenly into twelve houres so that the two overplus houres and the quarter fell under the nocturnall computation As
o Iudg. 1. 35. p Numb 13. 29. q Gen. 13. 7. r Iosh. 17. 15. * Judg. 1. 4. s Iosh. 9. 7. 11. 19. t Gen. 34. 2. u Iosh. 11. 3. w Iudg. 3. 3. Iosh. 11. 17. x 2. Sam. 5. 6. y Gen. 15. 19. z Iudg. 4. 11. a Psal. 88. 12. b Prov. 27. 1. c Psal. 9. 6. d Bochartus Gâ—og Sac. l. 4. c. 36. p. 347. e Ovid. Met. lib. 3. f Gen. 14. 5. g 2 Sam. 5. 18. h Josh. 17. 15. i Gen. 14. 5. k Deut. 7. 2. l Gen. 37. 15. m Bochartus ut priùs n Ezek. 30. 15 16. o Exod. 16. 1. p Histor. Bel. ver 14. q Josh. 18. 22. r Josh. 14. 14. s Num. 13. 6. t Iosh. 15. 63. u Iudg. 1. 21. w Josh. 16. 2. x Mat. 10. 4. y John 2. 1. z 3 Iohn 1 2. Anciently an Aâ—my of Kings in Canaan a Ioâ—h 12. 9. The 31 kingdomes how dispensed to the severall Tribes b Iosh ibid. Two distinct combinations of thesâ— Kings c Iosh. 10. 3. d Iosh â—â— 1 2 3. Necessary difference betwixt the two maps of Canaan c 1 Cor. 7. 31. f Gen. 1â— 3. a 2 King 17. 6. b 2 King 17. 18. c Isai. 7. 20. d Isai. 14. 23. e 2 Chr. 30. 6. f 2 Chron. 30. 10. 18. g 2 Chr. 35. 18. h Ezra 6. 17. i Ezra 2. 64. k Vbi â—rgo sunt 12000 in iis sanè qui ascenderunt dereliquis tribubus Seder olam Rabba cap. 29. l 1 Chron. 9. 3. m In Animad ver in Euseb. numero 1734. n Mat. 4. 14. c. o Lukâ— 2. 36. p Acts 26. 7. q James 1. 1. r Acts 11. 19. s Levit. 19. 10. t Acts 26. 7. a 1 King 12. 19. b 2 Sam. 24. 9. c Josh. 19. 1. 9. d 1 King 19. 3. e 2 Chr. 11. 8. f 2 Chr. 11. 10. g Ibidem h 2 Chr. 11. 14 i 2 Chr. 11. 16. k Prov. 13. 28. l 1 King 22. 49. m 1 King 21. 13. o Sir Walter Raleigh Hist. World 1 part 2600. cap. 19. Sect. 6. p Asa 2 Chron. 14. 13. Ichosaphat 2 Chron. 20. 23 q 2 King 3. 5. r 2 Chr. 21. 8. s 2 Chr. 13. 19. t 2 Chron. 16. 1. u 2 Chr. 25. 23. w 2 Chr 28. 6. a John 4. 34. Iudea with the appurtenances thereof b Luke 1. 5. c Ezra 5. 8. d Mat. 19. 1. Mark 10. 1. e 1 Macc. 11. 34. Samaria peopled with colonies of Medes c. f So D. Heylyâ— g 2 King 17. 24. h 2 King 17. 27 i 2 King 17. 32. k 2 King 17. 34. The Articles of the Samaritan Creed l John 4. 22. m John 4. 25. n John 4. 12. o Ant. Ind. lib. 11. sub sinem pag. 386. lib. 12. ca. 7. pag. 410. The Antipathy betwixt the Samaritans and Iews p Luke 9. 53. q Iohn 4. 9. r John 8. 48. s Luke 17. 16. t Luke 10. 33. u Galilee twofold why one of them surnamed of the Gentiles w Isa. 9. 1. Mat. 4. 15. x Bell. Ind. li. 3. ca. 4. pag. 833. y Exâ—â—cit 114. 〈◊〉 25. c. 〈◊〉 z 2 King 14. 13. The character of the Galiâ—eans a Iosephus ut priâ—s b Iohn 18. 10. c Luke 13. 1. d Mar. 14. 70. e Iohn 4. 45. The three Provinces how compared s Iosh. 20 7. The originall and nature of Teâ—rarchies a Suidas Stephanus in Thesaâ—ro b 〈◊〉 coâ—ors 〈…〉 c Plinian exercit â—ol 576. Why 〈◊〉 Romans continued Tetrarchies d Luke 3. 1. e Luke 13 1. f Luke 23. 7. Why Abilene mentioned by Saint Luke The inequality of these Tetrarchies in extent and revenue g See â—peeds Maps h De Bâ—ll Iud. lib. 2. cap. 9. The word Tetrarchies variously taken i Salmasius ut prius k Littleâ—on â—ol 135. Cowels interpr in litera C. Idumea Perâ—a Decapolis l Mark 3. 8. m Isay 34. 5. Ezek. 35.15 n Luke 19. 17. o Nat. Histor. lib. 5. c. 18. p Itin ab Achone versus Eurum Hil-countrey and low-countrey in Iudea q Luke 1. 3â— r 2 Chr. 26. 10. s Judg. 1. 9. Petite lands in Palestine t 1 King 4. 10. u 1 King 4. 11. w 1 Sam. 9. 5. x 1 Sam. 13. 17. y Mat. 14. 34. Hebrews distanced places by paces bow-shoots a 2 Sam. 6. 13 b 1 Sam. 10. 23. c Gen. 21. 16. And by days-journeys d Exod. 5. 3. e 2 Sam. 18. 23. f Gen. 28. 10. g Gen. 28. 11. h See the Map of Gâ—d Cubits the current measure of the Hebrews i Esther 7. 9. k Numb 35. 4. Two kinds of Câ—bus a 〈◊〉 41 8. b Cap. 46 v. 2. cited by Arias Montanus de Mensur Sacâ— Furlongs how long c Acts 27. 28. d 2 Mâ—c 12. â— A Râ—man mâ—le made the samâ— wiâ—h 〈◊〉 Hâ—brew Bâ—rah e In mâ—â—suris sacâ—is f Gen 35. 16. 48. 7. g 2 King 5. 19. Hâ—w 〈◊〉 Saviours precept â—s to bâ— understood h Mat. 5. 41. A Sabbath-days journey how much i Acts 1. 12. k John 11. 1â— Whereon Sabbath-days journeys were grounded l Exod. 16. 29. * Josh 3. 4. m Exod. 10. 23. * Mat. 12. 2. Unknown in the age of Elisha a 2 King 4. 22. o Mat. 24. 20. Difference in the longitudes and latitudes p Maâ— 15. 29. q In our answer to the objections of the Map generall of Palesâ—ine The vast diffâ—rence between miles of severall countrâ—ys And betwixt miles of the same countrey a 1 Sam. 11. 11. b Patest Seig. f. 19. c Vadian Phax f. 271. d Jud. 20. 16. e Luke 24. 13. f John 6. 19. Townes on the upstroke how to be accounted What Maps most to be credited in matters of difference How places are known by their sâ—verall characters The bâ—dge of Apocrypha Cities g Rom. 3. 2. h Acts 10. 33. i â—King 14. 13. k 1 Cor. 1â— 11. a Ant. Iud. â—â— 1. cap. 2. b Deut 24. 5. c Psal. 128. 7. a Gen. 35. 22. b Gen. 49. 4. c Numb 16. 1. 26. 5 8 9. d Numb 1. 21. * Numb 26. 7. e Deut. â— 10. f Deut. 2. 9. g Numb 21. 26. h Isa. 15. 16. â—a ler. 4. 8. i Numb 32.1 k 2 King 10. 33. * 2 King 15. 29. l 1 Chr. 5. 6. 26. m 1 Chron. 5. 8. n Isa. 17. 2. o Icr. 48. 20. * Josh. 21 30. 37. p Numb 35. 4. * In our answers to the objections on Reuben q Gen. 49 7. r 2 Chr. 11. 14. s Deut. 2. 26. t Adri. in theat ter sanct fol. 51. u Josh. 20. 8. 21. 36. â— Chron. 6. 78. Ier. 48. 24. x Deut. 19. 8 9. y Numb 35. 15. z Deut. 19. 3. a Num. 35. 27. Rabbi Maimo lb. cap. 8. sec. 11. b Deut. 19. 12. c Numb 35. 17 18 23. d Numb 35. 26 27. e Maimo on Numb ca. 35. ver 2â— ca. 7. Sect. 14. f Exod. 21. 14. 1 King 2. 29. g Iosep. 13. Aati
Scraâ—â— in 〈◊〉 Quaest nona f M. Arthur Iackson in locuÌ„ g Deut. 33. 23. h Iudg. 18. 10. i Ios. de bell Iuda li. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 k Lib. 16. in Syria pa. 755. l Virgill m Mat. 10. 5. n Joh. 4. 4. * Iosh. 19. 33 34. o Ios. de bell Iuda li. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p Sâ—lin Polyhist cap. 35. * Iosh. 3. 15. Ier. 12. 5. 49. 19. c. q Zach. 11. 3. r 2 King 5. 12. s Iudg. 18. 28. t Sir Walter Rawleigh Hist. World u Deut. 33. 22. w Iudg. 18. 30. x Vid. ejus annot in loc praedict y Iudg. 7. 4. z 1 King 12. 29. 13. 33. a Luk. 3. 1. b Mar. 16. 13. Maâ— 8. 27. c Euseb. hist. eccles lib. 7. cap. 14. Niceph. hist. eccles lib. 6. cap. 15. d Mar. 5. 26. Luke 8. 43. e Ier. 50. 44. f Iosh. 11. 1. 4 5 g 2 King 22. 6. h Ier. 38. 5 6. i Gen. 32. 10. * Biddulph's Tâ—av k Biddulph's trav p. 103. l 〈…〉 elucidat Teâ— sanc lib. 7. cap. 10. m Gen. 37. 13. 17. n Bâ—dduâ—ph ut pâ—tus o Hen. Buntâ—u Trav. of Câ—hrist pa. 446. Kinnor in Hebrew a harp p Mat. 9. 1. compared with Mar. 2. 1. q Mat. 4. 13. r Mat. 8. 5. s Mat. 8. 14. t Mark 2. 1. u Mat. 9. 18. Mark 5. 22. w Mat. 11. 23. * â— Hieron de loc Hebr. * Mat. 9. 9. Mar. 2. 14. y Mat. 17. 24. z Luke 8. 3. a Mat. 17. 27. * Mat. 26. 29. b 〈◊〉 ca. 63. Concordance c Iosh. 19. 35. d 1 Kin. 15. 20. Iohn 12. 21. * â—r sishing house rather beâ—ausâ— on the lake this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will bear both e Luke 9. 10. Ioh. 1. 44. f Iohn 1. 44. g Mat. 11. 21. h Mar. 8. 25. i Gen. 2. 7. k Biddulph trav pa. 105. l Tobit 5. 12. m Tobit 5. 13. n Mat. 22. 30. o Sir Walter Rawleigh hist. World lib. 2. 1 part pa. 290. p Cant. 4. 15. q Num. 13. 22. r Num. 34. 8. Iosh. 13. 5. Iud. 3. 3. s Ezek. 47. 20. t Amos. 6. â— u 2 Kiâ—g 17. 30. w Iost 11. 10. z Adricho in theat Ter. sanc in Naphta a Nat. hist. lib. â—â— cap. 2. b Prov. 6. 6. c Camb. Brit. in Cornwall d Ios. de bâ—ll Iuda â—â— 7. c. 24. in latine ca. 13. in greâ—k e Exâ—râ— 15. Diatâ— 20. advers Baronium f 2 Sam. 20. 15. g 2 Sam. 20. 14 h 2 King 15. 29. i 2 Sam. 20. 22 k 1 King 15. 20 l 2 King 15. 29 * Judg. 4. 11. m In his notâ—s on Iudg. 5. 23. n Magell in textum o Pet Martyr Sâ—â—rar major pars comment p Iudg. 5. 23. q Mat. 21. 20. * Iosh. 12. 19. * Iosh. 11. 1. * Mat. 7. 7. * 1 Iâ—â—n 〈◊〉 2. * 2 Sam. 24. 6. * Iudg. 4. 2. r Iudg. 4. 6. s Iosh. 20. 7. t See the description of Kedemoth in the Tribe of Reuben u Iudg. 1. 33. w Iosh. 21. 32. x 1 Chr. 6. 76. * 1 King 4. 15. * Rehoboam Basmah and Tashah 1 King 4. 11. y Gen. 49. 21. z In his comments on the place a Iudg. 5. 1. b See our description of Ephraim Paragraph the second a Numb 1. 41. b Num. 26. 47. c Luke 2. 36. d Gen. 49. 10. e Deut. â—3 24. f Deut. 28. 23. g Odyssâ—o 425. h Iudg. 5. 17. i Iudg. 1. 31. k Iudg. 1. 30. Salt and glasse made in Asher l Iosh. 11. 8. m Plin. 〈◊〉 36. Nat. hist. ca. 2â— n Iosh. 13. 4. o Tyr. li. 19 Bel. Sacr. ca. 11. Vast caves in the land of Canaan p Iosh. 10. 23. q 1 King 18. 13. r 1 Sam. 22. 2. s Iudg. 20. 49. t Gâ—og li. â—6 u Psal. 76. 4. w Mat. 21. 13. The city Enoch wrong placed x Io. Viterbien apud Naucler Vid. Adricho in Asher num 39. y Gen. 417. z Nat. hist. li. 2. cap. 16. a Gen. 43. 33. b Iosh. 15. 1. c 1 Chron. 5. 2. d Iosh. 16. 1. e 1 Chron. 5. 2. f Iosh. 18. 11. g Iosh. 19. 1. 10. 17. h Iosh. 19. 24. i Gen. 30. 13. k Iosh. 19. 32. 40. l Cant. 5. 2. m Iosh. 21. 31. 1 Chr. 6. 75. where it is called Hukok n Iosh. 12. 20. o 1 Chr. 6. 74. * Or white Nilus p Nat. hist. lib. 5. cap. 19. q 1 Sam. 5. 2. r Psal. 115. 7. s 1 King 9. 13. t Numb 13. 21. u Iosh. 21. 31. w Mat. 10. 4. x Iosh. 12. 18. y 1 King 20. 1. z 1 King 20. 10 a 1 King 20. 27 b 1 King 20 30. * 1 King 22. 31. c 1 King 4. 16. d Seâ— Niâ— Fullâ—r Misce l. lib. 4. cap. 6. e Bel. Iud. lib. 2. cap. 9. * Act. 11. 19. 15. 3. a Bochâ— Geog. Sanc. parte 2 dâ— lib. â— cap. 1. pag. 362. b 1 King 5. 6. 18. c Ezek. 27. 3. d Isa. 23. 3. e Ezek. 2â— 3. s Ezek. 27. 5. g Isa. 23. 8. h Isa. 23. 3. i Ezek. 27. 13. Ioel 3. 46. k Ezâ—k 27. 14. l 1 Tim 6. 17. m Ezek. 27. 7. n Ezek. 27. 16. o Ezek. 27. 7. p Gen. 10. 4. q Ezek. 27. 22. Gen. 10. 7. Psal. 72. 10. r Ezek. 27. 19. s Ezek. 27. 20. t Nâ—h 13. 16. u Ezâ—k 27. 22. w Ezek. 27. 16. x Bochar Geog Sanc. lâ—b 3. c. 7. y Ezek. 27. 22 z Iust. l. 18. p. 196. a Ezek. 27. 24. b Ezek. ut pri c Ezek. 27. 15. d Iliad 23. 743. 6. 289. Odys 15. 114. 4. 54. c Iosh. 11. 8. f Ezek. 27. 12. g 13. h Brochart Geog. Sanc. i Ezek. 27. 18. k Ezek. 27. 14. l Ezek. 27. 21. m Ezek. 27. 17. a Ezek. 26. 2. b Isa. 23. 9. c Ezek. 26. 3. * Iosh. 19. 29. d Ezek. 30. 18. e Sir Walter Rawlegh 2 book 76. pag. 285. f Ezek 29. 19. 20 g Esay 23. 15. h Ezek. 26. 14. i Esay 23. 15. k Luke â—6 19. l Acts 12. 20. m 1 King 16. 31. n Esay 23. 8. o Esay 23. 15. Revel 2. 21. p 2 King 9. 35. q Sands Trav. li. 3. p. 216. r Mat. 11. 21. s Luke 11. 27 28. t Bradenback de Teâ— Sanc. Sand. Trav. pag. 217. u Cant. 4. 15. w Gen. 10. 15. x Esay 23. 12. y Ezek. 16 44. z Iudg. 18. 7. a Iosh. 11. 8. 19. 28. b Lib. 16. c Lib. 1. â— 12. d Ezek. 28. 22. e Act. 27. 3. f Mat 15. 21. * Obad. ver 20. g 1 King 17. 9 h Luke 9. 26. i Lib. 1. cap. 4. k King 17. 20 l Judg. 1. 3â— m Stephanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Nic. Full. lib. 4. Misce. cap. n 1 Mac. 12. 4. * Act. 21. 7. o Plin. l. 5. c. 19. p L. 2. Bel. Iud. cap. 9. q Psal. 110. 3. The Armes of Asher r Gen. 49. 20.
1 Thes. 5. 23. James 1. 4. h Revel 3. 16. White their principall colour i Eccles. 9. 8. k Revel 3. 5. Black used by mourners l Psal. 35. 14. m 2 Sam. 19. 24. Chemarims clad in black n Zeph. 1 4. o Hosea 10. 5. p 2 King 23. 5. â—lew more valued then worn by the Iews q Num. 15. 38. r Ezek. 23. 12. s Esther 13. â—5 Scarlet Crimson and Purple t 2 Sam. 1. 24. u 2 Chr. 2. 7. 14. 3. 14. w Jer. 4. 30. x Prov. 31. 22. y Luke 16. 19. Scarlet and Purple how the same z Mat. 27. 28. a Mark 15. 17. b John 19. 5. c If I rightly understand Lazarus Bayâ—â—ùs de Re Vestiaria pag. 173. d Yet found in the Rabbins Iews no fashion mongers e Judg. 14. 19. f Sam. 18. 4. g Act. 9. 39. Linen next their bâ—re bodies a Mark 15. 5â— Next a coat coming down to their feet b 2 Sam. 10. 4. c Maâ—â—ialis d 2 King 4. 29. e Luk. 17. 8. f Exod. 12. 9. g Ephe. 6. 14. h Revel 3. 13. Slaves tucked up their clothes above the thighs i Isa. 47. 2. Jewish coats girdled collar'd and fringed k Mat. 10. 9. l Iob 30. 18. m Num. 15. 38. 39. n Deuâ— 22. 12. The manner and mystery of their â—ringes o Mat. 23. 5. Mark 9. 20. p Maimoni Tom. 1. in Zizith cap. 3. Sect. 9. q Idem ibidem r See Ainsworth on Num 15. 39. Their cloak or mantle s Gen. 38. 25. t Gen. 39. 12. u Iohn 13. 4. w Act. 7. 58. x 2 Tim. 4. 13. What meant by double clothing y Prov. 31. 21. z Mat. 5. 40. Put off both at night a â—ant 5. 3. b Nehem. 4. 23. Cloaks poor mens coverlets c Exod. 22. 26. d Ibid. ver 27. e John 18. 18. Infants swadling clothes a Job 1. 21. b Lam. 2. 22. Ezâ—k 16. 4. c Luke 2. 7. d In his Anatom lib. â— c. 9. Anglia regio perveâ—sam â—anc fasciandi rationem ut plurim â— sequitur quo â—it ut maxima pars hominum â—abe distillationibus ibi conâ—iciatur Afterwards yearly coated e 1 Sam. 2. 19. f Mat. â—1 16. g Prov. 22. 6. Then grown a Stripling h Gen. 37. 3. Becomes a gay Bride-groom i Gen. 24. 7. k 〈◊〉 19. 5. l Isa. 61. 10. After a year is a Souldier m Deut. 24. 5. n King 14. 27. o 1 King 10. 10. p 1 Kin. 22. 34. q 2 Chr. 26. 15. r 1 Sam. 18. 11. s Num. 25. 6. Tâ—e Souldiers bâ—lt or girdle t 1 Sâ—m 18 4. u 2 Sam. 18. 11. w 1 King 2. 5. x 2 Sam. 10. 12. Turnes mourner at ill success y Iob 1. 15. z Isa. 1â— 2. a 1 Kin. 20. 38. b 1 S m. 4 12. c lsa 15. 2. d Miâ—ah 3. 7. e ler. 41. 5. f 2 Sâ—m 15. 30. g 1 King 21. 27. Quickly becoâ—es an â—â—der h 1 Sam. 28. 14. i 2 Sam. 3. 29. k Hosâ—a 4. 12. l Zech. 8. 4. Beddred without heat m 1 King 1. 1. Fishermens coates a John 21. 7. Shepheards garments b 1 Sam. 17. 4â— c Psal. 23. 4. d Job 30. 1. e Jer. 43. 12. Court the Element of Gallants f Mat. 11. 8. g Esther 4. 2. h Gen. 41. 42. Courtiers clothed in white linen i Revel 15. 6. k Josh. 2. 6. l 1 King 10. 28. m Prov. 31. 24. And in silk n In the land of Moriah o Lampridius in eâ—us vita p Procopius q Matth. Parker in his life r Ezck. 16. 10. s James 2. 3. Robes royall of Kings t 1 King 22. 30. u John 19. 2. w Luke 23. 11. x Esther 6. 8. y Mat. 6. 29. Pharisees their habit z Mat. 23. 6. a Mat. 23. 5. b â—piyâ—anius adversus Hareses li. 1. p. 20. Hats on their heads a 1 King 19. 13. b Dan. 3. 21. Antiochus his hats of a different fashion c 2 Mac. 4. 12. d Ibid. ver 13. e Ezâ—k 23. 13. f Jer. 14. 4. g Ezek. 24. 23. Ear-rings doubtfull whether worn by Jewish men h Exod. 32. 2. i Judg. 8. 24. k Gen. 35. 4. l Cant. 1. 10. Onely chaines about their necks m Gen. 24. 22. n Luk. 15. 22. o Jer. 22. 24. Their legs bare * Dan. 3. 21. †Exod. 28. 42. Sandales and shooes p Mark 6. 9. Act. 12. 8. q Exod. 3. 5. r Mat. 3. 11. s Gen. 14. 23. t Mark 1. 7. u Exâ—k 16. 10. w Amos 2. 6. Amos 8. 6. Sexes distinguished by their clothes a Deut. 22. 5. Girles soon starting Virgins b Zech. 8. 5. Maidens kept secret their attire c Judg. 21. 21. d Judg. 11. 34. e 2 Sam. 13. 2. f Ibid. ver 18. * Parag. 7. Iews marry young g 1 Cor. 7. 36. The bravery of Brides h Revel 21. 2. i Jer. 2. 32. k Mat. 22. 12. Wives wore vailes l Gen. 24. 65. m 2 Cor. 11. 10. n Cant. 5. 7. o Exod. 21. 10. p Isa. 4. 1. Ladies wore broidered clothes of two sorts q Psal. 45. 14. r Josh. 7. 21. s Martialis And Queens beaten or wrought gold t Psal. 45. 9. u Ibid. 〈◊〉 13. The sad garments of Widows w Gen. 38. 14. x 2 Sam. 14. 2. y Deut. 24. 17. z Psal. 68. 5. Riot the forerunner of ruine a Dâ—ut 28. 26. b Mat. 5. 35. c sa 3. 18. c. Mundus or a world of womens trinkets d Act. 8. 31. Many of these ornaments temporary for that age e Camd. Remains pag. 196. f Mentloned in the History called Eulogium g Camd. Remains pa. 197. Pride the greatest offence in these ornaments h Gen. 24. 30. i Isa. 3. 16. k Vide Stephanum Nose-jewels how fastened l Exod. 13. 16. Deut. 9. 8. m Isa. 3. 24. Women why subject to baldness n Foeminis nec capillos desâ—uere dixit nec laborare Epist. 95. o Ibidem What meant by burning p 2 Chr. 36. 19. q 1 Cor. 7. 9. Iews generally ill sented r Martialis li. 4. Epigr. 4. s It is learnedly confuted by D. Brown in Vulgar Errors t Psal. 69. 24. Rom. 11. 10. Harlots their bashfull impudency u Gen. 38. 14. w Ibid. 〈◊〉 15. x Prov. 7. 9. Harlots painted themselves y 2 King 9. 22. 30. z Ezek. 23. 40. a Prov. 6. 25. b Jer. 4. 30. Harlots had habits to themselves c Prov. 7. 10. d Stows Survey pag. 553. e Eccles. 7. 26. The dead how ordered among the Iews a Job 1. 28. b Psal. 49. 17. c Luk. 7. 12. Eyes closed washed and embalmed d Gen. 46. 4. e Act. 9. 37. f Gen. 50. 2. 26. * John 19. 40. Winded in linen g Act. 5. 6. h Act. 8. 2. i John 11. 44. k John 20 7. l Ibid. m Gen 50. 26. n Luke 7. 14. o Gen. 23. 19. p Jer. 34 5. q 1 Sam. 31. 12 13. r 2 Chr. 16. 14. s Ezek. 24. 17. t Jer.
John 18. 36. Policy in transplanting conquered people a 2 Kin. 17. 23. Their threefold captivity b 1 Chr. 5. 16. c 2 King 15. 19. d 2 King 15. 29 e 2 King 27. 6. f Josh. 19. 34. Since seemingly utterly lost 2 Eâ—dâ— 13. 40. g See Bâ—llâ—rminâ—s ArgurmeÌ„ts against it h 2 Esdr. 13. 45. i Deut. 32. 26. Supposed by some in America k See the book of my worthy fâ—iend M Tho. Thâ—â—owgood on Iews in America l Manasseh Ben Israel in his book called Spes Israelis Our private opinion o Gen. 45. 26. P Psal. 126. 2. q Gen. 18. 12. r Gen. 17. 17. The Iews fancy of a temporall kingdome a M. Fincâ— in his Book of the calling of the Iews published by Will. Gouge D. D. Anno 1621. for which he was imprisoned Scripture produced for the opinion b 1 King 20 33. The Iews their Golden Apâ— c See 〈◊〉 his common places de Extrâ—mo Iudicio pag. 258. Arguments to the contrary d Amos â— 2. c Zâ—ch 11. 6. f Hosea 9. 15. g 〈…〉 4. 20. h Jer. 19. 1â— Jewish reasons confuted i Seder Olam Talmud k In Kâ—li Iachan cited by Geâ—ard de Extremo Iudicio pag. 259. An eminent instance The Iews their land will come to them l Rom. 11. 8. The question stated a Lib. 1. Severall Scriptures to prove it b 2 King 3. 21. The staple place for the calling of the Iews Objection to the conâ—rary d Gâ—l 3. 7. e Gâ—l 6. 16. f Rom. 2. 29. Answered g 2 Sam. 15. 20. The opinion â—avoured by Fathers School men and modern Divines h In their severall Comments on Rom. 11. 25. i Lib. 2. Quaest. Evangel Quaest 13. k See Gerardi Loc. Com. p. 262. Countenâ—nced by their long continuing an unmixt â—â—â—tlon l M. Mede m Dâ—ut 14. 2. And some Iews converted in all ages n In the preface of his book in Biblioth 〈◊〉 o His Epistle is at the end of Bâ—â—torâ—s Syn. Iud. p Rabbi Sâ—m Marochianus de adâ—entu Messiâ— cap. 6. q Act. 2â— 28. r Amos 2 6. Time of their conversion s Rom. 11. 25. Cruelty conjoyned with confidence Different Dates thereof t Psal. 19. 2. Civill distance in society Cruell usage in point of â—state a D. Heylin in Micro in Palest pag. 570. I think out of St. Edwin Sandys h Mat. 19. 22. c Comd. Brit. in Middlesex pag. 428. * Stowes Survay pag. 435. Offence at Image-worship d Especially on the Burden of Dumâ—â—â— Isa. 21. 11. e Set forth by Daniel Bombâ—â—gius Discords amongst Christians Internall obstacle blindnes f Act. 22. 23. Obstacles easily banished by an Infinite power g 2 Chr. 29. 36. Motives for our prayer for the Iews conversion a Cant. 8. 8 9. Motive from the Iews joy for us b Act. 11. 18. Clearing of the Scâ—iptures Objection against praying for the â— Iews conversion c Rom. 14 23. d James 1. 6. Answer e Mat. 26. 39. f Mar. 8. 2. g 1 Sam. 16. 1. h Psal. 145. 17. A Prayer i Hosea 3. 4. k Psâ—l 6. 6. 3. l Revel 6. 10. m Psal. 79. 5. n Psal. 30. 5. o Rom. 1. 3. p Mat. 27. 25. q Rom. 3. 2. Luk. 2. 32. s John 10. 16. a Prov. 31. 14. b Luke 12. 55. c Isa. 18. 4. d Psal. 147. 1â— e 1 Sam. 17. 42. 2 Sam. 13. 1. 2 Sam. 14. 27. 1 King 1. 4. f See our first Book chap. 15. English resemblances a Stony Stratford Buckingham Shâ—re b Thorny-Aâ—by Cambâ—â—dg sh. c 〈…〉 d Troublefield or 〈◊〉 in Noâ—mandy e From such colour Rutland Red born in 〈…〉 in Surry c. * Redman Haâ—shâ—â— f 〈…〉 g Okcham in Rutland Okeley Northamp h 〈…〉 a Highworth Wil. sh. Higham Northamptonshire b Vppingham Rutland sh. a Ramsâ—y Huntington shire b Wells in Sommerset shire c Aust-pasage Glost. shire d Pic-nest Waltham Abbey Essex e Lambeth Surrâ—y * Fish house in the Isle of Weight f Figâ—â—ce Court in the Temple g Godstow in Oxfordshire h Deeping Linc. sh. i Breadstreet Lond. k 〈◊〉 Wilt. sh. l Sunning in Ba ksh and Sunbury Middlesex m Applc shaw Hamp sh. n Maidweâ— Northamp a Ro. kley in Yoâ—ksh * Shine in Surrey b Castleton in Yorksh. c Wepham Sussex d Harpham Harpley Norfolk e Honiton Devonsh * FighildoÌ„ Wiltsh a Golden-grove in carmar sh b Helpston Northamp shire c Kineton Warwic sh. d The Calf in the Isle of Man e Oakehampton Devon Oakchingham Barkshire f Ramton Camb. sh. a Hilton Castle B. of Durham b Merch County in Scotland c Walden Essex d Oxney Kent e Totterridge Midle sex f Rollewright Oxford sh. g Dogdikâ—seâ—â—y Liâ—colshire h Whelpston Yorkshire a Grace-Dieu Lecest. shire b Goatham Nott sh. c Foxton in Camb sh. d Horsâ—ley Daâ—by sh. e Milkstreet London f Sunburn Hamâ—â—sh a Driâ—ield in Yoâ—kshire b Snailwell Cambâ— sh. Lizaâ—dspoint in Cornwall a Drisâ—oke Rutland b Wrangle 〈◊〉 c Reston Lincolâ—shire d 〈◊〉 Worcestersh e Wootton NorthaÌ„psh Woodborrough Nottinghamsh a Sundon 〈◊〉 b Godston Sâ—â—â—ey c Holy IstaÌ„d in Noâ—thuÌ„berland d The Pavement in York e Hornchurch Essex f Blackwal Middlesex Saddington Lecestosh g Easâ—on Northampt. shire * Holy head in Anglâ—sey h Blackwater Hamsh i 〈◊〉 Strâ—etley k Hardwick 〈◊〉 shire l Wallington Surry m Whiteby Yorkshire n Walkhaâ—stead Surry Walkhampton Devon o Lion-key London * Fairfield Glocâ—stersh a Nutwell Devon Nuthall Notting sh. b Bitteâ—ing Norâ—olk c Stanford in the Cave NorthaÌ„psh d Watecrton Walâ—sham Yorkshiâ—e e Bridlington Yorksh. Askeham Yorkshire a a Watchingwy Isle of Weight b Belvoire Lincolnsh c Maidston Kent d Brightsâ—ow Somersetsh e Beauliâ—â— Hamsh f Ditton Camb. sh. Botlesham Cambr. sh. g Greatbreach Kent a Greatton Noâ—thampâ—shire b Vpton Vpham Hamsh Vpburn Busking sh. Vphall Hartâ—â—sâ— Hie-gate Midlesex c Broadlands Hamshire d Broadway Somerset sh. e Highley Devonsh e Rockingham Northamp sh. f Thornâ—augh Northamp sh. a Hungcrâ—ord Barksh b Foxholes Darbysh Foxton B. of Durham c Brierley Heâ—â—fordsh d Gatelâ—y Norfolk Yatton somersâ—tsh e Coâ—iston in Lancast sh. f Grays Oxford sh. g Boughton NorthaÌ„psh h Broadchalk Wilâ—sh i The Vine Hamsh k Boothby in Lincolâ—sh a Newland Essex b Appleford Barksh c 〈◊〉 d Laâ—born Baâ—ksh e Beaufield Kent f Midlâ—ton Oxfordsh g Rochel in France h Bedâ—oâ—d i Melton Lâ—câ—stersh k Sl adwell nigh London a Wooltoâ— Doâ—seâ—sh b Huntington c Budleigh castle Devon Budwoâ—th Châ—shire d Littleton Staffordsh Little port Camb sh. e Burton Lazers Lecestersh a 1 Sam. 27. 9.