and laid it forth in an upper chamber to be anointed they sent for Peter to come unto them who being come â— Act. 9. they had him up to the Chamber where the dead Corpse lay where the Widows came about him weeping and laying forth the Coats and other Garments which she had prepared in her life time for the poor before him Then Peter put them all forth of the Chamber And being alone kneeled down and prayed and turning him to the body said Tabitha arise at the which word she arose and looked upon Peter who then gave her his hand and lift her up and called the Saints and Widows and restored Dorcas unto them alive Dorccas a Do. Dositheus 2 Mac. 12. was a certain Noble Captain with Judas Machabeus who by the help of Sosipater another Captain defended the Jews manfully against Timotheus and slew Ten Thousand of his Men which were left in a strong hold and after that took Timothy himself in Battel and notwithstanding let him go again upon his promise made unto them that he would restore all the Jews home again which he had in Prison thinking that the best and most surest way to save the Lives of their Captive brethren After this it chanced that Dositheus a mighty Man on Horseback encountred with Gorgias another great Captain and enemy of the Jews and took him intending to have carried him away alive But an Horseman of Thracia fell upon him and smote off his Arm and so Gorgias escaped and fled into Moresa Dositheus Given to God Drusilla Act. 24.24 was a Jew and Wife to Felix by whose counsel saith the Note in Geneva's Bible he called for Paul and heard him of the Faith in Christ Drusilla Bedewed or sprinkled with bloud E. EBER Gen. 10.21.11.14 c. was the Son of Salah of the Generation of Shem. He had two Sons the one Peleg in whose days the Earth was divided and the other Joktan This Eber lived before and after he begat Peleg 464. years Eber Passing or passage Of Eber came the Ebrews which were afterward called Israelites of Israel which was Jacob and Jews of Juda because of the excellency of that Tribe Elah â— King 16.8 the Son of Baasha began his reign over Israel in the xxvi year of Asa King of Juda and walked in all the wicked ways of his Father before him In the second year of his reign or thereabout Zimri his servant and Captain of his Chariots conspired against him and finding him drunken in the house of * Drinking as some say till he was drunken in the Temple of Arza the Idol by his House in Tirza Arza the King's Steward he fell upon him and slew him Ela an Oke Elam was the Son of Shem. Elam a young Man 1 Chron. 1.17 or he that is hid or the world Eleazar the Son of Aaron Exod. 6.25 Num. 20.25 c. was constituted High Priest after the decease of his Father and so was the second High Priest over the Jews He took to Wife one of the Daughters of Putiel Josh 24.33 which bare him a Son called Phinehas Finally he dyed and was buried in a Hill that pertained to Phinehas his Son which Hill was given him in Mount Ephraim Eleazar the help of God Eleazar the Son of Saura 1 Mac. 6. was a worthy Captain with Judas Machabeus what time as Antiochus Eupator came into Jewry with a mighty strong Army both of Men and Elephants which Beasts being xxxii in number were strongly fenced and surely harnessed and well exercised to Battel And when the Hosts were joyned together Eleazar beholding one of the Elephants deckt with royal Harness and far excelling all the other Beasts he supposed the King himself had been upon him wherefore he jeoparded himself to deliver his People and with a good courage ran to the Elephant in the middest of the Host slaying all about him as he went and at last came unto the Beast and gat himself under his feet and smote him in the belly and slew the Elephant The weight of whose dead body crushed Eleazar in pieces and so he dyed Eleazar 2 Mac. 6. was one of the principal Scribes among the Jews and an aged Man of a well favoured countenance who when that cruel King Antiochus had sent his Commissioners to compel the Jews to transgress the Laws of their God was constrained to gape with open mouth and to eat Swines slesh but he desiring rather to dye grievously than to live with hatred offered himself willingly to the torment and spit it out Then they that had the charge of the Kings wicked act for the old friendship of the Man took him aside privily and prayed him that he would take such flesh as was lawful to eat and dissemble as though he had eaten even of the things appointed by the King even the flesh of the Sacrifice that in so doing he might be delivered from death and that for the old friendship that was among them he would receive this favour But he began to consider discreetly and as became his age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honor of his gray hairs whereunto he was come and his most honest conversation from his childhood but chiefly the holy Law made and given by God therefore he answered them accordingly and willed them straightways to send him to the grave for it becometh not our age said he to dissemble whereby many young Persons might think that Eleazar being 90. years old were now gone to another manner of life And so thorow mine hypocrisie for a little time of a transitory life they might be deceived by me and I should procure malediction and reproach to mine old age For though I were now delivered from the torments of Men yet could I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead Wherefore I will now change this life manfully and will shew my self such as mine age requireth And so will leave a notable example for such as be young to die willingly couragiously for the honorable holy laws and when he had said these words immediately he went to torment And as he was ready to give up the ghost he sighed and said The Lord that hath the holy knowledge knoweth manifestly that whereas I might have been delivered from death I am scourged and suffer these sore pains of my Body but in my mind I suffer them gladly for his religion Thus this Man ended his life leaving his death for an example of a noble courage and a memorial of vertue not only unto young Men but unto all his Nation Eli was the next Judge after Sampson 1 Sam. 1.9.2.12.27 c. that judged Israel and the High-Priest descended from Aaron He had two Sons the one called Hophni the other Phinehas which were so wicked that every Man complained of them And because that Eli did not punish them according to their deserts God sent him word by
the Jews lay in great fear of him and his Power he was there by God's provision slain by the hands of an holy Woman called Judith Read her story Holofernes A stout and valiant Captain Hophni and Yhinchas the two Sons of Eli 1 Sam. 2 12-22 c. were the Lords Priests and became so wicked that they abused the Women that waited at the Door of the Tabernacle of witness And whereas the Law was that whensoever any Man did make any offering the Priests boy should come while the flesh was a seething and not before with a Flesh-hook in his hand having three teeth which he should thrust into the Pan Kettle or whatsoever Vessel it were and so much as the Flesh-hook brought up was the Priests part and no more yet notwithstanding this Law the Priest's boy would come before the Flesh was sod and require flesh to rost for the Priest and say unto him that made the offering that his Master would have no sod flesh but raw And if he would not give it him then would the Boy take it by violence By the which abusing of the Law the Lord's offering was had in such contempt among the People that they began to abhor it Wherefore the Lord plagued the Sons of Eli permitting the Philistines to slay them both in one day 4. cap. Hophni a Fist or as much as one may comprehend between his thumb and two fingers or covering Hoshea 2 King 15.30.17 cap. the Son of Elah by treason slew Pekah the Son of Remaliah King of Israel and possessed his place and began his Reign in the XII year of Ahaz King of Juda This was the last King that raigned over Israel and did evil in the sight of the Lord but not so evil as other Kings before him He denied to pay Tribute to the Assyrians and sent to the King of Egypt to have his aid against them wherefore Salmanasar King of Assyria came against Hoshea and besieged him in Samaria three years and in the end wan the City destroyed his Kingdom and led Hoshea and all his People captive into Assyria Thus was Israel now delivered into the hands of spoilers for their wickedness which the Lord had long suffered Hoshea a Saviour or health Huldah 2 King 22.14 the Wife of Shallum was a Prophetess dwelling in Jerusalem in a place called the house of doctrine To whom Josiah King of Juda sent certain Messengers to inquire of the Lord for him and his People concerning the Book of the Law which was found in the Temple and read before him and when they had done their message the Prophetess made answer saying Go and tell the man that sent you to me Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring evil upon this place and upon the Inhabitants thereof even all the words of the Book which the King of Juda hath read because they have forsaken me and have burnt Incense to other Gods to anger me with all the works of their hands My wrath also shall be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched But to the King of Juda who sent you to inquire of the Lord so shall ye say unto him Thus saith the Lord God of Israel the words that thou hast heard shall come to pass But because that thine heart did melt and thou hast humbled thy self before the Lord when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the Inhabitants of the same how they should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy Cloaths and wept before me I have also heard it saith the Lord. Behold therefore I will gather thee unto thy Fathers and thou shalt be put in thy Grave in peace and thine eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place And so the Messengers departed and told the King Huldah the World or a Weesel Hur came of the Tribe of Juda Exod. 17.10.24.14.31.2 and * This is not that Hur which came of the Kinred of Calcb although they came both of the Tribe of Juda but another of the same name Lyra upon 1 Chron. 2. This Hur was Husband to Miriam Sister to Moses was one of the principal Fathers and Rulers under Moses He and Aaron stayed up the hands of Moses while the Children of Israel fought with King Amalek And was also appointed with Aaron afterward to hear and determine all matters of controversie among the People till Moses came down from the Mount again whereunto he was ascended Hur Liberty whiteness or a hole Hushai the Arachite was ‖ 2 Sam. 15.32.16.16 Man of great wisdome and one of David's chief Counsellers his assured friend as it well appeared when he came unto him being fled from Absalom his Son with his Cloaths rent and ashes upon his Head declaring thereby the great sorrow and heaviness he was in to see his Lord and Master in that case by whose coming David was greatly comforted But forasmuch as he thought he should do him more pleasure otherwise than to go with him now he said Oh my most dear friend Hushai if thou dost go with me now at this time thou shalt be but a burthen unto me But if thou wilt return into Jerusalem and say unto Absalom I will be thy servant O King and serve thee as I have done thy Father thou mayst for my sake destroy the counsel of Achitophel and thereby do me great pleasure So Hushai gat him to Absalom saying God save the King God save the King What quoth Absalom is this the kindness thou shewest to thy friend How chanceth it that thou wentest not with him Nay said Hushai but whom the Lord and this People and all the Men of Israel hath chosen his will I be and with him will I dwell to whom shall I do service but to his Son as I served before thy Father so will I serve thee Then when Absalom had retained Hushai to be of his Counsel he said unto him Achitophel hath counselled thus and thus to do shall we do thereafter or not Hushai answered the Counsel that Achitophel hath given is not good at this time For said he thou knowest thy Father and his Men how they be strong and now being chafed in their minds are even as a Bear robbed of her Whelps in the Field And also thy Father is a Man practised in War and maketh no tarrying with the People Behold he lurketh now in some Cave or in some other strong place and though some of his Men be overthrown at the first brunt it will be said that thy People is overthrown and so shall the best Men thou hast whose hearts are as the hearts of Lyons shrink thereat For all Israel knoweth thy Father to be a Man of great might and his Warriors stout Men. Therefore my counsel is that all Israel be gathered together unto thee from Dan to Beersheba which are in number as the Sand of the Sea And that thou go to Battel in
that thou art Christ the Son of God which should come into the World After this when Jesus came to the place where Lazarus was buried and had commanded the stone of his Grave to be taken away Martha said Lord by this time he stinketh for he hath been dead four days Said not I unto thee quoth Jesus that if thou didst believe thou shouldst see the glory of God And so she saw her Brother Lazarus restored from death to life to the glory of God and her great comfort Martha Bitter or Provoking Mattathias the Son of Simeon the Priest 1 Mac. 2. which was of the stock and kinred of Joaris had five valiant Men to his Sons and dwelt in Modin remaining stedfast in the Laws of God notwithstanding the great calamities that were come upon the People of Juda and Jerusalem for the which Mattathias made piteous lamentation crying upon God to strengthen him and his Sons against the Heathen that had so wasted the People and defiled his Sanctuary And while he and his Sons were thus mourning in Sackcloth for the destruction of the holy City Antiochus the King sent certain Commissioners to the City of Modin to compel such Jews as were fled thither to forsake their own Laws and to serve the Idols of the Heathen Who after they had turned the heart of many spake to Mattathias on this wise Thou art said they a Noble man of high reputation and great in this City and hast many Children and Brethren Come thou first of all and fulfil the King's commandment like as the Heathen have done and the Men of Juda with such as remain at Jerusalem and so shalt thou and thy Sons be in favour with the King and greatly enriched Nay said Mattathias Though all Nations under the King's Dominion fall away every Man from the Law of their Fathers yet will I my Sons and my Brethren walk in the Laws of our Fathers God forbid we should forsake the Laws and Ordinances of God we will not for no Man's pleasure transgress our Religion or break the Statutes of our Law And as he had spoken these words a certain Jew came forth and openly in the sight of all Men did sacrifice unto the Idols upon the Altar in the City of Modin according to the King's commandment which thing so grieved Mattathias that for very Zeal he had to the Laws of God he started him up and ran upon the Jew and killed both him the Commissioner that compelled him so to do and ran his way crying thorow the City and saying to the People whosoever is fervent in the Law and will keep and stand by the Covenant let him follow me So he and his Sons fled into the Mountains and many other godly Men with their Wives and Children and all that they had got them into the Wilderness And being there the Heathen went against them on the Sabbath day and slew Man Woman and Child for on that day the Jews would make no resistance but would dye in their innocency Then Mattathias hearing of this was very sorry and counselling with his friends said If we do as our Brethren have done and do not fight for our Lives and our Laws the Heathen will soon root us all out of the Earth whereupon they concluded that whosoever did bid them battel on the Sabbath day that they would rather manfully fight for their Laws than dye as their Brethren had done before Upon the which conclusion came the whole Synagogue of the Jews with all such as were fled for Persecution to Mattathias And being gathered together they were so great an Host that they feared not their enemies but fell upon them and slew a great number And by their force and strength they went about the Coasts of Israel and destroyed the Altars and circumcised their Children and kept their Laws in spight of them all Finally when the time of his death drew nigh he called all his Sons before him exhorting them to prefer the Laws and wealth of their Countrey before their own Lives and ordained Simon his eldest Son to be as it were their Father and Judas Machabeus to be their Captain and so giving them his blessing he dyed and was buried in his Fathers Sepulchre in the City of Modin Mattathias the gift of the Lord. Mattathias the Son of Simon 1 Mac. 16. was killed with his Father at a Banquet which Ptolomy his Brother-in-law had prepared for them in a Castle of his called Doche. Mathattias the Son of Absalemus stuck by Jonathas 1 Mac. 11. when all his Men forsook him and fled the Field save Judas the Son of Galphi Matthew the Evangelist Read the Story of Levi. Matthew Given Matthias Act. 1.23 was a faithful Disciple of Christ and one that had his conversation always among the Apostles even from the beginning of Christ's preaching to the last end And now for as much as Judas the Traytor was fallen from Christ he with another godly Man called Joseph or Barsabas was appointed to stand in election which of them two should succeed in the place of Judas And when the Apostles had made their prayers to God Lots and given forth their lots the lot fell on Matthias and so he was counted with the eleven Apostles Matthias the Lords Gift Methuselah Gen. 5.21 c. was the Son of Henoch and lived an hundred eighty and seven years and begot Lamech And after that he lived seven hundred and eighty two years and begot Sons and Daughters and when he had lived in all nine hundred three-score and nine years he died Methuselah be sent his death or the weapons of his death Melchisedek Gen. 14.18 Heb. 7.1 is called King of Salem and the High Priest of the most High God When Abraham had rescued Lot his Nephew out of the hands of the Assyrians and was returned from the slaughter of the Kings Melchisedek met him with Bread and Wine to refresh Abraham and his Souldiers and blessed him saying Blessed be Abraham of the most High God possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be the most High God which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand And Abraham gave him tythes of all things The Scripture reporteth Melchisedek to be without Father without Mother without Kin and hath neither beginning of his days neither yet end of his life but is likened unto the Son of God and continueth a Priest for ever Melchisedek King of Righteousness Menelaus 2 Mac. 4. was Brother to Simon and Lysimachus two as ungracious as himself This ambitious Man by deceit got the High-Priest's Office from Jason on this wise When that good and godly Man Onias had the superiority Jason his Brother found the means to corrupt Antiochus the King with Money and so got the Office out of his Brother's hands And when the time came that Jason should pay the Money to Antiochus he sent it by the hand of Menelaus in whom he had great confidence But when
second year of his reign as he was laying siege to a City of the Philistines called Gibbethon Baasha conspired against him and slew him Taking upon him to reign in his stead Nadab a Prince or liberal Nahash 1 Sam. 11. Judg 11. cap. was King of the Ammonites And as his Predecessors afore time had made a claim to the Land of Israel so he now purposing the same went and besieged the City of Jabesh in Gilead And when the Men of Jabesh perceived themselves in great danger of their lives they desired the King to make a covenant with them and they would be his Servants Then said Nahash If ye will suffer me to thrust out all your right eyes to bring Israel to shame I shall be content to make peace with you Then said they Give us respite seven days and if none do come to help us in that space we will come out unto thee Then Nahash thinking that none durst come to aid them against him granted their request Upon the which they sent Messengers into all the Coasts of Israel which News was so heavy tidings to them that they fell a weeping And as they were mourning and lamenting their case it chanced Saul by the providence of God to come out of the Field following the Cattel And beholding the People what a do they made he demanded wherefore they mourned And when they had told him the tidings of the Men of Jabesh his heart was so moved by the spirit of God that he took out two of his Oxen and hewed them in pieces and sent them thorow all the Coasts of Israel saying whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and Samuel so shall his Oxen be served And the People were stricken in such a fear that they came out to Saul as they had been but one Man to the number of three hundred thousand of Israel beside thirty thousand of the Men of Judah And then Saul sent word by the Messengers to the Men of Jabesh that the next morrow they should have help They being glad of that sent word unto Nahash saying To morrow we will come forth unto you and ye shall do unto us whatsoever pleaseth you And so on the morrow Saul came upon the Ammonites and slew them Nahash a Snake or Serpent or guessing or divining Nahor when he was nine and twenty years of age Gen. 11.24 25. begot Terah And lived after he had begotten him an hundred and twenty years Nahor Hoarse or Angry Naomi was the Wife of a certain Man called Elimelech Ruth 1. cap. dwelling in the Land of Juda in a City called Bethlehem And because of the present Dearth which was over all the Land of Juda She went with her Husband and her two Sons into the Countrey of Moab to sojourn Where in process her Husband died And her two Sons being married to two of the Moabitish Damosels died there also So that Naomi which had dwelt in the Land of Moab ten years was left desolate both of her Husband and of her Sons Then Naomi hearing how the Lord had visited her Countrey again with plenty returned from Moab homewards again her two daughters-in-Daughters-in-law bringing her on the way And when she saw they had gone a good way with her and coveted not to return she said unto them Go now my Daughters and return each of you unto your Mothers House and the Lord deal as kindly with you as ye have dealt with the dead and with me And the Lord give you that ye may find rest either of you in the House of her Husband and so kissed them to have bid them farewel But when she saw that they would not depart from her she said unto them again Return my Daughters I pray you for what cause will ye go with me Are there any more children within my womb to be your husbands Turn again therefore I say for I am too old to have an Husband And if I did take one this Night and had already born Children would ye tarry for them till they were grown and refrain from taking Husbands so long Not so my Daughters it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me Then they wept all together and Orpha kissed her Mother-in-law and returned into her own Land again but Ruth abode still And so when they came to Bethlehem Juda which was about the beginning of Barley-harvest the Women which saw Naomi said Is not this Naomi Nay said she call me not Naomi which is as much to say as beautiful but call me Mara that is to say bitter for the Almighty God hath made me very bitter I went out full and the Lord hath brought me again empty why then call ye me Naomi seeing the Lord hath humbled me and the Almighty hath brought me unto adversity And so Naomi remained in Bethlehem Juda where ere it were long God gave her a Son by the Womb of Ruth her Daughter-in law who was married to Boaz a Kinsman of Naomi's which Child being born the Women said unto Naomi Blessed be the Lord the which hath not left thee without a Kinsman to have a name in Israel and that shall bring thy life again and cherish thine old age for thy Daughter-in-law which loveth thee hath born unto him and she is better unto thee than seven Sons And Naomi took the Child and laid it in her Lap and became Nurse unto it being glad that a Son was born unto her in her old days Naomi Fair or comely or provoking much Nathan 2 Sam. 7.4 c. the Prophet at what time King David was minded to build God an House to dwell in was sent of the Lord to forbid him to meddle with it for Solomon his Son should do it Again at what time David had committed Adultery with Uriah's Wife Nathan came to him and said 12. cap. There were two Men in one City the one Rich and the other Poor The rich man had exceeding many Sheep and Oxen but the poor had none at all save one little Sheep which he had bought and nourished up And it grew up with him and with his Children also and did eat of his own Meat and drank of his own Cup and slept in his bosome and was unto him as his Daughter Now there came a stranger unto the rich man who refused to take of his own Sheep and Oxen to dress for the stranger but took the poor Man's sheep and dressed it for the Man that was come to him Then David was exceeding wroth with the Man and said As surely as the Lord liveth he that hath done this thing shall surely dye He shall restore the Lamb four-fold because he did it without pity Then said the Prophet Thou art the Man Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee King over Israel and delivered thee out of the hands of Saul and gave thee thy Lord's house and his Wives into thy bosome and gave thee the house
by drinking out of a cup made of an horses hoof supposed to be the device of Aristotle sometime his Master and Antipater Lieutenant of Macedonia the Son of Philip King of Macedonia slew Darius King of the Persians and Medes and conquered the most part of all the World in less than twelve years space whereof he became so proud that God was displeased with him And being visited with sickness so sore that he must needs die he called all his Lords and Princes before him and divided his kingdom among them So that they after his death were crowned and reigned as Kings every one severally in his own Dominion as was to them appointed He reigned xii years Alexander An aider or a helper manly or very valiant Alexander 1 Mac. 10. the Son of Noble Antiochus took the City of Ptolemais and after that moved War against Demetrius who to prevent Alexander sent Ambassadours to Jonathas Governour of the Jewes to have his friendship promising him as many fair and large offers as he could devise But forasmuch as Jonathas had experience of his deceitful dealings and how cruel an Enemy he had always been unto the Jews Nation he refused the offer of Demetrius and joyned in League with Alexander knowing him to be a faithful Prince and ever his friend And so Alexander having the Jews aid joyned Battail with Demetrius in the which conflict Alexander slew Demetrius and overcame all his Host Now when Alexander had conquered the Land and was set in the Throne of his Progenitors a marriage was concluded between Him and Cleopatra the Daughter of Ptolemy King of Egypt which was finished at the City of Ptolemais at the which triumph Alexander made Jonathas a Duke and Partner of his Dominion and after that for his worthiness gave him the City of Accaron 11 cap. Alexander now lying at Antioch and hearing how the Cilicians had rebelled against him marched toward them with a great power to suppress the Rebellion And being there busied with his enemies Ptolomy in the mean season defeated him of his kingdom and took his Daughter Cleopatra and gave her to Demetrius the Son of Demetrius in marriage Alexander hearing of this returned home with all his Host but Ptolomy being too strong for him chased Alexander out of his Realm who for succour fled into Arabia where the King of that Land against all Law of Arms smote off his head and sent it to Ptolomy for a present Alexander a Jew born and a Ruler at Ephesus Act. 19. what time as Demetrius the Silversmith moved Sedition in the City against Paul for the Goddess Diana was in the rage drawn out of the Common Hall and going forward beckoned with his hand to have spoken but till the Town-Clark had ceased the noise which lasted two hours he could not be heard And then to pacifie the people more by worldly wisdom than for any respect he had to Religion he said Ye Men of Ephesus what Man is he that knoweth not how that the City of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Goddess Diana and of the Image which came from Jupiter Seeing then that no Man gain sayeth it ye ought to be content and to do nothing rashly For ye have brought hither these Men which are neither robbers of Churches neither yet despisers of your Goddess Wherefore if Demetrius and the Crafts-men which are with him have any matter against any Man the Law is open and there are Rulers let them accuse one another But if ye go about any other thing it may be determined in a lawful Assembly For we are in jeopardy to be accused of this days uproar forasmuch as there is no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse of People And when he had thus spoken each Man departed Alexander the Coppersmith 1 Tim. 1. forsook the faith and became such an Enemy unto the Gospel 2 Tim. 4. that he withstood Paul's preaching and did him much displeasure for the which Paul delivered him unto Satan that is excommunicated him out of the Church desiring the Lord to reward him as he had deserved Alcimus was a Jew born 1 Mac. 7. and come of the Seed of Aaron who notwithstanding became so wicked a Man that he forsook the Laws of his own Nation to maintain the abominations of the Heathen And for the hatred he bare to Machabeus and the Jews he took unto him a sort of loofe and ungodly Persons and went to Demetrius unto whom he made a grievous complaint upon Judas Machabeus seigning that he had slain all the King's friends and driven him and his company out of their own Land wherefore he willed Demetrius to choose out some Noble Captain to go and avenge the King's quarrel on Judas Upon the which complaint of Alcimus the King sent Bachides against Judas and made Alcimus the High-Priest who was such an enemy unto the Jews as the like was not among the Heathen for all his study was how he might either by word or deed work their utter confusion And finally to manifest his great malice towards his own Country-men and the Laws of God he commanded the Walls of the inmost Sanctuary with the Monuments of the Prophets to be cast down and destroyed But as this wicked Apostate went about his devilish purpose the hand of God fell upon him and smote him with such an incurable Palsie that his mouth was shut up and so like a miserable wretch he dyed Alcimus Strong Amaleh was the Son of Eliphaz the Son of Esau Gen. 36. born unto him of Thymna his Concubine of whom came the Kinred of the Amalekites Exod. 17. This King when Moses had brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt and were come into the Wilderness of Raphidim where they both lacked water and were wearied with their long journey would not suffer them to pass quietly thorow his Land but came forth with weapon and waged Battel against them In the which Battel Joshua guided the Host of Israel while Moses went to pray And so long as Moses held up his hands and prayed so long had Israel the better but when he let them fall Amalek had the better Then Aaron and Hur perceiving Moses hands to be weary gat them up to Moses and staid his hands the one on the one side and the other on the other side so long till Joshua had discomfited Amalek with all his Host And for this cruelty of Amalek God sware unto Moses that he would utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under Heaven 1 Sam. 15. Which promise he performed in the days of King Saul Amalek a licking people Aman look Haman Amasa was the Son of Jether and Abigail 2 Sam. 17. David's sister was his Mother This Amasa what time as Absalom rose against his Father David was made Captain over Absalom's Host and after the death of Absalom David received him to favour 19. c. swearing he should
Maid His Brother's name of Father and Mother was Nephtali Jacob before his death prophesied of him saying Dan shall judge his People Gen. 49.16 c. as one of the Tribes of Israel Dan shall be a Serpent by the way and an Adder by the path biting the Horse heels so that his Rider shall fall backward O Lord Num. 1.38 39. I have waited for thy salvation The generation of the Danites grew to such a number that the portion which Joshua gave them was not sufficient for all their Tribe wherefore they went out to seek them an inheritance to dwell in And coming to the quiet City of Laish which mistrusted nothing they fell upon it killed the People Joshua 19 47. Judg. 18. cap. and burnt the City And in the place thereof they built themselves another City and called it Dan. And set up the Idols therein which they had taken from Micah and worshipped them and so continued in their Idolatry till the Ark of God was taken 1 Sam. 4. Dan Judging or judgment Daniel was an holy Prophet of the Tribe of Juda Dan. 1. cap. who being a comely stripling without blemish and of good erudition was among others of the children of Israel brought to Babylon and there found at the Kings charges to learning and to profit in the Chaldee Tongue and for the better nourishing and bringing up of these young striplings he appointed to them for three years space a portion of his own meat every day and of his own Wine which he drank to the intent that by their good treatment and learning of his religion they might rather favour him than the Jews and to be able to serve him as Governours in their Land But Daniel being determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the King's meat and drink desired his Keeper that he and his three companions to wit Ananias Misael and Azarias might not defile themselves but that he would give them nothing else but Pulse to eat and Water to drink which thing he was afraid to do lest when the King should call them before him they might seem in worse liking than the rest of their fellows and so he to be in danger of his life Well said Daniel prove thy servants for ten days Then the Keeper whose heart God had moved to favour Daniel proved them ten days and when he saw them fatter in flesh and in better liking than the other he took away their portion of meat and served them daily with Pulse and Water And to these God gave great knowledge and understanding in all learning and wisdome But to Daniel only he gave the gift of Prophesying and opening of Visions and Dreams Now when the time was expired that all the children whom the King had so long nourished should be brought before him he found Daniel and his three associates in matters of wisdome and understanding that he required of them ten times better than all the learned men of his Realm so that the King had Daniel in great estimation After this Daniel expounded the King's Dreams and shewed him the true interpretation and meaning thereof which none of the Chaldeans could do for the which the King rewarded him with great Gifts and made him Governour over the whole Province of Babylon wherewith the other Princes and Rulers were sore offended and sought occasion against him concerning the Kingdom but Daniel was so faithful and upright in all the King's matters that they confessed and said We shall find no occasion against this Daniel except it be concerning the Law of his God Therefore let us perswade the King to make a Decree that whosoever shall ask a Petition of any God or Man for thirty days save only of the King the same may be cast into the Den of Lyons And when the King had consented to this wicked Decree and sealed the Writing Daniel that all Men might see that he would neither consent in heart nor deed for these few days to any thing that was contrary to God's glory went home to his House and set open the Window of his Chamber toward Jerusalem and fell down upon his Knees to give thanks and praise unto God as his custome was three times a day to do And thus making his prayers and supplication to his God his Adversaries came upon him and found him whereupon they went to the King and said Hast thou not sealed a Decree that whosoever shall make request to any God or Man within thirty days save to thee O King shall be cast into the Den of Lions True it is quoth the King and it cannot be broken Then said they This Daniel one of thy Prisoners of Juda regardeth neither thee nor thy statute but maketh his Petition thrice a day unto his God When the King heard this he was sore displeased in himself and sought by all means to have excused Daniel and when he saw no intreaty would serve nor any way be found to alter the Law he suffered Daniel to be cast down to the Lions which were seven in number and were kept fasting that day from their ordinary diet to the intent they should have devoured Daniel But God had so stopped the mouths and fury of the Lyons that they did him no harm and lest he should perish there for hunger God sent his Prophet Abakuck with Meat and Drink to feed him and also moved the King's heart to take such care for Daniel that the seventh day after he went to the Den to see if he were alive or dead and finding him not perished but whole and sound he rejoyced greatly and caused Daniel to be taken out and his Accusers with their Wives and Children cast down among the fierce greedy Lyons who tore them all in pieces before they came at the ground Thus being delivered he afterward prophesied of the coming of Christ and of the Empire of Babylon Media Persia Grecia and the Romans Read more of him in the story of Bel and Susanna Daniel Judgment of God Darda 1 King 4.31 the Son of Mahol was one of the four which came of the off-spring of the children of Chore and so far exceeded all other in wisdome and Learning that Solomon was compared unto them Darda The house of knowledge or the generation of knowledge Darius 1 Esd 6. cap. Dan 5. 30 3. in taking of * He is called also Ahasucrus Eâ—â—â—er 1. and was as some thâ—nk the Son of Hystâ—p is called also Artaxerxes Babylon slew King Balthasar and possessed his Kingdom In the second year of his reign he granted the same licence unto the Jews to build again the City of Jerusalem and the House of God that King Cyrus had granted to them in the first year of his reign And for so much as the work had been much hindered from the first year of Cyrus unto the second year of this King Darius he gave a strict commandment that whosoever did from henceforth
provoke the Lord to anger that he sware that none of them all should see that good land save Caleb and Joshua Therefore said he if ye do now leave your brethren and will not go harnessed before them until the Lord hath cast out their enemies ye do so much sin against the Lord that he will surely find it out And when they heard Moses say so they answered saying We do not intend to leave our brethren our meaning is nothing less than so to do but rather that we might be suffered to make in this place sheepfolds for our cattel and houses for our wives and children to leave them therein which being done we our selves will go forth before our brethren harnessed and will not return home to our houses until we have brought them to their places and that every one of them be possessed in his inheritance Then Moses contented with this answer granted their request And so they builded sheep-cotes for their Cattel and houses for their families wherein they left them and went forth with their brethren until they had performed their promise and then returned home again Joshua 22. cap. And when they had rested a while at home they went and built an Altar near Jordan and that a very great one And when the rest of the children of Israel heard that the children of Reuben Gad and Manasses had built them an Altar in * This country also was calied Canaan because the Amorites dwelling there were called Canaanites Gilead beside Jordan even on the same side that they were of in the land of Canaan they were sore offended and so angry that they gathered themselves together to battel against them And being ready prepared they sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the Priest and with him ten Princes of every chief house one to know for what purpose they had made them an Altar and whether it were to rebel against the Lord or no. And when they had done their commission the other answered and said that God was their witness that they had done it for no evil purpose either to rebel against the Lord or to swerve from his laws and ordinances in any point but rather for this consideration to be a witness between us and you and our generations after us lest it should chance another day that your children should say unto ours what have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel ye children of Reuben and of Gad the Lord ye see hath made Jordan a border between us and you and therefore ye can have no part in the Lord with us and so should your children make our children cease from fearing the Lord. And therefore to prevent such an inconvenience we took advice and made this Altar that if any such kind of talk should be ministred of your children to ours in time to come that then our children might answer and say again Behold the fashion of the Altar of the Lord which our fathers made neither for burnt-offerings nor sacrifices but for a witness between us and you that our part is in the Lord as well as yours And when Phinehas and the other Princes had heard their answer they were well content and returned and so the matter ended They called the Altar Our witness that the Lord is God Gad a Band or Garison Gad the Prophet came to David lying in the land of Moab saying Abide not in hold 1 Sam 22.5 but depart and go into the land of Judah 2 Sam. 24.13 At another time when David had offended the Lord in numbring his people Gad was sent unto him to give him choice of three things whether he would have * Three years of famin were past for the Gibeonites matter and this was the fourth year to the which should have been added other three years â—1 Chron 21.11 12. seven years famin or three months to fly before his enemies or three days pestilence in the land Gaius a certain * Act. 19.29.20.4 faithful brother dwelling in Derbe was one of Pauls companions and in great jeopardy of his life at Ephesus thorow the sedition of Demetrius the Silversmith but after the business was ended he accompanied Paul into Asia To this man St. John wrote his third Epistle Gaius the Lord or Master of the tongue Gallio was Proconsul of Achaia to wit Act. 18 1â— c. the Lord Deputy under Cesar the Emperor in the Countrey of Achaia In this time it hapned the Jews which had made a conspiracy against Paul to bring him before the place of judgment where Gallio sate as Judge accusing Paul unto him of new doctrine But when Gallio perceived the controversie between the Jews and Paul was concerning Jewish Religion he sought to rid his hands of them and preventing Paul who was ready to speak in his own defence said O ye Jews if it were a matter of wrong or an evil deed reason would that I should hear you but if it be a question of words or names or of your law look unto it your self for I will be no Judge in such matters And so caused them to depart the place Gallio giving Milk or having Milk Gamaliel Act. 5.34 c. one of the ancient Pharisees was Pauls Shool master and in high estimation among the people both for his excellent knowledge in the law and for his singular wisdom When the Apostles were brought by some of the Council for preaching in the name of Christ whose lives he perceived the Council sought he desired that for a while the Apostles might depart out of the Council-house And when they were gone he said Ye men of Israel take heed to your selves what ye intend to do as touching these men for before these days rose up one Theudas boasting himself to whom resorced a number of men about 400. who was slain and they all which believed him were scattered abroad and brought to nought After this man rose up one Judas of Galilee in the time when Tribute began who drew away much people after him he also perished and all that obeyed him were scattered abroad And now I say unto you refrain your selves from these men and let them alone For if this Counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot destroy it lest ye be found to strive against God Gamaliel God's reward Gedaliah the Son of Ahikam 2 King 25.22 c. was a great Captain under Nabuchodonosor whom he made Governour of the Land of Judah to rule the People which he had left behind him at the destruction of Jerusalem Jer. 42. câ—â— who intreated the People so gently and so friendly that all the Jews which were scattered about in the Land hearing of his gentleness resorted unto Gedaliah and sound great favour at his hand for the which they bare unto him their hearty good wills Insomuch that when Baal King of the Ammonites had sent one Ishmael under
in a Book which is called Ecclesiasticus or the wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach Iesus otherwise called Justus was a Jew born Col. 4.11 and one of Paul's Workfellows in preaching and setting forth the Kingdom of God whom he commended to the Colossians desiring them that if he or any such did come unto them they should receive and entreat them with all gentleness Iethro the Priest of Midian had seven Daughters Exod. 4.18.18 cap. of the which one was called Zipporah whom he married to Moses And when that Jethro had heard of all the mighty deeds which God had done for Moses and how he had delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt from the Bondage of Pharaoh and brought them thorow the red Sea he met Moses in the Wilderness and brought to him his Wife and two Children which he had sent back before at whose coming Moses was exceeding glad Then as Jethro abode with Moses and saw the great pains he took in judging the People from Morning to Night he said unto him What is this that thou dost unto the People Why sittest thou thy self alone and all the People stand about thee from morning unto even When the People quoth Moses have any matter they come unto me and I judge between one and another and declare unto them the Statutes and Laws of God Thou dost not well quoth Jethro for thou both weariest thy self The counsel of Jethro Moses Father-in-law and the People that is with thee The thing is of more weight than thou art able to perform alone Therefore hear my counsel and God shall prosper thee Be thou for the People to God-ward and report the causes to him Admonish them of the ordinances and laws and shew them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must do Moreover seek out among the People men of courage and such as fear God true dealing men hating covetousness and appoint them to be Rulers over thousands over hundreds over fifties and over tens And let them judge the people at all seasons and every great matter let them bring it to thee but all small causes let them judge themselves and so shall it be easier for thee when they shall bear the burthen with thee If thou shalt do this thing and God so command thee thou shalt be able to endure and all the People shall go quietly to their place Jethro Excellent or remaining or searching forth or a little cord Ioab â— Sam. 2. cap. was the Son of Zerviah David's Sister and the chief Captain of all David's Host In the first Battel he made against Abner King Saul's Captain he was the Victor and put Abner to flight and of malice afterward by treason slew him for the which deed David was sore offended 3.27 23 c. that he besought God to avenge it on Joab and that his House and Posterity might always be plagued with the bloody-flux leprosie feebleness of Body the Sword or Famine for the death of Abner Joab also was the death of Absalom â— Sam. 38.15 and slew him as he hanged by the hair of his head upon the bough of a tree And when it was told him of the great lamentation the King made for Absalom his Son he went unto him and said Thou hast this day shamed the faces of all thy servants 19.5 c. which this day have saved thy life and the lives of all thy Sons and Daughters and the lives of thy Wives and Concubines in that thou lovest thine enemies and hatest thy friends For thou hast declared this day that thou regardest neither thy Princes nor servants Therefore I do perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had been slain this day that then it had pleased thee well Now therefore up and come out and speak comfortably unto thy servants for I swear by the Lord except thou come out there will not tarry one Man with thee this Night and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that fell on thee from thy youth hitherto 20. cap. Also in persecuting of Sheba which had made a new insurrection against David he met Amasa his Aunts Son by the way and * Lyra supposeth that Joab slew Amasa of envy because David had made an oath in the Chapter before that Amasa should be his Captain in Joab's stead slew him and leaving him dead on the ground he followed Sheba and besieged him in a City called Abel where the Governess of the City being a wise Woman cried unto Joab demanding why he went about to destroy that City which was a Mother of Israel and to devour the Inheritance of the Lord before he had offered peace To whom he answered saying That he went about no such matter but I come quoth he for Sheba the Son of Bichri deliver me him and I will be gone and as soon as the head of Sheba was thrown over the Wall to Joab he departed Finally after the death of David who had ordained Solomon to Reign in his stead Joab took part with ddonijah Solomon's Brother which usurped the Kingdom and went about with all his power to stablish him in David's seat But when he heard Solomon proclaimed by David's authority he fled to the Tabernacle of the Lord out of the which he would not depart but catching hold on the * The holiness of the place ought not to save the wilful murtherer Exod. 21.14 corners of the Altar said he would even in that place dye Then Solomon hearing thereof commanded Benaiah to go and kill him even there for the bloud of Abner and Amasa which he had shed causlesly And so was Joab slain in the Tabernacle and carried out and buried in his own House in the Wilderness Joab willing or voluntary Joanna Luk. 8.3.24.10 the Wife of Chuza Herod's Steward was a godly Woman and ministred unto Christ of her substance while he lived And after he had suffered his Passion she went with other Women to seek him at his Sepulchre And being told by the Angels that he was not there returned to the Apostles to bring them tidings of his Resurrection which seemed to them but feigned things and therefore believed them not Joanna the grace of the Lord or the Lord's gift or the Lord's mercy Joash 2 King 11. 12. cap. the youngest Son of Ahaziah King of Juda was stollen away from the hands of Athaliah his Grandmother by his Sister Jehosheba Wife to Jehojadah the High-Priest and hid in the Lords house and brought up in the Chamber where the Priests and Levites lay the space of six years and in the seventh year Jehojadah brought him forth and proclaimed him King who in all things sought the Lord so long as Jehojadah lived He repaired the Temple He slew Mattan the Priest of Baal and brake down his Altars with many other good things 2 Chron. 24. But after the death of Jehojadah he fell so far
he set two Crowns upon his Head the Crown of Egypt and Asia Then Alexander who at that time lay in the Countrey of Cilicia hearing of all that his father-in-Father-in-law had done returned home and made War against him But Ptolomy being the stronger chased him into the Countrey of Arabia where the King of that Land smote off his Head and sent it to Ptolomy which pleasure he did not long enjoy for within three days after Ptolomy dyed himself After whose death his Men of War which he had left in the Cities were all slain Ptolomy 1 Mac. 16. the Son of Abobus married with the Daughter of Symon Brother to Machabeus And being made Captain of the Host at Jericho he began thorow his great abundance of Gold and Silver to wax proud and high-minded imagining how he might destroy Symon his Father-in-law and his Sons and so to conquer the Land And being in this mind it chanced Symon as he was going thorow the Cities of Jewry and caring for them to come down to Jericho with Mattathias and Judas his Sons where this Ptolomy received him under the colour of great friendship into a strong Castle of his named Douch and in the same made him a great Banquet at the which he most traiterously slew Symon his Father-in-law with both his Sons This done he wrote to Antiochus to send him an Host of Men and he would deliver the Land of Jewry into his hand And further he sent certain Men to Gaza to kill John the third Son of Symon and wrote to the Captains to come unto him and he would reward them with Silver and Gold But John having knowledge of all the Treason slew the Messengers which came from Ptolomy and so disappointed him of all his purpose Ptolomie sirnamed Macron being made a Ruler 2 Mac. 10. purposed to do Justice unto the Jews for the wrongs that had been done unto them and went about to behave himself peaceably with them for the which he was accused of his friends to Eupator and was called oft-times Traytour because he had left Cyprus that Philometor had committed unto him and came to Antiochus Epiphanes Therefore seeing that he was no more in estimation he was discouraged and poisoned himself and dyed Publius Act. 28.7 8 c. was a certain Man dwelling in the Isle called Melitus and the chiefest Man in all the Isle who received Paul with all the rest that had escaped the Seas very gently and lodged them three days in his House whose Father which lay sick of an Ague and of a bloudy flux Paul healed Publius a Latine word Putiphar Gen. 39.1 c. was a great Lord in the Land of Egypt and Steward of King Pharaoh's house He bought Joseph of the Ishmaelites and found him a lucky Man And when he saw that God did prosper all things under his hand he made him Ruler and Governour of all that he had and God did bless his house for Joseph's sake But in the end thorow the false accusation of his Wife he cast Joseph in Prison R. RACHEL Gen. 30.22 c. 31.19 c. the youngest Daughter of Laban the Son of Nahor was a beautiful young Woman and Jacob's Wife She being long barren at the last brought forth a Son and called his Name Joseph And at her departing from Laban her Father with Jacob her Husband into the Land of Canaan she stole away her Fathers * Not to worship them but to withdraw her Father from Idolatry Images from him for the which he made no little ado with Jacob whom he followed and overtook at Mount Gilead And when her Father had searched Jacob's Tents and could not find his Idols he came into Rachel his Daughters Tent who had hid them in the Camels litter and sat upon them And as her Father was rifling about the place where she sat she said O my Lord be not angry that I cannot rise up before thee for the custome of Women is come upon me and so the thing was not known Finally Rachel in travailling of her second Son whom she called Ben-Oni the Son of my sorrow dyed and was buried in the way to Ephrath which is Bethlchem where Jacob caused a stone to be set upon her Grave which was called Rachels grave-stone Rachel a Sheep Raguel Tob. 6 7. was a certain Man dwelling at Rages a City of the Medes whose Sister was Wife to old Toby This Raguel had a Daughter called Sarah which had been married to seven Men one after another which Men were all slain the first Night of their marriage by the Devil dsmodius To this Sarah God had appointed young Toby which feared God to be her Husband and made his holy Angel Raphael to bring him to Rages and so to Raguel's house his Mother's Brother where they were joyfully received And when Raguel had looked upon young Toby and beheld him well he said unto his Wife how like is this young Man to my Sisters Son And then to know who they were he said whence be ye my good Brethren We be said they of the Tribe of Nephtali and of the captivity of Niniveh Know ye said he Tobias our Kinsman Yea said they we know him well and this young man said the Angel is his Son With that Raguel bowed himself and with weeping eyes took him about the Neck and kissed him and bad his Wife prepare in all hast for Dinner Nay said Toby I will neither eat nor drink here this day except thou grant me my Petition and promise to give me thy Daughter Sarah Then was Raguel fore astonied and began to fear lest it should happen unto him as it did to the other seven And while he stood in doubt what answer to make the Angel said Fear not to give him thy Daughter for unto this Man that feareth God belongeth she and to none other I doubt not said Raguel but God hath accepted my prayers and tears in his sight and I trust he hath caused you to come unto me for the same intent that this Daughter of mine might be married in her own Kindred according to the Law of Moses And now doubt thou not my Son but I will give her unto thee And with that he took the right hand of his Daughter and gave her into the right hand of Toby saying the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob be with you joyn you together and fulfil his blessing in you And when the Marriage all was ended Raguel brought his Daughter into her Chamber and said Be of good cheer my Daughter the Lord of Heaven give thee joy for the heaviness that thou hast suffered and so went to rest Then in the morning about the Cock-crowing Raguel supposing all things to have happened to Toby as it did to the other seven before called up his Men and went and made ready his Grave which being done he bad his Wife send one of her Maidens to
the feet of them which have buried thy Husband are at the door and shall carry thee out And with that she fell down and gave up the ghost And the Officers came and carried her out and buried her beside her husband Sapphira telling or numbring Saul the Son of Kish of the Tribe of Benjamin 1 Sam. 9. cap. was a goodly tall young man who on a time as he was seeking his Fathers Asses and could not find them happened by the provision of God to go and seek out Samuel to know of him some tidings of his Asses And as he was going toward the City it was told him of a great offering that should be there and how the People waited for Samuel's coming to bless the same And when Saul was come into the midst of the City he met Samuel coming toward him going up to the Hill And as Samuel beheld Saul the Lord said unto him this is the Man which I told thee yesterday I would send this day unto thee to be King of Israel Then Samuel took him up with him to the Hill and set him in the chiefest Seat among his Guests and made him eat with them And the Feast being done he went and anointed Saul King 1 Sam. 10. and told him what he should do after his departure from him And going from Samuel the Lord gave him another manner of heart than he had before So that he prophesied among the Prophets and was so greatly honoured of all men that after he had delivered the City of Jabesh out of the hands of Nahash King of the Ammonites the People renewed his Kingdom 11. cap. which God would have stablished for ever if he had not disobeyed his commandment in taking upon him to offer burnt-sacrifice before Samuel came 15. cap. and also to save Agag whom he was commanded to destroy And for this his disobedience the Lord took his spirit from Saul and gave it to David and gave unto Saul an evil spirit to vex him withal 16.14 Then Saul seeing the spirit of the Lord departed from him and gone to David he sought by all means to destroy him but never could come to his purpose Finally Saul being sore cumbred with the Philistines 28. cap. he went to an Enchanter notwithstanding he had expelled all of that Art before to raise him up Samuel who being raised up told him that for as much as he had disobeyed the Lord and not executed his fierce wrath upon the Amalekites therefore had God forsaken him and rent his Kingdom out of his hand and given it to David And moreover saith he to Saul the Lord will deliver the Israelites into the hands of the Philistines and to morrow shalt thou and thy Sons be with me 31. cap. And on the next day Saul being overcome of the Philistines and his three Sons slain for anguish of heart fell upon his own Sword and killed himself after he had reigned forty years Saul Required or commended Sarai the Daughter of Aram was Abraham's Wife Gen. 11.29 And perceiving that the Lord had restrained her from bearing of children she gave Abraham leave to take Hagar her Maiden to Wife 16. cap. But when she saw her self despised of her Maid which had conceived she began to be so sharp and quick with Hagar that she made her run away Nevertheless at the humble submission of Hagar Sarai received her again Then Sarai passing forth till she came to the age of four-score and ten years it chanced she heard the Angel of the Lord as she stood in her Tent say unto Abraham 18.10 that Sarai his Wife should have a child which words seemed so impossible unto her that she laughed within her self and said Is it of a surety that I shall bear a Son Shall I now have pleasure being old and my Lord old also And when she had talked thus to her self the Angel of the Lord demanded of Abraham wherefore his Wife did laugh as though it were quoth he too hard a thing for God to perform his promise Then she being asked the question denyed it for she was afraid saying that she laughed not And so Sarai judging him faithful which had promised 21.1 2 3 c. brought forth a Son at the time appointed of God and called his name Isaac And when the Child was born she said GOD hath made me to laugh and all that hear will laugh with me Who would have said to Abraham that Sarai should have given Children suck for I have born him a Son in his old age After this when Sarai perceived Ishmael the Son of Hagar as he played with Isaac to be a mocker she said unto Abraham put away this Bond-maid and her Son for the Son of this Bond-woman shall not be Heir with my Son Isaac 23. cap. Finally when Sarai had lived one hundred and seven and twenty years she died in Kiriath-Arba Which is also called Hebron And was buried in the double Cave which Abraham had bought of the Sons of Heth. Sarah Tob. 3. the Daughter of Raguel had seven husbands one after another which men before they had lain with her were all slain of the Devil Asmodius to the great discomfort and heaviness of the young Woman And yet the more to aggravate her sorrow her Father's Maidens when she did correct them for their faults would slander her on this wise saying God let us never see Son nor Daughter of thee more upon earth thou killer of thy Husbands wilt thou kill us also as thou hast done them Which words were so grievous to Sarah that she got her up to an high Chamber of her House where she continued three Days and three Nights in prayer beseeching God that he would vouchsafe to loose her out of that rebuke or else to take her out of the earth For thou knowest O Lord that I never had desire unto man and that I have kept my soul clean from all uncleanly lust I have not kept company with those that pass their time in sport neither have I made my self partaker with them that walk in light behaviour nevertheless an Husband have I consented to take not for my pleasure but in thy fear Now peradventure either I have been unworthy of them or else were they unmeet for me for thou happily hast kept me for another Husband And thus making her prayers to God he heard her and sent young Toby to be her husband who being joyned together in Matrimony lived all their days an holy life in the fear and laws of God Sheba 2 Sam. 20. the Son of Bichri assoon as David was restored to his Kingdom again begun a new insurrection and got all Israel to follow him save only the men of Juda which stuck fast by David and as he came into the City of Abel to the which Joab followed him the Governess of the City being a Woman of wisdom smote off the head of Sheba and
other Chief Rulers there went to Zorobabel and his Companions the Jews which were come by Darius licence to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem again and demanded who had given them such commandment And when they saw the Jews would not cease then he with others sent their letters of complaint to Dartus the King to know his pleasure 7.1 2 3. And when they had received the King's answer Sisinnes with all the rest of the Rulers obeyed the King's commandment and helped the Jews with all diligence to build the sanctuary again and so the work went forth and prospered Shisak 1 Kirgs 14 35â— King of Egypt came to Jerusalem in the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam with twelve hundred Chariots and threescore thousand Horsemen and People innumerable and spoiled the Temple of the Lord and the King's house and took away all the Treasure in both with the shields of gold which Solomon had made and so departed Shisak an empty or a void sack or bag Sisera Judges 4. cap. was the general Captain of King Jabin's Host And trusting in the great strength of his Chariots of Iron which were nine hundred and power of his men he went against the Children of Israel thinking to have over-run them all But God so wrought with the holy Prophetess Deborah and with Barak her Captain that they destroyed his Chariots with all his Host So that Sisera himself was fain to flie on foot And coming by the Tent of Heber for there was peace between King Jabin and the house of Heber he turned in And being sore athirst he desired Jael the Wife of Heber to give him some drink and she brought a Bottle of Milk and gave it him to drink and when he had drunk and was laid down to take his rest he said to Jael Go I pray thee and stand in the Tent-door And when any doth come to enquire of thee if there be any man here say nay And so thinking he had been safe enough took his rest and fell asleep Then Jael with a Nail which she drove into his Head slew him Sisera he that seeth a Swallow Shoby 2 San. 17.27 28 29. the Son of Nahash out of Rabbah the City of the Children of Ammon and Machir the Son of Ammiel out of Lo-debar and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogel what time as David lay with his People in the Wilderness of Mahanaim hungry weary and thirsty brought unto him Bedding Wheat Barley with all other necessaries to ease and refresh David and his Men in that time of adversity Sosthenes Act. 18.17 of whom Saint Paul maketh mention in his first Epistle to the Corinthians first Chapter was the chief Ruler of the Synagogue in the City of Achaia against whom the Greeks had such indignation for taking Paul's part against the Jews that they fell upon him before the Judges feet where Gallio the Lord Deputy sat and smote him And Gallio not caring for those things let them alone and would not meddle with the matter Stachys Rom. 16.9 to whom Paul in his letter of commendations sendeth greeting saying Salute Urban our fellow-helper in Christ and Stachys my beloved Stephanas was a faithful lover of Christ and his 1 Cor. 16.15 16 17. doctrine in whose commendation Paul to the Corinthians writeth thus Brethren ye know the house of Stephanas and of Fortunatus and Achaicus how that they are the first-fruits of Achaia And that they have appointed themselves to minister unto the Saints I beseech you that ye be obedient unto such and to all that help and labour I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus for that which was lacking unto me on your part they have supplied For they have comforted my spirit and yours Look therefore that ye know them that are such Steven Act. 6. a Man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost was one of the seven Deacons chosen in the Congregation to make provision for the poor which did great Wonders and Miracles among the People Against whom arose certain of the Synagogue which were called Libertines Cyrenians and of Alexandria Cilicia and Asia which disputed with him And when they could not resist his wisdom and the spirit of God wherewith he spake they accused him of blasphemy against God and Moses and brought him before the Council with their false witnesses ready which said We heard this fellow speak blasphemous words against this holy place and Law saying that Jesus of Nazareth should destroy this place and change the Ordinances which Meses gave us And all the Council looked stedfastly upon him and saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel 7. cap. Then Steven for as much as he was accused to be a denyer of God made an earnest answer unto his accusation in the end whereof the Council waxed so angry against him that their hearts clave asunder and gnashed on him with their teeth But he being full of the Holy Ghost looked stedfastly up with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and said Behold I see Heaven open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God with the which the People gave a great shout and stopped their ears and ran upon him all at once and carried him out of the City to put him to death And as they stoned him he said Lord Jesu receive my spirit And kneeling down cryed with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin unto their charge And so fell asleep in the Lord. Susanna the Daughter of Helchias Susanna 1. was a very fair Woman given to all vertue and godliness Her husband's name was Joachim a Man of great reputation among the Jews In the first year that Susanna was married there were two Judges made which resorted much to Joachim's house and all such as had any thing to do in the Law came thither unto them These two Judges being wicked men were so wounded with the love of Susanna and burned so in lust after her that they could not tell what to do But neither durst tell the other his grief nor yet for shame utter their inordinate lust unto her And so on a day when they had sat long in Joachim's house about matters of the Law and waited for to have their purpose on Susanna and could not they brake up and went home to dinner And at their return again together the one brake to the other their whole minds and appointed a time when they might take her alone And when they had spyed out a convenient time that Susanna went into the Garden as her manner was with two of her Maidens only to wash her self these two hid themselves in the Garden against her coming And assoon as the Maidens had shut the Orchard-doors and were gone for Oyl and Sope for their Mistress the two Elders came upon Susanna and said The Garden doors
to speak until the day that these things be performed And so Zachary remained speechless until the time came that his Wife brought him forth a Son And when the Child should be circumcised great controversie was there about his name Some would have him called Zachary some by one name some by another and his Mother would have him called John but to that would none agree because there was none of the kindred so named Then they made signs to Zachary how he would have his Son called And he calling by signs for writing tables wrote therein His name is John Whereat they all marvelled And immediately the mouth of Zachary was opened so that he spake and said Praised be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his People c. Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam King of Israel 2 King 15.8 began his Raign in the eight and thirtieth year of Azariah King of Juda and walked in the sins of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat as did others before him He had not raigned six Months ere that Shallum conspired against him and slew him even in the face of the people raigned in his stead This Zachariah was the fourth and the last King of the generation of Jehu which the Lord had promised should sit on his seat after him when he said Thy Children unto the fourth generation after thee 10. cap. 30. shall sit on the seat of Israel Zarah Gen. 38.29.30 was one of the two Twins which Thamar bare unto Juda at one birth who proffering to come forth before his Brother put forth his hand and when the Midwife had tyed a red thread about it he pluckt in his hand again and then his Brother came out first whom they called Pharez and then he with the red thread about his hand whom they called Zarah Zachariah the Son of Jehojada 2 Chron. 24.20 was an holy Prophet This Prophet is also called the Son of Barachias Matth. 23.35 because his Progenitors were Iddo Barachiah and Jehosala And when he saw Joash King of Juda whom his Father had trained from his youth up in the fear of God with all his People declined from the Lord to the worshipping of Idols and would not hear the Lord's admonition sent by his Prophets to call them home again he stood up before the People and said Why transgress ye the Commandments of the Lord Surely it shall not prosper because ye have forsaken the Lord he also hath forsaken you For the which the King not regarding the kindness of Jehojada his Father commanded the People to stone him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. And as he suffered his Martyrdom he desired the Lord to revenge his death and to require his bloud at their hands Zaccheus Luke 19.2 3 c. was a Publican and chief receiver of the King's Tribute among them He was a very low man of stature And being much desirous to see Jesus what manner a Man he should be made great means to see him And when he saw the prease so great that he could not he ran before knowing which way he would come and climbed up into a wilde Figg-Tree And when Jesus saw him in the Tree he said Zaccheus come down quickly for to day I must abide at thy house And Zaccheus came down received him joyfully And shewing forth the true fruits of repentance said Behold Lord the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have done any man wrong I restore him four-fold To whom Jesus said again This day is salvation come to this house forasmuch as thou art also become the Son of Abraham Zaccheus pure neat or clean Zerbiah 1 Chron. 2.16 was David's Sister Her three Sons were Joab Abishai and Asahel Zedekiah 2 King 24 17. cap. 25. the fourth Son of Josiah was one and twenty years old when Nabuchodonosor made him King of Juda in the stead of Jehojachin his Brother's Son And made him take an oath of the Lord faithfully and truly to serve the Chaldeans in token whereof he changed his name from Mataniah to Zedekiah This King suffered sin and wickedness so much to raign in his Land as well among the Head-Rulers and Priests as among the common sort that God was forgotten his Word despised and his Prophets misused Jer. 37. cap. Wherefore the Lord stirred up the Chaldeans with whom he had broke his League which came and destroyed the City of Jerusalem and the holy Temple of God with fire as the Prophet Jeremy had said and took Zedekiah the King his Army being dispersed in the plain of Jericho and brought him to the King of Babylon who first destroyed both his Sons before his face and then pulled out the eyes of Zedekiah and so carried him to Babylon bound with two Chains where he dyed his People remaining in bondage until the days of Cyrus which was about three-score and ten years Zedekiah the Justice of the Lord or the Lord's judgment Zedekiah 1 King 22.24 the Son of Chenaanah was one of the false Prophets which deceived Ahab And when Michajah the true Prophet of God spake against them this Zedekiah smote him on the Cheek saying When went the spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee Well said Michajah Thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt go from Chamber to Chamber to hide thee Zelophehad the Son of Hepher the Son of Gilead Numb 26.33 the Son of Machir the Son of Manasses the Son of Joseph had five Daughters who forasmuch as their Father dyed in the Wilderness without Male-issue and was none of those that rebelled against the Lord in the Congregation of Chore 27. cap. they required of Moses to have a possession among their Fathers brethren lest the name of their Father should be utterly taken away from among his kindred Whose request God allowed and bad Moses give them a possession among their brethren and to make a law that whosoever dyed without a Son his Inheritance should turn to his Daughter If he have no daughter to his brethren If he have no brethren to his Fathers brethren If his Father have no brethren then it should turn to the next of the kin Two of sundry Tribes And also to stablish their inheritance that it should not be removed through marriage into another Tribe should not marry together an order was taken that no Tribe should marry with another Tribe but every Tribe should marry with whom he list among his own Tribe and Kindred And so the Daughters of Zelophehad were married to their Father's Brothers Sons which were of the kindred of Manasses the Son of Joseph by which means their inheritance remained still in the Tribe and kindred of their Father Zenas was first an Interpreter of Moses Law Tit. 3.13 and afterward became an earnest Preacher of the Gospel of Christ Of whom Paul writeth to Titus Bishop of Crete
that whensoever Zenas departed from him he should bring him on his Journey with all diligence and that nothing should be lacking unto him His words to Titus were these Bring Zenas the Lawyer and Apollos on their Journey diligently that nothing be lacking to them Zenas Living Zipporah Exod. 2.21 c. was the Daughter of Raguel Priest of Madian and Wife to Moses by whom she conceived and bare him two Sons Eleazer was not circumcised therefore GOD was angry with Moses saith Lyra. The one Gerson and the other Eleazer And as she went with Moses her Husband toward the Land of Egypt by the way in her Inne she took a sharp Knife and cut away the foreskin of her Son and cast it at his feet saying Thou art indeed a bloudy husband unto me she said a bloudy husband because of the circumcision Zipporah A mourning Zibah 2 Sam. 9. was one of King Saul's old Servants after whose death he belonged to Mephibosheth the Son of Jonathan and had the oversight of all his Master's Lands which David had restored unto him and the governance also of Micha his Master's Son 16.1 2 c. This Ziba intending to deceive his Master what time as David fled from Absalom his Son and was a little past the top of Mount Olivet met him with a couple of Asses sadled and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of Raisins and an hundred of dryed Figgs and a bottel of Wine And when the King saw him he said What meaneth thou with these Ziba They be quoth he Asses for the King's Houshold to ride on and Bread and Fruit for the young Men to eat and Wine that such as be faint in the Wilderness may drink Then said the King where is thy Master Mephibosheth Zaba said behold he tarrieth still at Jerusalem for he said This day shall the house of Israel restore me the Kingdom of my Father Then said David to Ziba Behold all are thine that pertained to Mephibosheth Then said Ziba I do homage unto thee I beseech thee I may find grace in thy sight my Lord O King Thus Ziba deceived his Master and got his Land from him But when the King was returned again to Jerusalem and perceived by Mephibosheth that Ziba had wrongfully accused him he commanded the Land to be divided between them Ziba Fulness or an Oath Zimri was the servant of Ela the Son of Baasha King of Israel and Captain of half his Chariots who 1 King 16.9.10 c. or his Master had reigned full two years conspired against him and slew him as he was in Tirzah drinking till he was drunken in the house of Arza Steward of his House in Tirzah And raigned in his stead in the time of whose reign which was but seven days he slew all the house of Baasha leaving neither Kinsman nor friend of his alive At this time had Ela the King an Host of Men lying at the siege of Gibbethon a City of the Philistines And when they heard of the Treason of Zimri and that he raigned in the stead of Ela they with one consent made Amri their Captain King who then went and besieged Zimri where he lay in the City of Tirzah And when Zimri saw that the City must needs be won then he lest they should take him alive and put him to a shameful death burnt himself and the King's house with fire and so dyed Zimri a singing or making melody Zorobabel Esdras 3. 4. cap. the Son of Salathiel with all the Jewes which were delivered from Babylon by Cyprus returned to Jerusalem where they repaired again the City and Temple of God and renewed their Laws though they were sometime hindred and lett by their enemies about them Zorobabel Free from confusion or strange FINIS