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Georg. Sacr. p. 342. a City thereof on which the North bound of Zebulun did confine 5ly He comes to Issachar and fore-sheweth how different the disposition of his Tribe should be from that of Zebulun For whereas Zebulun should be altogether for Trading and Traffiqueing abroad these of Issachar should be wholly for a quiet life and Country employments at home Issachar says he is a strong Ass (u) Yet some of Issachar were of a more noble and heroick Spirit see Judg. 5.15 1 Chron. 12.32 when Thola of Issachar judged Israel they had rest Judg. 10. couching down between two Burdens by which allusion of a strong lazy and ease-loving-Ass he foretelleth that the Prosperity of Issachar should be strong indeed as to the bodily labour of Husbandry and by reason of the goodness and fertility of their Soil should love Husbandry ease and a quiet life and should rather submit to any Taxes or Tribute that should be laid upon them either from the Kingdom of Phaenicia (x) Inter duo onera i. e. hinc regnum Phaeniciae illinc Samariae Lightfoot Solebant geminas sarcinas vel clitellas a finis imponere ad ferenda utrinque onera Glas or Samaria upon both which they confin'd than be driven from that quiet which at home they did enjoy See Judges 5.16 6ly He comes to Dan eldest Son of Bilhah Rachel's Hand-Maid and alluding to his Name pronounceth this blessing upon him Dan shall judge his people as one of the Tribes of Israel as if he should have said though he was the Son of an Hand-Maid yet his Posterity should be one of the Tribes of Israel and enjoy all the Priviledges of a Tribe as well as the Posterity of his free-born Sons of whom he had before spoken And as other Tribes had their Heads and Elders (y) Dan being the eldest of the Sons of the Hand-Maids by expressing that he should enjoy this Priviledge the like is implyed concerning the rest to judge and decide Causes among them so should They Numb 1.4 16. Further he declares That Dan shall be a Serpent in the way that biteth the Horses so that his Rider shall fall backward that is shall prevail more by cunning than force Thus we find that Sampson who was of this Tribe used craft as well as strength Judges ch 15. 16. So did this Tribe also deal with Laish Judges 18.27 So that 't is a Prophesie of this Tribe That what they wanted in strength they should make up in subtilty and sudden surprisal (z) Moses compares him to a Lions whelp Deut. 33.22 possibly for the suddenness of his leap when â—e sees the advantage of his Prey Dan is omitted in the sealing of the Tribes Apoc. 7. So is Simeon omitted in Moses's Benediction Deut. 33. Likely Simeon for his cruelty against the Shechemites and Dan for his notorious Idolatry Judg. 18.19 1 King 12.29 Then Jacob foreseeing by the Spirit of Prophesie the great dangers that his Posterity and this Tribe in particular would be exposed to both in regard of their Inheritance Judges 1.34 Josh 19.47 as also the true Religion and pure Worship of God which they would soon forsake and turn to Idolatry Judges 18.17 He breaks out into this pious Ejaculation (a) Lumen Propheticum est Lumen raptum O Lord I earnestly pray for and humbly expect thy gracious Deliverance of them out of all their Dangers 7ly He comes to God his eldest Son by Zilpah of whom he Prophesies That a Troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at last where alluding to his Name which signifies a Troop see Gen. 30.11 he intimates he shall be subject to the Incursions of bordering Enemies And so indeed he was his lot falling beyond Jordan Eastward see Judg. 10.7 8. Jer. 49.1 He was sorely annoy'd with the Ammonites Moabites and Others who did by Troops make Inroads upon him But at length he foretells that the Gadites should gather their Forces together and overcome their Enemies and drive them out of their Country and then should peaceably enjoy their Possessions See Deut. 33.20 1 Chron. 5. from 18. to 23. 1 Chron. 12.8 8ly He comes to speak of Asher his youngest Son by Zilpah who carried blessedness in his Name of whom he Prophesies That out of the excellent portion allotted to him he should have plenty of Corn and of Wheat especially So that His Bread should be fat fat signifying the best of any thing Gen. 4.4 and his lot should yield Royal Dainties namely excellent Oil Deut. 33.24 25. Josh 19.24 25. and other rare and delicious Fruits Such as may grace any King's Table and please his Palat. 9ly He comes to Napthali second Son of Bilhah of whom he Prophesies That Naphtali is as an Hind let loose Wherein he foretelleth how this Tribe should be blessed with liberty and plenty and live in choice Pastures as also that they should be active and nimble in dealing with their Enemies and light-footed to pursue them and escape danger Psal 18.33 Judg. 4.10 15 16. He further adds He giveth goodly words Whereby he intimates That this Tribe should be fair-spoken courteous and of friendly behaviour and therefore greatly beloved Deut. 33.23 10ly He comes to Joseph Of whom he says He shall be like a fruitful Stock or Stem of a Vine placed by a Fountain whose Branches shall run upon the Wall and so have benefit of the reflection of the Suns heat by all which he intimates how fruitful he should be and of him should come two Tribes viz. Ephraim and Manasseh which multiplied and increased exceedingly He goes on The Archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him that is many have bent themselves against him as an Archer doth his bow to shoot at a mark viz. His Brethren that sold him his Mistriss that accused him his Master that imprison'd him and possibly some of the Courtiers of Pharaoh that did strive to do him ill Offices But his Bow abode in strength that is his Innocence Patience Faith Chastity remained inviolable and his Power and Prosperity remained intire through the help of the mighty God of Jacob. And from thence it was namely from the Power and Providence of God that Joseph became a Shepherd to Israel to feed and nourish them in a time of Famine and a Stone to Israel that is a Rock of Refuge for them to fly unto in that their great Distress And from this God even the God of his Father He tells him He shall be blessed with the blessings of Heaven from above that is with Rain and Dew to make his Land fruitful and with the blessings of the Deep * Deut. 33.13 that is with Springs of Water out of the Rock and with the blessings of the Breast and of the Womb that is with many and well nursed Children ten thousands of Ephraim and thousands of Manasseh Deut. 33.17 Lastly he tells Joseph That the blessings with which He his Father
or Pentecost see Levit. 23.10 15. which was to be reckoned from the second day of the Feast of unleavened-bread see note a and from thence they were to reckon seven compleat Sabbaths or Weeks which made 49 days then on the morrow after the seventh Sabbath or Week which was the fiftieth day reckoning the day on which they began their account inclusively they were to keep the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost This Feast they were to keep unto the Lord with the Tribute of a free-will-Offering of their Fruits according as the Lord had blessed them over and above the Sacrifices appointed for the day Levit. 23.17 20. and with those they were to rejoyce together before the Lord in chearful feasting they and their Families and the Levite Stranger Widow and Fatherless in the place which the Lord should chuse remembring how their Fathers were Bondmen in Egypt and how wonderfully God had delivered them from thence from vers 9. to 13. Next he comes to the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths made with the boughs of Trees Levit. 23.34 40. which they were to observe seven days after they had gathered in their Corn and the fruit of their Vines and this Feast they were to Celebrate not only with inward joy but with the outward expressions thereof viz. by Sacrifices of Thanksgiving unto the Lord with sober and religious feasting of the Poor and the Levites the Stranger and the Widow rejoycing before the Lord in contemplation that he had so eminently blessed their increase Three times a year viz. at these three solemn Feasts He tells them All the Males shall appear before the Lord in the place which he shall choose and they must not appear before Him empty but every one must come with such a Gift and Oblation as he was able and willing to give from vers 13. to 18. He comes now to shew them That they must appoint Judges to sit in the Gates the usual places of Judicature in all their Towns and Cities who must judge the people with just Judgment and not wrest or pervert Judgment nor partially respect Persons in Judgment nor take Bribes For a Gift blindeth the eyes of the wise that is of those that seemed so to be making them judge otherwise than they ought to do being byassed by the love of lucre and maketh those that should be righteous in Judgment to pass a perverse Sentence But it must not be so with their Judges but they must follow that which is altogether just that they may live and inherit the Land which the Lord shall give them Further he tells them They must not plant Groves * Notwithstanding the Israelites corrupted themselves herein several times as Judg. 3.7 6.25 1 Kings 14.15 23. and there were Prophets of the Groves 1 Kings 18.19 They planted Groves placed Idols in them served them as the Canaanites and other Heathens did Deut. 12.2 Thus it was in the times of the Judges Ch. 3.7 In the times of the Kings of Israel throughout 2 Kings 17.16 This was in them gross Idolatry Yet the Patriarchs did formerly worship God in Groves and that without sin near to the Altar or Temple which might seem in sanctity to vie with them and be an occasion of Idolatry and would be an imitation of the Heathens who us'd to have their Idols in Groves (r) V. 21. Non plantabis lucum Ne in ritibus colendi veri Dei Idolatras imitari videamini Illis enim familiare erat in lâ—cis Sacra sua mixime obscaena peragere Eadem de causa vetat ne constituant sibi statuam qum instar Idoli more gentilitio colant Jans And further that they should not set up any Image or Statue to Worship as the Heathen did which thing the Lord hateth from vers 18. to the end He now comes to shew them that the things sacrificed to the Lord must be without Chap. XVII blemish Thou shalt not says he sacrifice to the Lord thy God any Bullock or Sheep wherein is any blemish or any ill-favouredness for that is an abomination to the Lord see Levit. 22.20 21. Deut. 15.21 He shews that if any among them were found guilty of Idolatry in that they had worshipped the Sun or Moon or any of the Host of Heaven and consequently any other Creature they must be ston'd to death whether it were Man or Woman because they had wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord and transgressed his Covenant whereby they had bound themselves in Obedience unto God and did openly as it were renounce God and the true Religion and chuse unto themselves other gods If he be convicted by the testimony of two or more credible Witnesses one not being sufficient the Witnesses shall throw the first stones at him which was to make them more afraid to bear false witness and to bring the guilt of innocent blood on their own heads and then the rest of the people assembled were to have a hand in the execution of him hereby to inure them to be fervent and zealous in Gods Cause against all those that should despise and disregard his Laws and so they should put away evil from among them He further shews them That when in their Towns or Cities any difficult matter did arise as in the case of bloodshed it being doubtful whether it were to be reckoned Murder or only Chance-medly or concerning any plea about their Estates or any stroke given or any thing of the like nature in that case they were to go to the place which God should chuse which in the after-times was Jerusalem and there resort to the Priests as Expounders of the Law and to the Judge or Judges as the civil Magistrates who were to shew them the Sentence of Judgment that is what is just and right in this matter that so the thing in question might be decided see 2 Chron. 19.8 9 10. and they were to do according to the Sentence which the Priests and Judges should give because in cases of greater difficulty the Priests were to inquire of the Lord that they might not give wrong Judgment And death was to be inflicted on him that would not hearken to the Priest so expounding the Law or the Judge passing Sentence according to it especially if he stubbornly and presumptuosly opposed their Judgment though they proved it never so clearly out of the Law and the Priest had inquired of the Lord about it And all the people shall hear and fear and do no more presumptuously Further when they were come into Canaan and should desire to have a King over them like other Nations he prescribes certain Laws and Rules to them concerning their electing of him and His duty And first he injoyns that they set only such an one to be King over them who is one of their Brethren and Nation an Israelite not a Stranger lest he change their Religion into Idolatry and so bring them into Sin and Slavery and only such an
that rigor shall be us'd towards his own Son Absalom and will not fetch him home again from his banishment though it redound exceedingly to the detriment and grief of the whole Commonwealth Thou knowest O King that we must all die at one time or other and when we are dead there is no recalling us to life again no more than water that is spilt on the ground can be again gathered up And thou maist die as well as any of us and if thou shouldst die while we are in this unsetled state we shall be miserable And as for Absalom seeing God hath not taken away his life in all these three years of his banishment he seems by his Providence to have provided a way that he may be restored to thee again namely by my mediation for him at this time The King may something wonder that I presume to speak thus boldly to him but the truth is the people are so full of jealousies and discontent fearing lest Absalom living so long among Idolaters should be corrupted in his Religion and so may corrupt the people if he come to reign over them that I was really afraid and durst hold my tongue no longer and knowing the King to be so just that he will always hear the cause of the oppressed and right their wrongs I thought it best in a Parabolical way to propound this matter to thee that thou mightest the better judg of it And I doubted not but that I should receive a gracious answer from thee for I know that the King for wisdom to judg and discern between right and wrong is as an Angel †T was a Proverbial speech us'd to express a mans excellency in any thing see 1 Sam. 29.9 2 Sam. 19.27 of heaven and therefore I doubt not but the Lord thy God will bless and prosper thee in thy Government Then the King said to the woman tell me true Is not the hand of Joab in all this She answered as thy soul liveth O King none can evade what thou hast said by turning to the right hand or to the left for thou hast hit the very right and the truth for thy servant Joab set me on work and put words into my mouth to speak unto thee And however I have delivered my self I know my Lord the King is wise even as an Angel of God to know all things that are to be done by him upon the earth in the administration of his Government Then the King called for Joab and told him he had granted his request made to him by the woman for the return of Absalom Therefore go says he and fetch him home Joab fell to the ground on his face before the King and professed that he accepted it with much thankfulness and as a testimony of the Kings great favour to him that he was pleased to grant his request Then Joab arose and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem When he was returned the King gave order he should go to his own house but said he should not see his face which David did as 't is probable to avoid the scandal of being too easily reconciled to him who had committed so foul a fault But in all Israel there was no man so eminent for beauty and comeliness of person as Absalom was for from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him this was one thing possibly that made him so proud and insolent and made him so popular and attracted the peoples affections so much to him He used to poll his head and cut off his hair it growing else too heavy for him once a year and when cut off it weighed two hundred shekels after the Kings weight viz. after the common shekel which weighed a quarter of an ounce and so weighed about four pound weight at sixteen ounces the pound And Absalom had three Sons * Ch. 18.18 'T is said he had no Son it seems by that time they were all dead and one fair Daughter named Tamar So Absalom dwelt two years after this in Jerusalem and was not all that time admitted into the Kings presence At last being impatient of this restraint and growing discontented and ill-affected towards his Father and entertaining thoughts of rebellion against him and not seeing any means of compassing his design whilst he was kept from the Court where he might make friends by his popular carriage he contrives how he might come thither and in order thereunto he sends to Joab to come to him that by his mediation he might be recovered into the Kings favour But Joab like an old Polititian fearing to displease the King would not come at him He sent to him a second time but he would not come He then bad his servants to go and set Joab's Barley field which was near to his on fire designing by that means to bring him to him as God brings people home to himself by afflictions Joab then comes and asks him why he had fired his Corn He tells him because he had sent for him once and again and he would not come at him he tells him he sent for him to represent his condition to the King and to know of him why he was pleased to send for him from Geshur and yet still all this while withdrew his face and favour from him He tells him it had been better for him to have stayed there still than to be thus used Help me says he to see the Kings face once again and if he think me not worthy to live let him put me upon a legal trial and take away my life I had rather die than live in this manner that I now do Joab hereupon comes to the King and tells him how heavily Absalom took it that he was debar'd from his presence David hearing this sent for him who coming bowed himself to the ground before the King and as 't is like humbly beg'd his pardon whereupon the King kissed him in token that he was fully reconciled to him 2 Sam. Ch. 14. whole Chapter SECT CXCVI. ABsalom being now admitted to come to Court contrives to get his Fathers Kingdom from him And thus God executes upon David the heavy doom which he had threatned viz. That he would raise up evil against him out of his own house Ch. 12.11 Absalom remembring the displeasure his Father had shewed against him for murthering his Brother Amnon and fearing lest for that he judged him unfit to succeed him in the Government and having possibly some intimation that Solomon was designed for the Crown being so much beloved of his Father he resolved if he could to get into present possession of the Throne during his Fathers life And to accomplish this ambitious design he puts divers policies in practice First he gets a Princely retinue and provides himself Chariots and Horses which yet the Law did not allow and a guard of fifty men to go before him that taking upon him
the plea of an Elder Brother and has Abiathar and Joab on his side if he can strengthen himself by this marriage he will not then fear to shew himself and endeavour to get the Kingdom for himself and then Abiathar and Joab will King it under him Then falling into a passion he said God do so to me and more also and bring upon me greater misery than I dare now mention see Ruth 1.17 if I do not make it appear to all the world that Adonijah hath spoken this word against his own life For as the Lord liveth who hath set me on the Throne of my Father and made me a family and Court according to the dignity of a King as he promised 2 Sam. 7.12 13. Adonijah shall surely this day be put to death So he immediately gave order to Benaiah Captain of his Guard to fall upon him and kill him which accordingly he did * Thus what Nathan threatned against David 2 Sam. 12.10 viz. that the sword should not depart from his house was fully verified Then sending for Abiathar he told him He was worthy to be put to death also for thus joining with Adonijah in this conspiracy but says he I will not at this time put thee to death because thou didst bear the Ark of God before my Father David and hast been a great sharer with him in all his afflictions and sufferings therefore get thee to Anathoth a City in the Tribe of Benjamin which with the fields about it belongs to the Priests and there live a private life and meddle no more with the Priesthood or Civil affairs And thus Solomon by thrusting out Abiathar from his office and placing Zadok in his room fulfilled the word of the Lord which he spake concerning Eli 1 Sam. 2.31 when the Tabernacle was at Shiloh and concerning Phineas Numb 25.13 These things being thus transacted tidings came presently to Joab that Adonijah was slain and Abiathar confin'd to Anathoth whereupon being conscious of his own guilt in joining with Adonijah in his aspiring to the Crown though he would not join with Absalom in the like case he fled to the Tabernacle at Gibeon and there laid hold on the horns of the Altar thinking possibly by that means the rather to escape because Adonijah had there not long before found favour 1 King 1.52 Solomon hearing where he was presently sends Benaiah and commands him to kill him there Benaiah coming to the Tabernacle would have perswaded Joab to come forth thence but he utterly refused it saying if he must die he would die there which possibly he spake hoping that by hanging on the horns of the Altar he should save his life and not imagining that they would put him to death there And thus it seems he forgot what God himself had said Exod. 21.14 That he that hath slain a man wilfully shall be taken from the Altar Benaiah being loth of his own head to shed blood at the Altar went back to the King and told him what Joab said The King replied Do unto him as he hath said that is seeing he resolves to die there let him die there and there fall upon him and kill him and then bury him decently for the honour of his place and his former services and so thou wilt take away from me and my fathers house the guilt of that innocent blood which he so barbarously shed and so the Lord will return blood upon his head who fell upon two men more righteous and better than himself for in that cause for which he killed them they were innocent He slew Abner for fear lest David should prefer him above himself And he slew Amasa because my Father had preferred him to the place of General in his room So that they were both innocent and not worthy of death upon that account he shall die therefore that their innocent blood may return upon his head and that the blot and stain of it may remain upon his posterity and accordingly they shall feel the sad effects of it for many generations And I doubt not but that upon the house of David and upon his Throne and upon his family there will be peace and prosperity for a long time from the Lord. For by executing judgment on murderers guilt is taken away from the Magistrate and from the Land Numb 35.33 So Benaiah went up to the Altar at Gibeon and as 't is like dragging Joab from thence he slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness and the King made Benaiah General of the Army in his room Then the King called for Shimei and said to him Build thee an house in Jerusalem and dwell there and go not forth thence any whither for it shall be that the day thou goest out and passest over the Brook Kidron (a) Solomon would not permit him to go over Kidron which was the way to Bakurim his own city lest he should raise some sedition there where was his own inheritance 2 Sam. 16.5 Kidron was about a mile from Jerusalem so that Shimei had room enough thou shalt surely die and thy blood shall be upon thine own head thou thy self wilt be the only cause thereof Shimei said unto the King The saying is good thy command is just and equal As my Lord the King hath said so will I do and I do bind my self by a solemn Oath which I now make unto thee in the presence of the Lord That I will not go out of the limits thou hast set me v. 42. But how he performed his Oath and promise we shall see afterwards Sect. 221. 1 King Ch. 2. from v. 12 to 39. SECT CCXV HAdad the Edomite who in the days of David had fled into Egypt and had been there for a great while kindly entertained when he heard that both David and Joab were dead he returned into his own Country and proved afterwards a great enemy to Solomon as we shall see hereafter 1 King Ch. 11. v. 21 22. SECT CCXVI SOlomon now contracts affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt by marrying his Daughter and he brought her into Sion into the Palace of David intending afterwards to build a stately house for her when he had finished the Temple the wall of Jerusalem and his own Palace And he preferred her before the rest of his wives they being of Nations that were his subjects but she the daughter of a potent King And by this match and affinity with such a great neighbour Prince he designed to secure himself the better against foreign enemies 'T is not said whether she had embraced the Religion of the Israelites when he took her to wife yet considering that he is no where blamed for this marriage 't is most like she forsook her Idolatry and that either before or after her marriage she became a Proselyte and worshipped the true God because Solomon in this marriage is made a type of Christ wooing the Gentiles to make them his Spouse and calling them
diligence in seeking him and in so doing suffereth injuries and losses for his sake Notwithstanding she chargeth the daughters of Jerusalem to tell him that she is sick of love From v. 2 to the 9. They ask her What was her beloved more than another beloved And 't is like they askt this question not as being totally ignorant of him and his excellencies but to give her occasion to set him forth the more unto them which she does very emphatically from v. the 10 to the end Ch. 6. The Spouse's speech so full of affection and admiration of the Bridegroom wrought so much on the daughters of Jerusalem that they ask solicitously whither he was gone that they may join with her in seeking him She tells them where he is and declares her peculiar interest in him v. 2 3. The Church having confessed her fault and sought to make up the breach between Christ and her he thereupon readily receives her and again highly praises and commends her Ch. 7. Christ here continues his praising of her running over every grace and ornament in her under new similitudes and exemplifications from 1 to 10. The Spouse thereupon renews the profession of her love to him and rejoices in his love to her inviting him to her Assemblies to see how they prospered and she promiseth to devote her best fruits wholly to him by whom alone she had brought them forth and by whose blessing she flourished with all sorts of them both new and old From v. 10 to the end Ch. 8. The Church expresseth her ardent desires after Christ v. 1 2 3. and charges others they should not disturb nor displease him v. 4. At v. 5. the Bridegroom seems to admire at the rising of a new Church in a place where there had been no Assembly or Congregation of believers before and coming up from the wilderness and leaning on her beloved that is depending on him by faith whereupon he said I raised thee up under the apple-tree that is when thou wast fallen under the tree of forbidden fruit I by my free grace and the operation of my Spirit rais'd thee up and brought thee to a glorious condition though thy mother had brought thee forth in a sinful state The 6th 7th vers seem to be the words of the Spouse In the 8th 9th verses she expresses her care and solicitude for the uncalled Gentiles At the 10th vers the Gentiles are brought in speaking for themselves Ver. 11 12 13. seem to be the last speech of Christ to and of his Spouse in this Song wherein he magnifies the price the precious fruitfulness and worth of his Church by comparing her to a Vineyard the best of Vineyards even Solomon's in Baalhamon a very fruitful place and he shews that that Vineyard is far short of his Ver. 14. is the Churches last speech and prayer wherein she expresses her longing and earnest expectation of Christ's second coming And so much of the Song of Solomon SECT VIII SOlomon now built a Navy of Ships in Ezion-Geber which is beside Eloth which were havens on that part of the Red-Sea which coasteth on the land of Edom. And because the Tyrians that were Hiram's subjects were always held the most expert Sea-men Hiram * 2 Chro. 8.15 Hiram sent him by the hands of his servants ships read guided for him i. e. by the hands of his servants ships to Ophir sent Solomon many of them to man his new built Ships and go along with and assist his servants in their intended voyage And it seems he built some Ships there himself that joined with the Navy of Solomon and thence they sailed to Ophir which is thought to be in the East-Indies for thither they might most easily sail from Ezion-Geber and fetched from thence four hundred and Twenty Talents of Gold In 2 Chron. 8.18 't is said that 450 Talents of Gold were brought from thence It seems the overplus viz. thirty Talents were expended for the charges of the Fleet and wages of the men or else it was the Adventure of Private persons and only 400 and 20 Talents came clear to the King So that Solomon had at Sea a Navy that went to Tarshish which possibly was then taken in as large an extent an India is now to which the Navy of Hiram joined and once in three years they came home bringing Gold and Silver Ivory or Elephants-tooth and Apes and Peacocks or Monkies and Parrats which they brought 't is like for rarities sake And this Navy also brought from Ophir a great quantity of precious stones and Almug-trees which it seems were better than those Solomon had from Lebanon And the King made of the Almug-trees pillars for the house of the Lord viz. pillars in the rails on each side of the stairs whereby they ascended up to the house of the Lord and 2 Chron. 9.10 't is said He made Terrasses to the house of the Lord and to the Kings house of the Algum-trees †Some think that the Almug-trees here mentioned much differed from the Algum-trees mentioned 2 Chron. 9.10 for these grew in Lebanon the Almug in India that is supporters on each side of the Gallery that led from the Kings Palace to the Temple He made also of this wood Harps and Psalteries for the Singers of the Temple 1 King 9. from 26 to the end 1 King 10. v. 11 12. 2 Chron. 9.10 11 21. SECT IX SOlomon now repaired * 2 Chron. 32.5 In a time of danger Hezekiah repair'd it see Judg. 9.6 Millo †Aedificium hoc erat civitatis Sion quod David quidem incepit sed Solomon absolvit Munster which seems to be the Town-house in the City of David wherein the people had their solemn Assemblies or else some tower or fortress belonging to the City He built also Hazor in the Tribe of Naphtali which was the chief City in former times of the Canaanites Josh 11.1 10. and Megiddo a City belonging to Manasseh Josh 17.11 and Gezer which Pharaoh had taken and given to his daughter See Sect. 5. And Beth-horn the upper and nether that were fenced with walls gates and bars 2 Chron. 8.5 And Baalath in Dan Josh 19.44 And Tadmor in a dry and sandy place in the Coast of Syria though belonging to the land of Israel And he built Cities of store for Ammunition and provisions of all sorts and Cities for his Chariots and Horsemen and whatsoever he design'd to build in Jerusalem or in the Forrest of Lebanon and in any part of his Dominions he prosperously finished 1 King from v. 15 to 20. SECT X. SOlomon understanding that Hamath a City in the Dominions of the King of Zobah Syria which his Father David had formerly taken had now revolted from him he sent his forces against it and took it 2 Chron. 8.3 SECT XI SOlomon still continues constant in his Religion offering the daily sacrifice and sacrificing on the Sabbaths and New Moons and constantly observing
out of his sight that is out of that land where he manifested the evidences of his gracious presence 'T is further added that when the Lord had rent Israel from the house of David they made Jeroboam the Son of Nebat King and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord and made them sin a great sin And the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did they departed not from them until the Lord removed them out of his sight as he had threatned by all his servants the Prophets And for these reasons was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria where they remained as exiles when this History was written 2 King 17. from 7 to the 24. 2 King 18.10 11 12. This was the end of the Kingdom of Israel when it had stood severed from the Kingdom of Judah by the space of two hundred fifty four years Their many great and crying sins highly provoked the Lord against them especially their notorious idolatry their contempt of the Lords Prophets and their contumacy and bold persisting in their wicked ways For after the great blow they received by Tiglath-Pilesâ—r 2 King 15.29 they were so far from any amendment that they used in the pride of their hearts that Proverb Isa 9. v. 10. The bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewn stones the sycamores are cut down but we will change them into cedars intimating thereby that they would build their towns that were spoiled better than they were before For these sins therefore the Lord was provoked to reject and cast them off and to suffer them to be led away captive Tobit or Tobias the elder saith of himself that he at this time with Anna his wife and his Countrymen the Naphtalites was carried away into the land of Assyria and there made purveyor or provider of corn and other victuals for Salmanasser's houshold and also that he was carried into Media and there placed in a principal City called Ruges c. Tobit Ch. 1. Salmanasser having thus carried away the Israelites captives he planted Colonies there of five Nations of his own people taking them out of Babylon Cutha Ava Emath and Sepharvaim and placed them in the Cities of Samaria in the room of the Israelites And these were they that after this time were called Cuthaeans by a Synecdoche because the major part of them came out of Cutha a Country in Persia many of these at their first coming thither not fearing the Lord nor worshipping the true God of Israel were devoured by Lions therefore a Jewish Priest was at the request of the rest of them sent out of Assyria to teach them the manner how the God of Israel would be worshipped But this being as it seems one of Jeroboam's Priests and making his residence at Bethel he taught them not the pure worship of God nor to serve him as they ought in his Temple at Jerusalem but in their own Country after the way of Jeroboam Neither were these people brought to worship the true God alone but every City had also a several Idol of their own which they worshipped according to the custom of the Nations from which they were descended and from whence they had been transported So though they feared the Lord that is acknowledged the God of Israel to be the true God yet they served their own gods also after the manner of the Nations from whence they came * Ex ritu Gentium illarum unde ipsos deportaverant vel è quibus deportati fuerant Pisc And as for the Israelites that were carried away captive into Assyria they were nothing amended by their captivity but 't is said of them 2 King 17.34 That unto this day they do after their former manners they fear not the Lord neither do they after their statutes or after their ordinances appointed and enjoin'd them by God or after the Law and Commandments which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob whom he named Israel to observe with whom he made a Covenant and charged them saying Ye shall not fear other gods nor bow your selves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them But the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm him shall ye fear and him shall ye worship and to him shall ye do sacrifice And the statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandments which he wrote for you ye shall observe to do for evermore * Viz. as long as that dispensation shall last and ye shall not fear other gods And the Covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget neither shall ye fear other gods but the Lord your God shall ye fear and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies Howbeit they did not hearken but they did after their former manner But as for those Nations whom the King of Assyria brought out of other Countries and placed in Samaria they went on in their mungrel way of Religion they and their children from generation to generation After these first Colonies there were other Colonies brought thither by Esarhaddon King of Assyria who was also called Asnapper the Great Ezra 4.2.10 Son of Sennacherib and Grandchild to Salmanasser This seems to be the last of the Assyrian Kings and the person that carried Manasseh prisoner to Babylon which was then under the Assyrian Empire 2 Chron. 33.11 So that the Prophesie of Isaiah seems now to be fulfilled Chap. 7.8 The head of Syria is Damascus and the head of Damascus is Rezin and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken that it be not a people For though the greatest part of the Israelites were carried away by Salmanasser some years before and their Kingdom utterly abolished yet among them that were left there remained some shew of a Government But now by reason of the great multitude of forreigners which came to dwell there the small remainder of the Ephramites were accounted as nothing yet they were not utterly extinct in their own Country as appears from 2 Chron. 34.6 7. v. 33. Chap. 35.18 2 King 23.19 20. 2 King 17. from 24 to the end These Samaritans before mentioned were succeeded by a second sort of Heretical Samaritans in the time of the Government of Nehemiah in whose time one of the Sons of Ioiada the Son of Eliashib the High Priest married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite and therefore he chased him from him Neh. 13.28 This Priest thus driven away from Ierusalem went with other Iews that had made the like mungrel marriages to the Samaritans their wives kindred who there as the Iewish Writers relate assisted them in building an Anti-Temple on mount Gerizim where a medly Nation devised a Miscellaneous worship of God rejecting all the Scriptures save the five Books of Moses and maintaining many abominable superstitions So that between these Samaritans and the Iews there grew
captives that were almost naked and clothed them out of the spoils that were taken and gave apparel and shoes to them that wanted and gave them to eat and drink and refreshed them and anointed * Or possibly anointed some of the better sort of them to revive and refresh them according to the custom of those Eastern Countries such of them as were wounded and then setting all the feeble of them upon asses carried them back to Jericho and there delivered them to their Brethren in Judea Thus the Lord inclin'd the hearts hearts of the Israelites to deal mercifully with the men of Judah Shortly after as it seems the Edomites invaded Judah and carried from thence many captives The Philistines also whom Vzziah whilst he trusted in God had subdued 2 Chron. 26.6 now brake in upon the Cities of Judah in the low Countries and the South parts thereof and took six of them and dwelt therein Thus God gave the people of Judah over to the spoil and brought them low because of the sins of Ahaz their King who made them naked that is depriv'd them of the help and protection of God by his great transgressions in practising Idolatry himself and drawing his people also into it Ahaz being thus forsaken of God and sore distressed on every side he takes the gold and silver that was in the Lords house and in the Treasures of his own house and sends it for a present to Tiglath-pilesar King of Assyria saying to him I am thy servant and thy son that is I am willing to be Tributary to thee and to serve thee and will be obedient to thee as a Son to his Father if thou wilt come and deliver me out of the hands of the King of Syria and the King of Israel The King of Assyria being an ambitious Prince and affecting rule and domination over all Nations about him readily embrac'd this occasion of invading Syria and coming with a great Army to Damascus he took it and carried away the inhabitants thereof to Kir a City of Media and put to death Rezin King of Syria fulfilling therein the forementioned Prophecy of Isaiah Ch. 7.16 Before the Child shall have knowledg to refuse evil and choose good the lands which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both their Kings * Of Pekah's death see 2 King 15.30 Hoshea conspir'd against him and slew him about the fourth year of Ahaz See more in the life of Pekah And Chap. 8. Before the child shall have knowledg to cry My Father and my Mother the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the King of Assyria that is it shall be plundred and wasted in his sight and by his command And Ch. 9.11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him and join his enemies together Amos also prohesied of these things Ch. 1.3 4 5. Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof but I will break the bar of Damascus and cut off the inhabitant from the plain or Aven and him that holdeth the scepter from the house of Eden and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir saith the Lord. Thus the Kingdom of Damascus and with it that of Hamath of which as being then in a flourishing condition mention is made Isa 37.13 and Jer. 49.23 which was begun in Rezon 1 King 11.23 24. now ended in this Rezin after it had continued about ten Generations Ahaz now goes to Damascus to Tiglath-Pilesar to congratulate him for his late victory obtained over the Syrians he seeth there an Idolatrous Altar the fashion and pattern of which with all the workmanship thereof he took and sent to Vrijah the Priest at Jerusalem with command that he should make the like there which he accordingly did against his return And Ahaz took a resolution as it seems to sacrifice to the gods of Damascus which he vainly thought had smitten him and helped the Syrians against him whereas he saw they could not defend their own worshippers from the power of Tiglath-Pilesar However he said because the gods of the Syrians help them I will sacrifice unto them that they may also help me But this Idolatry proved fatal to him and to all that joined with him therein for thereby they provoked God to give them over into the hands of their enemies Ahaz being now return'd to Jerusalem and this new Idolatrous Altar provided for him he commanded Vrijah to remove the Brazen Altar which Solomon had made from the forepart of the Priests-Court where it stood and to set it on the North-side as it were in a corner out of the way and to place this new Altar in the place of it telling him that Solomon's Altar should be for him to inquire of the Lord by when he thought fit Then on this new great Altar he offered a burnt-offering and a meat-offering and poured out a drink-offering to dedicate it He commanded also Vrijah to offer the morning and evening-sacrifice on this Altar and all other sacrifices that either King or people should offer * Râ—cte Tertullianus oportet nos in omni obsequio esse subditos Principibus Magistratibus potestatibus sed intra limites disciplinae Peccavit Uriah malens placere Regi quâ—m Deo Secus fecit Ambros Epist 5.32 Vrijah like a wicked false hearted wretch and a fellow that would do any thing even forsake God and his Religon to please his Prince readily did what Ahaz commanded him Ahaz then proceeded further and defaced and cut in sunder many of the Sacred vessels and utensils of the house of the Lord that they might never be used again in his service He cut off the borders of the bases and removed the lavers from them and took down the Molten Sea from off the stately Brazen oxen on which it stood and set it aside And the Covert of the Sabbath viz. the retiring place for the guard and watchmen that on the Sabbath-day and whole week were to keep the watch of the Temple which they had built in the house he removed and put by or stopt up the Entry and stately Gallery whereby the Kings us'd to pass from their Palace to the house of the Lord. And he shut up the doors of the covered Temple that the Priests might not enter into it to perform the services there requir'd and it seems it was not opened again till his sons days See 2 Chron. 29.3 Further he made him Altars in every corner of Jerusalem and in several Cities of Judah he set up high places to burn incense to other gods and so provoked the Lord exceedingly against him And all this it seems he did to ingratiate himself with the King of Assyria and that he might shew that he had forsaken the Religion of his Fathers and had embrac'd Heathenism And because he did all this when he had been lately so heavily afflicted of
must now for the better understanding this History of Hezekiah look a little into the neighbour Kingdom of Israel We shall find that in the days of Menahem the sixteenth King that there reigned who began to reign in the 39th year of Vzziah that God stirred up the spirit of Pul King of Assyria to invade the Kingdom of Israel 1 Chron. 5.26 and he made great spoil among them Then in the latter end of the reign of Pekah the eighteenth King of Israel who began to reign in the 52 year of Vzziah Tiglath-pileser Son of Pul carried away captive the people of Gilead and Peraea to wit the Reubenites Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh unto Chabor and Haran and then passing over Jordan possessed himself of Galilee and carried away the inhabitants of Napthali into Assyria So that at this time he subdued in a manner five Tribes of Israel 2 King 15.29 Tiglath-pilesar dying Salmanassar his Son succeeded him who in the ninth year of Hoshea and sixth of Hezekiah after three years siege took Samaria and their King Hoshea and carried away the Israelites captives into his own Country as we shall see more in the life of Hoshea So that the Kingdom of Israel now came to an end Sometime after Salmanassar dies and his Son Sennacherib reigned in his stead whom Herodotus Lib. 2. calleth King both of Assyria and Arabia too Perchance for that the Assyrians at that time together with Peraea or the land of Gilead and Hamath or Ituraea had also under their power a part of Arabia either Petrea or Deserta For Ava or Ivah which Sennacherib so much boasteth of to have been conquered by him or his ancestors 2 King 18.34 and Ch. 19.13 was a Country lying in the desert of Arabia as Fran. Junius affirms upon 2 King 17.24 And the Prophet Isaiah foretelling the calamity which was to befall the Moabites under Salmanassar Isa 15.7 and Ch. 16.14 threatens them that whatever they had laid up in store the Assyrians should carry it away into the valley of the Arabians Sennacherib now about the eleventh or twelfth year of Hezekiah as 't is probable resolving to make war against the Egyptians perhaps because they had been so lately assistant to the Israelites against the Assyrians in the reign of Salmanassar and an occasion of their revolt see 2 King 17.4 and the Philistines as it seems joining with him therein he sends part of his Army under Tartan one of his Generals to besiege Ashdod or Azotus which City Hezekiah had sometime before recovered out of the hands of the Philistines Now that this war lasted three whole years may be gathered out of Isa 20. where the Prophet putting off his coat of hairy cloth belonging to his Prophetical function see Zach. 13.4 from his loins and his shoos from his feet was commanded to walk up and down naked and bare foot as some conceive three days a day being put for a year to signifie to the Egyptians and Ethiopians that when that time was once run out they should in like manner being stript of their clothes and barefoot be led away into captivity and bondage by the King of Assyria which command the Prophet is said to have received in the year when Tartan being sent by Sargon King of Assyria besieged Ashdod and took it Isa 20.1 where by Sargon we must understand Sennacherib himself among whose Commanders this Tartan is particularly named 2 King 18.17 And the King of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish c. Hezekiah whether provoked by Sennacherib's taking of Ashdod so injuriously from him or for other reasons resolves now to shake off the King of Assyria's yoke which his Father Ahaz had taken on him and would no longer pay him Tribute Hereupon Sennacherib in the fourteenth year * Eight years after Shalmanasser had taken Samaria of Hezekiah even after he had made so good an establishment of Religion see 2 Chron. 32.1 bringing his Army out of Egypt where he had made great havock of which calamity the Prophet Nahum seems to speak Ch. 3.10 Yet was she carried away she went into captivity her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets and they cast lots for her honourable men and all her great men were bound in chains invades the Kingdom of Judah and besieges many of their fenced Cities and took many of them Hezekiah bestirs himself with all diligence to defend himself and his Kingdom against him And to that end by the advice of his Captains and Council he fill'd up the fountains and springs that were without the City of Jerusalem and covered them with earth and carried the waters by pipes under ground into the City that so the Assyrians if they came to besiege the City might be distressed for want of water also the brook Gihon or Siloe which ran through the midst of the Country where Jerusalem stood and divided it self into two streams one of them he turned from the usual channel and brought it strait down into the west-side of the City of David 2 Chron. 32.30 and made a great pond to receive the water of it for the benefit of the besieged And the Princes and the people did much assist him therein Also he fortified Jerusalem and built up that part of the wall that was broken down by Joash King of Israel in Amaziah's time which breach it seems was not fully repaired till now and he made the wall strong and high and made also another wall without as an Antimural or outwork see 2 King 25.4 and repaired Millo in the City of David which some think was their Town-house where the people had their general assembly or else some fort in the City he also provided all sorts of arms offensive and defensive and set Officers and Commanders over his Souldiers and calling them together into the broad street that was by the City-gate he spake comfortably to them after this manner My good subjects and faithful souldiers be ye strong and courageous be not afraid of the King of Assyria nor of the great multitude that is with him For there be more with us than with him with him is only the arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battels And the people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah 2 King 18.13 2 Chron. 32. from v. 1 to 9. Hezekiah seeing how soon the Assyrian had taken many of the fenced Cities of Judah and that proceeding on in his victories he had also laid siege to Lachish he began to entertain thoughts of buying his peace with him Hereupon he sent his Ambassadours to him to acknowledg his offence in denying the tribute and to intreat his favour yielding withal to pay whatever tribute he should impose upon him Sennacherib being puft up with his success requires of him three hundred Talents of Silver and thirty Talents of Gold * Which amounts to
first Month in the presence of the people of Judah and Israel and the inhabitants of Jerusalem he kept the Feast of the Passover And he set the Priests in their charges and encouraged them to perform the service of the house of the Lord. And he said to the Levites that is to the Priests of the Tribe of Levi who prepared the holy things of the Lord Put the holy Ark in the house of the Lord. It seems the Ark in Amon's reign had been carried out of the most holy place possibly that some Idol might be set up in its room Or else it had been purposely carried out by some pious Priests that it might not stand there among those heathenish Idols that were brought into the Temple and now Josiah orders it to be restored to its proper place again telling the Priests that it would not now be a burden unto them it must abide in the Temple and not be carried from place to place upon their shoulders as formerly it had been before the Temple was built and they being now delivered from that burden should serve the Lord their God more faithfully and cheerfully and should serve his people also by diligently instructing them and performing those services for them that tended to their spiritual good And because several families of the Levites were appointed to attend upon the sacrifices and offerings of several families of each Tribe some being to be imploy'd in that holy service for such and such families V. 6. Prepare for your brethren Praeparate agnos pro fratribus vestris J. T. and others for others therefore he appoints them to stand in the holy place and to attend the service that was to be done according to the divisions of the families of the people and according to the division of their own families He exhorts them also to sanctifie themselves and to prepare the sacrifices for the Priests to offer that they might do their duty as God had enjoyn'd them Then Josiah gave to the people for Passover offerings viz. of lambs and kids for either of these kinds might be offered thirty thousand and for other offerings three thousand bullocks all of the herds and flocks that belonged to the King see 2 Chron. 30.24 and his Princes gave also willingly and liberally to the Priests Levites and the people and Hilkiah the High Priest and Zachariah and Jehiel who with the High Priest were Rulers over other Priests and Levites in the house of God gave to the inferiour Priests two thousand and six hundred small cattle and three hundred oxen And six eminent Levites who were Fathers and Rulers over the rest of the Levites gave unto the inferiour Levites for Passover-offerings five thousand small cattel and for other offerings five hundred oxen So all things fit and requisite for a solemn Passover were provided and made ready and the Priests stood in their place and the Levites in their order according to the Kings Commandment So they kill'd the Passover every father of a family for himself and his family and the Levites for themselves and for other Levites who were otherwise imployed and the Priests sprinkled the blood on the Altar which they received from their hands and the Levites flayed the sacrifices and they separated such sacrifices as were to be eaten from the burnt-offerings which were wholly to be consumed on the Altar that so of the rest they might give to the people partly for Paschal lambs partly for peace-offerings whereof both Priests and people were to have a share And they rosted the Passover with fire but so much of the peace-offerings as was to be prepar'd for the offerers to eat before the Lord they sod in pots and chaldrons and pans and so divided them among the people Afterwards the Levites made ready for themselves V. 15. Jeduthun is call'd the Kings Ster Heman Asaph also had this Title the reason of which see 2 King 17.13 and for the Priests who being imployed even until night in offering the burnt-offerings and the fat c. had no time to provide for themselves And the Singers stood in their places to perform their service according to the commandment of David The Porters also attended at the Gates and did not depart from their service during that solemnity and thereupon the Levites prepared for them as they had done for the Priests Thus all things that appertained to the service and worship of God and to the keeping the Passover and the offering of the burnt-offerings were duly performed that day according to the Kings command And so they kept the Passover at that time and the feast of unleavened bread seven days after And there was no Passover like to this kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the Prophet neither did any of the Kings of Israel either David or Solomon or any of the Kings of Judah since the division of the Kingdom keep such a Passover as Josiah now kept if we consider the multitude of sacrifices that were offered and freely given by the King Princes Priests and Levites and the exceeding joy of the good people that Religion was restored again to its purity among them Furthermore Josiah took away all witches and sooth-sayers all images and dunghil-gods and all abominations which were found in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem that he might perform all the words that were written in the Book that was found by Hilkiah the Priest in the house of the Lord. And there was no King that was before him in the Throne of Judah like unto him or that followed after him if we consider the fervency of his zeal for the rooting out of Idolatry and other abominations which had prevailed before his time and if we consider the innocence and integrity of his life and his diligent heeding the law of the Lord. We have indeed observed upon 2 King 18.5 that in some particulars Hezekiah excelled him but in others Josiah excelled Hezekiah as in his contrition and deep humiliation for the wickedness that prevailed before his time see 2 King 22.19 His solemn making a Covenant with the Lord and engaging his subjects therein to reform their ways his solemn keeping of the Passover his zealous purging not only Judah and Benjamin from Idolatry but the Cities of Israel under his power besides he was not puft up with pride as Hezekiah was But though Josiah was in his own person so excellent a Prince yet it seems the people though they yielded to his reformation out of awe and respect to him yet in their hearts many of them did still approve Manasseh's wicked ways * 2 Reg. 23.26 Proptet irritationes Manassis quia is Idololatriae ingentem saevitiam addiderat approbante magna parte populi and this soon appear'd after Josiah's death for all his children did quickly return to Manasseh's Idolatry and followed him in his abominations but not in his repentance and conversion The Lord thereupon said I will remove Judah out
he sent with them ten Bedsteads with silver feet and rich furniture thereunto belonging a cup of thirty talents ten vests of scarlet and a Crown richly wrought and about one hundred pieces of very fine linnen and by his letters desired him that if any of those Interpreters had at any time a desire to come and visit him he would not hinder them for he much desired to converse with such kind of men and had rather spend his money upon them than any other way Antiochus Theos third King of Syria gave the Jews living in Ionia equal rights and priviledges with the Gentiles and suffered them to enjoy their own Religion He made sundry times war upon Ptol. Philadelphus and fought with him with all the forces he could raise out of the Oriental parts Wherefore Ptolemy desirous to put an end to this bloody war gave him his daughter Berenice to wife while his former wife Laodice was yet living by whom he had Seleucus Callinicus and Antiochus Hierax with an huge portion which gives light to Dan. 11. v. 5 6. But afterwards he put her away and took Laodice again and she was at last slain by the procurement of Seleucus Callinicus who succeeded his father in the Kingdom which was the Original of many wars between the Kings of Syria and Egypt Manasses Eleazar's Uncle Brother to Onias the first and S on of Jaddus succeeded in the Priesthood at Jerusalem Ptol. Euergetes Son to Ptol. Philadelphus marches into Syria to revenge his Sisters death and over-runs and conquers all before him and then came down to Jerusalem and there offered many sacrifices of thanksgiving unto God and dedicated to him many gifts in acknowledgment of so great a victory and then returned into Egypt carrying with him many rich spoils and Images of their gods which Cambyses heretofore had taken out of Egypt at his being there being called back by a sedition of his own people See Dan. 11.6 7 8 9. Ptol. Euergetes followed his father Philadelphus's steps in promoting learning and the magnificence of the Library begun by him at Alexandria He sent for Eratosthenes Cyrenaeus from Athens and made him keeper of it He took great care to get into his Library the works of ancient writers where ever they could be procured He borrowed from Athens the works of Sophocles Euripides and Aeschylus only to transcribe and left them fifteen Talents in pawn and then caused them to be written out very fair in parchment and then retaining the Originals he sent the Transcripts back desiring them to keep his pawn of fifteen Talents and to suffer the Originals to remain with him Onias the second son of Simon the Just after that Eleazar had executed the office of High Priest because he was then but a child when his father died and after him also Manasses because when he came to age he proved but a half-witted man yet at last came to be High Priest among the Jews in which office he carried himself very unworthily and basely and by his covetousness drew the anger of Ptol. Euergetes upon him for he refused to pay the tribute of twenty Talents of silver which his Predecessors ever used to pay out of their own store for the ease of their people Hereupon Pt. Euergetes in a great rage sent to him that if he did not speedily send him his arrears of tribute he would forthwith give away all his land amongst his Souldiers and plant new Colonies of his own there Josephus the son of Tobias a young man of singular prudence and virtue being advertised by his mother who was the sister of this Onias and daughter of Simon the Just of the coming of these messengers he presently came to Jerusalem and undertook to go in an Embassie to Euergetes about this matter and being come thither he so far insinuated himself into the good liking and favour of the King and Cleopatra the Queen that he not only diverted this storm which threatned his Country but also obtained a company of 2000 Souldiers to levy the tributes and other dues belonging to the King out of Coelosyria Phoenicia Samaria and Judea In which office he continued by the space of twenty two years and in that time doubled the Kings Revenues and brought them from 8 to 16 thousand Talents by the year and brought into the Kings Exchequer all the goods of Felons and other Confiscations which formerly the Exchequer-men swallowed up and shared among themselves Joseph 16. Ch. 3.4 After the decease of Onias the second his son Simon the second succeeded in the Priesthood About the year of the world 3787 when the second Carthaginian war began between Annibal and the Romans the Roman name began to be famous in the world and their power look'd upon as formidable as any of the Kings either of Egypt Syria or Macedon Ptol. Philopator overthrew Antiochus Magnus King of Syria in a great fight near Raphia a City in Syria and so got Raphia and those places round about The Jews sending some of their Sanedrin to render him their service and to congratulate him after so great a victory he promised to go thither and to honour their City with his presence When he came he admired the beauty of their Temple and would fain have gone into the Sanctum Sanctorum whereinto it was not lawful for any to go save the High Priest only The Jews vehemently opposing him therein the King was more earnest and bent upon it whereupon all the Temple was filled with cryings and howlings and the City with tumult Then Simon the High Priest kneeling down between the Temple and the Altar humbly sought help from God in that time of trouble Whereupon the King fell into such an horrour of mind that he was unable to speak and so was carried half dead out of the Temple 2 Mac. Ch. 1. 2. Ptol. Philopator being returned into Egypt fell into all manner of loose living and debauchery and sought by all means to turn the Jews of Alexandria from the worship of the true God and some of those that would not turn he caused to be slain and some he marked with hot irons on their faces and some with the sign of an Ivy-leaf because that was the badg of Bacchus Hereupon many abandoned their Religion in compliance to the King's will Others bought their peace and saved their lives and escaped their marking with hot irons for their money But they who continued constant in the Religion of their forefathers continued also constant in their allegiance to the King but would not converse in any kind with those of their own Nation who had apostatized from their Religion whereupon their enemies presently made this construction of it that they opposed the King in his power and Government and sought to turn away his subjects from their obedience Upon this Philopator growing angry with the Jews not only in Alexandria but even throughout all Egypt sent out orders to have them all gathered together into one
run to and fro through the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect towards him Herein therefore thou hast done foolishly and from henceforth thou shalt have wars with Baasha 1 King 15.16 Asa was very wroth with the Seer for this his plain and faithful dealing with him and put him into prison and dealt very harshly also with some of his subjects at the same time who possibly shewed their dislike of these his proceedings In the 39th year of his reign he was diseased in his feet probably with the Gout and his disease proving exceeding painful he sought not so much to the Lord for help as to the Physicians He died in the forty first year of his reign having reigned in the time of seven Kings of Israel viz. in some part of Jeroboam's and all the time of Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Omri and in some part of Ahab's and they buried him in a Sepulcher which he had made for himself in the City of David and they laid him in the Bed or Coffin which was filled with all kinds of odours and sweet spices prepared by the Art of the Apothecaries and they made a great burning for him that is they burnt sweet perfumes at his burial in very great abundance and Jehoshaphat his Son reigned in his stead 1 King 15. from v. 9 to 25. 2 Chron. 14. wh Ch. 2 Chron. 15. wh Ch. 2 Chron. 16. whole Chapter The 4th King that reigned in Judah was JEHOSHAPHAT JEhoshaphat began his reign in the fourth year of the reign of Ahab he was thirty five years old when he began to reign and reigned twenty five years in Jerusalem He walked in the ways of Asa his Father doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. And the Lord was with him because he walked in the first ways of David his Father which were purer and more free from sin than were his latter days He sought not to Baal as did Ahab but sought to the Lord and walked in his ways and commandments and not after the doings of Israel And the Lord established the Kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought him presents and he had riches and honour in abundance and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord that is he was very zealous and couragious in the cause of God and went on with an high and magnanimous spirit without any fear or discouragement At his first coming to the Crown he placed forces in all the fenced Cities of Judah and Garrison'd the Cities of Ephraim which his Father Asa had taken See 2 Chron. 15.8 And strengthened himself against Israel The remnant of the Sodomites which remain'd in the days of his Father he took out of the land He took away also such high-places as were dedicated to the worship of strange gods but those wherein the people served the true God of Israel he took not away but the people offered and burnt incense still in them See 1 King 22.43 'T is true his Father had twice removed them 2 Chron. 14.5 15.8 16. yet it seems some escaped or else the people in his Fathers declining time when he was diseased in his feet renewed them But those high-places wherein they served the true God of Israel he took not quite away but the people offered and burnt incense still in them for they had not at least not a great many of them disposed their hearts to follow the Lord intirely and his commandments and injunctions See 2 Chron. 20.33 Some reformation indeed they had yielded unto but yet their hearts hankered still after their old superstition See 2 Chron. 15.17 And though Jehoshaphat did endeavour to reform what was amiss among them yet from the high-places * Docemur hinc Deo displicere Electitios cultus a Deo non prascriptos Osiander the people would not be reclaimed In the third year of his reign finding as we said before that the people were in many places much addicted to Idolatry and had set up the high-places which his Father Asa had pulled down he sent some choice Priests and Levites as Visitors into several parts of his Kingdom to see whither they were rightly taught and instructed and by their own personal teaching to confirm those that were well instructed and to convince those that were corrupted or misled and to shew them how expresly the Law did forbid and threaten all Idolatry whatsoever and with them he sent some Princes and men of note to countenance and encourage them and possibly to punish those who should oppose them or be obstinate in their errors Jehoshaphat thus setting himself to the work of Reformation a great terror from the Lord fell upon all the Kingdoms round about him so that they made no war nor gave any disturbance to him Also some Philistines that were deadly enemies to the Jews brought presents to him and tribute-silver Asa having subdued a considerable part of them as we may see 2 Chron. 14.14 And the Arabians brought him flocks their chief calling being to breed and feed cattel and so brought such presents as they had viz. seven thousand and seven hundred rams and as many he-goats These were all clean cattel and so fit both for meat and sacrifice Jehoshaphat now waxed great exceedingly great in riches great in power and great in honour and esteem and he built Castles in Judah and Cities of store viz. to lay up his ammunition and provisions in And he had much business in the Cities of Judah that is he took great care himself and employ'd others under him about such things as were of publick concernment for the good of those Cities in particular and the whole Kingdom in general but his chief Commanders and Captains with some choice Companies of Souldiers he kept about his own person in Jerusalem Moreover he had a great Militia ready to attend him upon any emergent occasion and these were under the command of five able leaders successively The Trained bands of Judah being first under the command of Adnah and when Adnah was dead under the command of Jehohanan and when he was dead under Amaziah the Son of Zichri who willingly offered himself to the Lord viz. to fight the Lords battels against the enemies of the land So likewise the Trained bands of Benjamin were first under Eliada and next after him under Jehozabad and their numbers were in the several times of these Generals sometimes more and sometimes less This was his Militia besides the Souldiers he had in Garrisons and these in their courses some at one time and some at another came up to Jerusalem to wait upon the King About the eighth year of his reign he join'd in affinity with Ahab and married his eldest Son Jehoram to Athaliah Ahab's daughter It may seem strange that so pious a King as Jehoshaphat was should ever be induc'd to marry his Son and heir of his Crown to the daughter of wicked and
Idolatrous Ahab and curs'd Jezabel But O how often and how easily does interest of State and worldly policy make Religion truckle under it And the Kingdom felt the sad effects of this match not long after About the 17th year of his reign and the 22th of Ahab making his Son Jehoram Viceroy in his absence with a great train and as it seems accompanied with some troops of Souldiers he went down to Samaria to visit Ahab None of his Predecessors had ever done so before and for Jehoshaphat a worshipper of the true God to go down to such an Idolater as Ahab was may seem very strange But being come to Samaria Ahab entertained him and his followers very magnificently and killed sheep and oxen in abundance to feast them But had not the Lord been more merciful to Jehoshaphat than he was wise for himself he had paid dear for his entertainment for when he was there Ahab perswaded him to go up with him to fight against the Syrians and to take in Ramoth-Gilead where Jehoshaphat was in great danger and Ahab was killed as we may see more particularly in the life of Ahab When Jehoshaphat returned home the Prophet Jehu the Son of Hanani who reproved Asa 1 Chron. 16.7 met him and said to him Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord was it for thee to join thy self in such a strict league of friendship with such an Idolatrous wretch such an enemy to God and all goodness as Ahab was Therefore is wrath * Jehoshaphat soon felt the effects of this denunciation in that invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites which followed after 1 Chro. 20.1 and in the dissention that began at present among his own sons which was the seed of that horrible slaughter which his Eldest Son afterwards made of them 1 Chron. 21.4 coming upon thee from the Lord that is God is highly displeased with thee and hath determined to pour out his displeasure upon thee Nevertheless there are good things found in thee in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land and hast prepared thine heart to seek the Lord therefore the Lord will deal gently with thee and even in judgment remember mercy Jehoshaphat being awakened with this reproof of the Prophet he went out and visited his Kingdom from Beersheba the South border to Mount Ephraim the North border thereof and reduced those who he understood had revolted from the Lord unto Idolatry false worship or wickedness of life and reformed what he found out of order among them He also set up Judges in all the fenced Cities of Judah and said to them Take heed what you do ye judg not for man that is meerly in the name and by the authority of man but for the Lord to whom ye must give account and who is with you in the judgment seeing all ye do and is ready to protect you if you judg uprightly and to punish you if you deal unjustly Wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you be afraid to do any thing that may offend him Take heed to your office and execute it justly and as you ought to do For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God neither will he favour it therefore let there be none in you God is no respecter of persons nor will be swayed with outward considerations nor will be bribed to do any thing that is unjust and therefore see that you imitate him therein Jehoshaphat had also an especial care over his great City Jerusalem to keep it in good order And therefore when he and those that attended him returned thither he there set up the high Court or Council call'd the Sanhedrin consisting of Levites Priests and the Elders of the people to which all appeals were to be made from inferiour Courts and to which all causes of difficulty were to be referred So that they were for the judgment of the Lord that is to judge in matters Ecclesiastical concerning which God had determined in his word what should be done and for controversies that is to judge in matters meerly civil And he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with an upright heart whatever cause shall come before you of your brethren between blood and blood that is between blood shed willingly and unwillingly and casually or between Law and commandment statute and judgment that is when each party shall pretend they have the Law on their side and so one shall alledge one Law and another another ye shall rightly interpret the Law to them and warn them that they trespass not against the Lord by wresting the Law to what it never intended If you do otherwise wrath from the Lord will come upon you and your brethren But if you rightly warn and direct the people ye shall not trespass therein either against God or your brethren And behold Amariah the chief Priest is over you in all matters of the Lord that is in all matters Ecclesiastical that concern Religion and the worship of God and Zebadiah the Son of Ishmael a chief ruler of the house of Judah is over you for all the Kings matters that is for all matters of State or controversies or pleas that concern the Crown and the Levites shall be Officers for you and ready to attend you and to carry your orders and directions unto others and to see them executed Lastly let me exhort you to do courageously and assure your selves the Lord shall be with the good and such as are careful and conscientious in the doing of their duties to assist and protect them and to bless their persons and endeavours About the 18th year of his reign there being no King in Edom 1 King 22.47 but only a Deputy set over them by the King of Judah Jehoshaphat took that advantage to build for himself a Fleet at Ezion-Geber which was in Edoms Territories to go to Tarshish and Ophir to fetch Gold Ahaziah the wicked Son of Ahab desired to go sharer with him in that Fleet and that his servants might go along with Jehoshaphats servants 1 King 22.49 At first Jehoshaphat refused it but afterwards as it seems upon Ahaziahs importunity consented to it See 2 Chron. 20.35 36. Thereupon the Prophet Eleazar came to him and reproved him for it and foretold him that his ships should be broken which accordingly so came to pass in the very Port of Ezion-Geber 2 Chron. 20. from v. 25 to the end Sometime after the Moabites and with them probably some of the Syrians and especially of the Edomites that dwelt on mount Seir. See v. 10. gathered together to invade Judea Possibly Jehoshaphat's late aiding Ahab in his wars against Syria gave occasion to this invasion Immediately Jehoshaphat was inform'd that a very formidable and great multitude was coming against him from the other side of the Dead Sea out of Syria * Syria must be here taken in a general and large