The Calling of the Jews, Biblical commentary 1
Daniel 9. 24. &c. to the end of the Chapter.
24. Seauenty aOr weekes, meaning ſeuens of years. But the tearm (weekes) is not ſo cleere and ſignificant.ſeauens are *So doth the verbe in the plural import.each of them cut out for thy people, and for thy holy City bOr in reſtraining, that is, within which cōpaſs of time ſhall be reſtrained.to restraine wickedneſſe, and to ſeale ſinnes, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring righteouſneſſe euerlaſting, and to ſeale viſion and Prophet, and to annoint cHeb. Holines of holineſſes.the moſt holy.
25. Know therefore and marke, from the going forth of the word to reſtore, and to build Ieruſalem vntounto a dOr an anointed gouernor.Meſſia Gouernor, ſhall be ſeauen ſeauens. And threeſcore and two ſeauens againe ſhall be built ſtreet and ditch, and eHeb. in trouble.trouble ſome ſhall thoſe times be.
26. And after thoſe threeſcore & two ſeauens Meſſia ſhall be cut off, and ſhall hauehave fNo more to doe there.nothing. And the City and ſanctuarie ſhall the people of a gHebr. A Come-gouernor, in Latin Aduena.forraine gouernor destroy, and the end thereof ſhall be with a floud, and vntounto the end of the warre there ſhall be an hHebr. Preciſenes of deſolations, that is, extreame deſolation preciſely determined.extreame determined deſolation.
27. And hee ſhall corroborate the Couenant vntounto many one ſeauen, and in the halfe of that ſeauen he ſhall cauſe ſacrifice and oblation to ceaſe, and by iHebr. By the wing of abhominations.the abhominable wing hee ſhall make deſolation, euen till kHebr. Conſummation.vtter deſtruction, and that preciſely determined, be powred vponupon the deſolate.
THeſe words are a part of the meſſage which the Angell Gabriel ſent Ambaſſador from the God of heauen had in commiſſion to deliuer to our Prophet. It is a noble Propheſie of the ſtate of Gods people, how after the winter of 70. yeares captiuity, there ſhould come a ſpring of 70. times ſeauen yeares continuance in their land and country. In vvhichwhich time the Temple and Citie ſhall be built anew, Chriſt the Lord of the Temple by his perſonall preſence ſhall aboliſh the legall worſhip, and at the laſt in fact take it quite away, deſtroying both Temple and City by the Romaine Armies, which iuſtly ſhall light vponupon their heads for refuſing the ſaluation which this great Prophet their Lord and redeemer came into the world to bring vntounto them.
Three queſtions heere naturally ariſe vponupon the vnfolding whereof the vnderſtanding of this Scripture doth much depend: one from what time theſe 70. ſeauens take their beginning: another when they determine and hauehave an end: the third, who ſhould be the Meſſiah here ſpoken of. For the diſcuſſing of theſe, and to bring ſome light to ſo darke and difficult a peece of Scripture, ſomewhat muſt firſt be ſaid of the 70. yeares captiuity, and of Darius the Mede, and Cyrus King of Perſia, that brought an end vntounto it.
There were 3. captiuities of Gods people all mentioned, 2. Chron. 36. and 2. Kings 24. and 25.
The firſt towards the end of the third yeare of Iehoiakim, and the beginning of his fourth, being the firſt yeare of Nabuchadnetſar, when Daniel and his fellowes were led away captiues, Ier. 25. 1. Dan. 1. 1.
The ſecond vnderunder Iehoiacin or Iechonia about the eight yeare of Nabuchadnetzar; from whence Ezechiel is wont to reckon, Ezekiel. 1. 2. being himſelfe one of that captiuitie.
The third in the eleuenth of Zedechia and ninteenth of Nabuchadnetſar when the City & temple were deſtroyed: from which of theſe the 70. yeares captiuity ſhould begin, is a great queſtion. I referre it to the firſt: for,
1. Ieremy giueth but 70. yeares to Babel, which are firſt ſpoken of when great Nebuchadnetzar began his raigne, Ierem. 25. And by thoſe 70. yeares of Babel hee boundeth the captiuity, Ier. 29. 10. When 70. yeares be accompliſhed to Babel (ſo I read, not, at Babel) I will viſit you, &c.
2. Thoſe words being written to the Iewes of the ſecond captiuity, are an apparant proofe that, part of the 70. yeares captiuity was then expired. And thus it may well ſtand that Haggai ſaith, in the ſixt yeare of Darius, that many there preſent had ſeene the former houſe, Hag. 2. 3. for it was deſtroyed not paſt 67. yeares before. Alſo Daniel was not to old to wield the Babilonian Empire in the time of Darius Medus, it being but the 70. ſeauenth yeare of his captiuity. And Ezrah (whoſe father Seraiah was ſlaine when the Temple was burnt, 2. Kings 25. 21.) might be actiue in the ſeauenth of Artaxerxes, Ezra 7. 8. which was 21. yeares after that ſixt yeare of Darius, and ſo 88. yeares from the death of his father. All which things, but by this reckoning, could hardly be admitted.
He that pulled downe the Babylonian pride, was Darius the Mede. Cyrus (as Zenophon alſo writeth) was but the Lieutenant of his Armie, and acknowledged him his Soueraigne: For,
Firſt this Conqueſt is eueryevery where attributed to the Medes, Eſay 13. 17. Behold I will raiſe vp againſt him the Mede, Ier. 51. 11. The Lord raiſeth vp againſt Babylon, the Spirit of the Kings of Media; and verſ. 28. Prepare againſt her the Nations, the Kings of Media, her Princes and all her Nobles, and all the Land of his Dominion.
Secondly, Darius tooke (of his owne authority, not by any mans guift) the Kingdome, as ſoone as Belſhazzer was ſlaine, Dan. 5. 31. And hee it was whom the Angell did encourage and ſtrengthen, Dan. 1. 11. That he might ouercome the Chaldeans, hee diſpoſed of the Empire, and ſet vp 120. Gouernours, Dan. 6. 1. And in all his time no mention is made of Cyrus.
Thirdly, Daniel reciteth his viſions in order thus, In the firſt yeare of Belſhazzer, Dan. 7. 1. In the third yeare of Belſhazzer, Dan. 8. 1. In the firſt yeare of Darius. Dan. 9. 1. In the third yeare of Cyrus, Dan. 10. 1.
Fourthly, Darius raigne is reckoned as diſtinct from Cyrus and before Cyrus, Dan. 6. 29. He raigned not a yeare (being 62. yeares old when Belſhazzar was ſlaine, Dan. 5. 31.) and let Cyrus his Succeſſor: for Daniel in the firſt of his raigne vnderſtood the 70. yeares to be that yeare accompliſhed. Dan. 92. So the Propheſie of Ieremie was fulfilled, that the 70. yeares Captiuity, and the Babylonian Monarchie ſhould end together. ler. 25. 12. & 29. 10.
But it will be obiected that, 2 Chron. 36 20. the captiuity laſteſt till the Kingdome of Perſia came in. Therefore that Cyrus raigned together with Darius; elſe the Babylonian Monarchie ſhould not end with the captiuity: for the raigne of Darius Medus came betweene.
I anſwer, Darius raigne was a part of the Perſian Monarchy; for he wrote himſelfe King of the Medes and Perſians: and ſeeing the Perſian name preuailed aboue the Medes, and that inſtantly (Darius dying the ſame yeare) Ezra calleth the whole ſucceſſion from the time of the taking of Babilon, the Kingdome of Perſia.
This Darius was the ſonne of Aſſuerus, of the ſeede of the Medes, Dan. 9. 1. whom (leauing to eueryevery man his iudgement free) I take to bee that Aſſuerus which was Queene Eſters huſband, and that ſhee was not wife, neither to Darius Hyſtaſpis, or any other ſucceeding King: for,
Firſt, there bee but two Aſſueruſſes mentioned in the Scripture: this and another, Ezra 4, 6. Succeſtor. vntounto Cyrus. But he raigned nothing neere 13. yeares, as our Aſſuerus did, Eſter 3. 7. compared with Eſter 9. 1. nor was a friend but a perpetuall enemie to the Iewes. And ſeeing the holy Ghoſt doth ſo preciſely diſtinguiſh the Perſian Kings by their ſeuerall and proper names, which bring great light vntounto a Story: I would not confound theſe things to giuegive two names to one, and the ſame perſon; that in one place he ſhould be called Darius, in another Aſſuerus, without apparant euidence and warrant out of the Scripture.
Secondly, the whole courſe of Eſters Story ſheweth that it was acted during the captiuity; for it is not credible that after the returne of 49000. vnderunder Cyrus. Ezra 2. there ſhould bee left ſuch a multitude of Iewes, and of that ſtrength, as at Suſis, were able to kill 800. of their enemies, and in the reſt of Aſſuerus Dominions, 75000. Eſter, 9. 12. 15. 16. nor would Mordecai and Queene Heſter after the Temple built againe hauehave inſtituted the Purim, Eſter 9. 31. without ſending to the houſe of God to enquire of the Lord by the mouth of his Prieſts and Prophets, what were to be done as the people did, Zach. 7. 2. 3. And in the Letters that Mordecai wrote to all the Iewes which were in the Prouinces of King Aſſuerus farre and neere, appointing them to celebrate that day, Eſter 9. 20. 21. they in Iudaea would by name hauehave beene ſpoken of, if at that time the people had beene come back?
Thirdly, Aſſuerus Heſters huſband was King of Media and Perſia; for hee made that great feaſt to the Princes of his Armies of Perſia and Media. Eſter 1. 3. and the acts of Mordecaies greatneſſe are ſaid to be regiſtred in the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Perſia, Eſter 10. 2. But I finde not after Cyrus once came to the helme, that they are at any time in holy Scripture called Kings of Media and Perſia, but of Perſia only▪ for being at the firſt a beaſt of two hornes, the Kingdome of Media and Perſia, Dan. 8. 20. this latter that roſe vp after, grew higher than the other and tooke the honour from it, Dan. 8. 3.
Fourthly, Why doth the holy Ghoſt, Dan. 9. 1 ſpeake of Aſſuerus father to Darius the Mede, more than of the father of Cyrus or any other, but for ſome ſpeciall purpoſe? And that muſt be in regard of the Story of Eſter.
Fiftly, Mordecaies age doth proue it; his oppoſing againſt Haman, and the other things he did in the twelfth of Aſſuerus cannot be thought to come from ſo old a man as he muſt bee, if you make Aſſuerus to be Darius Hyſtaſpis: for from the captiuity of Ieconias when Mordecai was led away, Eſter 2. 6. to the twelfth of Aſſuerus, are 83. yeares: and if hee were then but 7. yeares of age, which is not likely, he muſt now be 90. neither is to be thought that hee would at thoſe yeares begin to enter into the affaires of the State (eſpecially of ſuch a great & turbulēt State) as he did, Eſter 10. Barzillai long before being but 80. refuſed a better offer to be in Dauids Court, becauſe of the greatneſſe of his age. 2. Chron. 19. 33, 34, 35, 36.
This Aſſuerus raigned from India to Ethiopia as it is commonly tranſlated. But the Hebrew is from India to Cuſh. Cuſh may bee taken as well for Arabia as Aethiopia; and to ſome parts of Arabia his Kingdome might well reach, euen whilſt the Babilonians bare their greatest ſway: for the Kings which ſhould ſubdue Babylon, that is the Medes and Perſians, are called mighty Nations and great Kings, Ier. 27. 7.
And Herodotus in his firſt Booke doth wonderfully extoll the great power of Cyaxeres the Mede (by that name Stories call this Aſſuerus and his father) who ruled (as hee ſaith) ouer all Aſia, and ſubdued the Aſſyrians, the Babylonians only excepted: it is like his territories extended to the Indians Eaſtward, and of the other ſide vntounto Arabia and Nebuchadnetzars moſt about Babylon, and in Aegypt, Tyrus and the regions of Aſia minor.
Howſoeuer it were, if hee enlarged not his bounds ſo farre, whilſt Nebuchadnetzar was aliue, at the leaſt he might doe it in the time of Euilmerodach, who loſt much to the Medes and Perſians, and was at the laſt ſlaine in battaile againſt them.
That which maketh all the doubt is that Mordecai was carried priſoner frō Ieruſalem by Nebuchadnetzar, King of Babel in the captiuity of Ieconiah, Eſter 2. 6. Therefore he dwelt not vnderunder the dominion of Aſſuerus the Mede: for from Nebuchadnetzar till Babel was taken by Darius, none of the Medes had footing in that Kingdome. Nay, the Iewes by Gods ordinance were to ſerue the King of Babel, his ſonne and ſonnes ſonne till the yeares of the captiuity ſhould be expired, as may bee gathered by Ier. 27. 7. 2. Chron. 36. 20. And a Babylonian King (if it were during the captiuitie) this Aſſuerus could not bee; for the Kingdome of Babylon was promiſed to Nebuchadnetzar his ſonne and ſonnes ſonne, Ier. 25. 6, 7. who are named to bee Euilmerodach, 2. Kings 25. 27. and Belſhazzar, Dan. 5.
This indeed is a great obiection, to the which of a certaine I can ſay nothing. But ſeeing Aſſuerus was a King of the Medes and Perſians, and euen during the Babilonian captiuity there was at Suſis where Aſſuerus kept his court, Eſter 1. 2. a Pallace for the Kings of Media and Perſia: Dan. 8. 2. Why may it not be that multitude of the Iewes diſperſed themſelues hither and thither into diuers Countries, as they could beſt make ſhift, eſpecially in the confuſion and ſhuffling of things, when Nebuchadnetzar was throwne out of his Kingdome; and Mordecai happily among the reſt might tranſport himſelfe to Suſis.
In this City was Daniel the third yeare of King Belſhazzar, Dan. 8. 2. for ſo I hold hee was indeed and not in a viſion: he might bee by the riuer Vlai in a viſion: but when he ſaw that viſion he was really in the Pallace at Suſis. Belike in regard of his great wiſedome hee was ſent thither vponupon ſome Embaſſage or other employment for the ſeruice of the King his maiſter: So verſ. 27. of that Chapter ſeemeth to import; for certainely at that time Suſis was of the Medes dominion.
The generality therefore of the people might be vnderunder the King of Babel; for it was the Babylonicall captiuity, ſeing the Land of Iudaea belonged to the Babylonian, and no returne could be without his leaue) though many of them ſhifted for themſelues elſewhere.
Perhaps alſo the King of Medes, either taking aduantage of thoſe great changes in the ſtate and Commonwealth that could not but fall out vponupon the expelling of Nebuchadnetzar, or in the looſeneſſe of Euilmerodachs raigne when his father was dead, ſubdued thoſe places in Meſopotamia about the riuer Chebar, whether the Iewes of Ieconias captiuity were led away, Ezech. 1. 3. & 2. 25. many other things there bee which might make an alteration, that are not particularly and by name expreſſed in the Scripture, Wherefore Gods great goodneſſe to his poore afflicted Church did herein maruellouſly ſhew it ſelfe, that at one and the ſametime, vnderunder the captiuity, in the middeſt of their greateſt heauineſſe; Mordecai and Queene Eſter among the Medes, and Daniel with the Babylonians were ſo highly exalted.
After Darius death came the proclamation of Cyrus which is recorded, 2 Chron. 36. & Ezr. 1. That Darius was then dead appeareth by the Memorandum found among the records, Ezra 6. 2. 3. made in the firſt yeare of K. Cyrus: Cyrus made a decree, &c. and by the proclamation it ſelfe. Thus ſaith Cyrus King of Perſia: God hath giuen vntounto mee all the Kingdomes of the Earth, &c. If Darius had been liuing, Cyrus would not hauehave written himſelfe King of Perſia; for all Darius time it was the Medes and Perſians: At the leaſt he would not hauehave ſaid, that God had giuen him all the Kingdomes of the earth, when Darius was his Soueraigne; neither would he hauehave beene named King of Babel at that time (as Ezra 5. 13. relating therevnto doth call him) which without queſtion was Darius his during his life. Dan. 5. 31. & 6. 1. 2. &c.
Now then for the firſt queſtion (of the three formerly propounded) from this Edict of Cyrus (the time when the ſeauenty yeares captiuity ended) begin the ſeauenty ſeauens: for,
1. Certainely, they include the whole time of the peoples welfare; ſo the words of the Angell ſound, Seauenty ſeauens are determined vponupon thy people and vppon thy holy Citie: But that was promiſed to be aſſoon as the ſeauenty yeares captiuity ſhould expire, Ier. 29. 10. After ſeauenty yeares bee accompliſhed to Babel, I will viſite you, and performe my good promiſe, to cauſe you to returne to this place. The performance of which promiſe Daniel heere prayeth, that God would not deferre, verſe 19. And the Angell telleth him, verſ. 23. hee was heard in that hee prayed for, and that the Angell was come to declare the ſame vntounto him.
2. The Angell ſpeaketh of the going forth of the word, as of a thing notorious: which muſt needs be the word or proclamation that was to come from Cyrus; for of him the Scripture ſpeaketh by name, Eſay 43. 23. and other promiſe there was not any.
3. To ſuſpend the beginning ſo long, as till Darius Nothus, or the ſecond Artaxerxes (whom they call Artaxerxes Muemon) were to make Daniel & the whole Church (for whoſe comfort this Propheſie was reuealed) ignorant of the beginning. And then there ſhould hauehave needed another to hauehave interpreted the Angell, and to ſhew when that Edict was to be publiſhed.
It is true, the Edict was not gone forth when Daniel vſed this prayer; for his prayer was in the raigne of Darius the Mede, at what time Cyrus was not as yet the abſolute Lord: But it appeareth, Dan. 9. 1, 2. Daniel knew the time was now come when the ſame muſt be accompliſhed, and Cyrus notoriouſly knowne to be the perſon that muſt doe it, Eſay 43. 23. So that of this Edict preſently to be promulged, both himſelfe and the whole Church tooke certaine knowledge: whereſome obiect that the Angell ſpeaketh not of the bringing back of the people, or of the building of the Temple, but to build Ieruſalem againe, and therefore that it cannot be meant of Cyrus Edict; but muſt bee referred to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Mnemon, when Nehemie receiued commiſſion from him to build the Citie of the ſepulchres of his fathers, that is to ſay Ieruſalem: it is much miſtaken: for,
1. Daniels prayer was for the Sanctuary as well as for the Citle, and the Angell no doubt entendeth the building of them both.
2. The promiſe maketh it cleere; for the Prophet Eſay long before told what Cyrus Edict ſhould be: Eſay 44. 23. Let Ieruſalem bee reedified, and the foundation of the Temple layd. According to which words you muſt conſtrue the words of the Edict it ſelfe, though it expreſſe but the houſe at Ieruſalem by name. The ſame being made to fulfill the word foreſpoken of by the Lord, 2. Chr. 36. 22. & Ezr. 1. 1. Euen as on the other ſide, by vertue of the firſt Artaxerxes inhibition to build the City, the worke of the houſe of the Lord was reſtrained: Ezr. 4. 21. 24. So both were in true meaning ioyned together: And Ezr. 4. 12. the enemies of the Iewes wrought in the time of that firſt Artaxerxes, that the Iewes were a building of Ieruſalem and repairing of the walles; therefore the Edict of Cyrus bare them out to doe it.
3. The Angelioyneth the deſtruction of the Citty and the Sanctuary, both to be after 62. ſeauens, verſ. 26. therefore they begin together.
This is then the beginning of the ſeauens, their end is at the deſtruction of the Citie and Temple by Ueſpatian; ſo farre they reach, and are not determined by the death of Chriſt: for,
Firſt, the Angels words (anſwering Daniels prayer) are ſo expreſſly, verſ. 24. Seauenty ſeauens are determined for thy holy Citie. And againe, verſ. 27. The Citie and the Sanctuary ſo all the people of a forraine Gouernour deſtroy.
Secondly, the deſolation that the Romane Army ſhould make, verſ. 26. & 27. and was done ſome 40. yeares after the death of Chriſt, is in the 27. verſe expreſſly made a worke of one part of the ſeauenth ſeauen.
The laſt and greateſt queſtion is touching the Meſſias here ſpoken of; for to applie it to any other than to the true Meſſiah, Chriſt our Sauiour, ſome hauehave branded with the marke of Iudaiſme. But Meſſiah in the abſolute (2. Sam. 1. 21.) Meſſiah adiectiuely taken (Leuit. 4. 3. &c.) the Meſſiah of Iehovah (proper vntounto Chriſt, Pſal. 2. 2. 1. Sam. 2. 10.) are attributed vntounto other, euen vntounto ſuch as were no types of Chriſt. (Eſay. 45. 1.)
Many things there are which induce me to thinke, that this place is not to be vnderſtood of Chriſt the Lord.
1. The Hebrue diſtinction Athnach (verſ. 24) maketh a full point after the ſeauen ſeauens, thus, from the going forth of the word to a Meſſiah gouernor ſhall be ſeauen ſeauens. Which being but 49. yeares reach not to Chriſts time. To ſet the points at naught, as inuented by the Maſſorits, is to weaken all the ioints of holy writt. The ſingular vſe of Athnach, you may notablie ſee, 2. Kings 2. 14. Where this onelyonly accent bringeth light to the true expoſition of that Scripture, and freeth it from a dangerous error, which otherwiſe the text might ſeeme to giuegive countenance vntounto.
2. This Meſſiah was not to be cut off whileſt Ieruſalem ſtood and flouriſhed, for ſo the Angell ſayth, ver. 26. Sixtie two ſeauens the cittie ſhall againe be built ſtreet and wall. And after thoſe ſixtie two Seauens, Meſſiah ſhall be cut off. Therefore it is not meant of Chriſt; for, Ieruſalem continued built ſtreet & wall ſome fortie yeares after his death. Some would needes faſten a ſtrange kinde of ſpeech vponupon the Angell: for who euer ſayd 7. and 62. when he may aſwell ſay 69. Neither can it be excuſed by the Hebrue phraſe. They indeed commonly ſet the leſſer number firſt as nine and ſixtie, for ſixtie nine (Gen. 5 17.) though you may ſee by this very place that the ſame is not perpetuall. But for ſixtie nine to ſay ſeauen and ſixtie two, was neuer ſpoken in the tongue of Canaan.
3. It is not nothing (though I will lay no great waight vponupon it) which is ſaid verſ. 26. Meſſiah ſhall be cut off, and and there ſhall be nothing to him, no remaine of any power: nothing left of him. The phraſe importeth an vtter extinguiſhment without hope of reuiuer: But of the death of Chriſt the Prophets are wont to ſpeake in any other kinde of ſtile, Eſay 53. 8. By diſtreſſe and iudgement is he taken away: but his generation who ſhall declare? meaning, that for all that he ſhall liue for euer.
But to let that paſſe, how will the time of his cutting off, (if you referre it to the death of Chriſt) agree? For, after thoſe 7. ſeauens and 62. ſeauens wherein Meſſiah ſhall bee cut off, there is but one ſeauen left from thence to the deſtruction of Ieruſalem.
To ſalue this, ſome reckon the firſt ſeauen ſeauens in Computation, after the 62. though in the Angels narration they hauehave the praecedence, making the 62. to reach to Chriſts baptiſme: the other ſeauen ſeauens from thence to the ruine of the ſtate and policie of the Iewes. Touching the laſt ſeauentieth that (ſay they) the Angell leaueth out, becauſe God for his Elect ſake hath ſhortened thoſe daies, as our Sauiour teacheth. Mat. 24.
But firſt this maketh the holy oracle confuſed and obſcure, if the Angell ſpeaking firſt of ſeauen ſeauens, and then of 62. ſeauens, and beginning with the latter expreſſly and by name, ſhould neuer make mention of the former; but contrariwiſe, mention only one ſeauen [verſ. 27.] and by that vnderſtand the firſt of thoſe ſeauen ſeauens, which all entendment would carie to that which alone is behind of all the number. Againe, it were confuſed to tell firſt of the deſtruction of the City & ſanctuary, [verſ. 26] and then to come backe, [verſ. 27.] to the death of Chriſt, in the firſt of thoſe ſeauen ſeauens, that is, to a thing done ſome forty yeares before: Whereas in the ſence that wee doe follow, all things flow naturally, properly, aptly, and in a method worthy of an Angell: for, firſt he layeth down the totall of the 70. ſeauens, then ſub-diuideth them into 7. 62. and one (that is to ſay, the ſeauentieth) and handleth eueryevery part in order: As by the expoſition ſhall appeare.
Secondly, to leaue out one while ſeauen of the number, can hauehave no excuſe. Indeed 70. ſeauens may bee ſpoken inſtead of ſixty nine and a halfe, or ſome ſuch parcell; and that is the rule of a round entire number put for a broken one: but to propound 70. and to handle but 69. no rule nor example warranteth. And it croſſeth the words of the Angell in the beginning; Seauenty ſeauens are each of them cut out, &c. He ioyneth a verbe ſingular to a nowne plurall, to note, that eueryevery part and period of theſe ſeauens is preciſely to hold without any fraction. As for the words of our Sauiour Chriſt, that God for the Elects ſake ſhortened thoſe daies, they are manifeſtly wreſted. he ſhortened nothing of that which the Angell did foretell, when he ſpake of 70. ſeauens to bee cut out; but in his euerlaſting counſell decreed thoſe dayes of the affliction of the Iewes to be but ſhort: for had they beene as long as they were ſore and eager, the whole Nation muſt hauehave periſhed.
Wherefore I take it, that by a Meſſiah or annointed gouernour, hee meaneth a gouernour which the Iewes ſhall hauehave ſet vp from among themſelues, oppoſed to a forraine gouernour, verſ. 26. For, before the deſtruction of Ieruſalem by the Romanes, there were two Rulers of the Citie: one of their owne People, a Iew by profeſſion or birth; the other a ſtranger, appointed Deputy by the Romane State. The firſt Meſſiah or annointed gouernour was Nehemie, whom Artaxerxes conſtituted Prince in the Land of Iudea, in the twentieth yeare of his raigne, Nehem. 5. 14. being iuſt 49. yeares from the Edict of Cyrus: Hee built a Pallace for the Princes Court, Nehem. 2. 8. and Sanballat in a Letter to Nehemie vponupon his building of the walles, ſcoffeth at him, as if he meant to be King of the Iewes, Nehem. 6. 6. which Nehemie there worthily putteth off, as a fiction of his owne deuiſing: Nehem. 6. 8. Whether Nehemie and the reſt were annointed with oyle or no, I paſſe not, no more than I doe of Cyrus, or of thoſe of whom the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, Pſ. 105. 15. Touch not mine annointed ones, and doo my Prophets no harme. The Angell giueth him the name of annointed; becauſe he was of that People, whom God had ſanctified to himſelfe.
Theſe things praemiſed; let vsus ſee how we may make vp this number of ſeauenty ſeauens, that is, of 490. yeares: which I would thus reckon.
The Perſian Monarchie, wherevnto men giuegive ſome 106. yeares, ſome 125. ſome 130. ſome 190. ſome 220. and the Hebrewes generally but 50. did intruth endure 70. yeares, and no more, as I gather out of the 23. of Eſay; the Scripture in thoſe vncertainties, being the onelyonly Oracle you can reſort vntounto: In that Chapter the Prophet, verſ. 1. forewarneth Tyrus of a threefold calamity to come vponupon her: one by her home ſeruants, the ſecond by the Chaldeans, the third by Alexander the great out of the Land of Cittim: The two latter he inſiſteth moſt vponupon from the 14. verſe: Seauenty yeares ſhe ſhall be forgotten, meaning laid waſte and deſolate, verſ. 15. euen the dayes of one King, that is, during all the time of the Babylonian Empire, who for the diſhonour of lying there ſo long in ſiege, Ezech. 29. is (Ioſephus, lib. 1. cap. 11. ſaith, 13. yeares) did beare mortall hate to her.
Afterwards ſhe ſhall flouriſh againe, be iolly and frollicke as the Prophet expreſſeth by an Apoſtrophe, or turning of his ſpeech vntounto her, verſ. 16. But how long muſt that in dure? it is eaſily gathered out of the beginning of the 17. verſe; for when hee ſaith, After ſeauenty yeares the Lord ſhall reuiſite Tyrus, meaning, ſhall giuegive her a ſecond blow by Alexander the great, hee doth plainely ſhew that the continuance of her proſperity which was from Cyrus to Alexander, ſhould be 70. yeares, and conſequently that 70. yeares are the bounds of the Perſian Monarchie.
And in all reaſon it could not bee much longer, ſeeing Nehemie, who was no babe, but a Prince and a chiefe Commander among thoſe that aſcended out of the captiuity in the beginning of Cyrus raigne, Ezr. 2. 2. liued to ſee the laſt Darius, Nehem. 12. 22. So as, if you gaue him then but 20 or 25. yeares, & to the Perſian Monarchy but 70. he was faſt vponupon 100. beyond which yeares it was not ordinary for men in thoſe dayes to liue.
Concerning the particular yeares of the Kings of Perſia, which make vp the full ſumme of 70.
The firſt King was Cyrus, who raigned three yeares, at the leaſt; hee began the third. Dan. 10. 1.
The ſecond, Artaxerxes, vnderunder whom the Iewes are ſaid to returne; Ezr. 4. 12. whoſe returne was indeed vnderunder Cyrus. To him the enemies of the Iewes wrote their Letters to hinder the building of the Temple, when it was yet ſcarce begun; Ezr. 4. 12. which was the ſecond yeare after their returne: Ezr. 3. 8. wherefore hee could bee no other than Cambyſes the ſonne of Cyrus that raigned in his fathers abſence. We giuegive him with the Hebrewes, after his fathers death 6. yeares: the moſt that the greateſt part of Chronologers beſtow vponupon him, is but 7.
The third, Aſſverus, hee is mentioned, Ezr. 4. 7. and ſeeing Artaxerxes is proued the immediate ſucceſſor vntounto Cyrus, this Aſſuerus muſt needs be one that came in time after Artaxerxes, though in that place of Ezra hee be named before him. Ezraes words hauehave this meaning; The people of the Land diſcouraged the people of Iudah, and troubled them in building all the dayes of Cyrus, vntounto the dayes of Darius: for in the raigne of Aſſuerus (Predeceſſor to Darius) in the beginning of his raigne they wrote an acouſation againſt the Inhabitants of Iudah and Ieruſalem. And (before that) in the dayes of Artaxerxes, Mithredath, Tabeel and the reſt of their Colleagues wrote, &c. Wherefore Tremelius looking to the ſence, doth well render it, As in the dayes of Artaxerxes, Mithredath, Tabeel, &c. had written.
I take this Aſſuerus to bee Smerdis the Vſurper: for where it is ſaid, Dan. 11. 2. that before Xerxes three Kings ſhall ſtand vp in Perſia, they are not to be reckoned from Darius Medus, notwithſtanding he were ſpoken of in the firſt verſe, but from that time that the Angell ſpake the wordes, being in the raigne of Cyrus: ſo as in ſaying, three Kings ſhall yet ſtand vp, Cyrus cannot bee comprehended.
The 3. Kings therefore were Artaxerxes, (or Cambiſes) Aſſuerus, (or Smerdis) and Darius. Hee raigned not a yeare.
The fourth King is Darius, Ezr. 4. 5. which is Darius Hyſtaſpis: He is called King of Aſhur, Ezr. 6. 22. in the very ſame ſence that Cyrus, Ezr. 5. 13. And Artaxerxes. Nehem. 13. 6. are called Kings of Babel: for Aſhur in that place is taken for Babel, as it is alſo, Eſay 52. 4. Babylon, by the conſent of all Hiſtorians, being anciently a part of Aſſyria, and now in Darius hand, all theſe Kingdomes ioyned together.
In the ſecond yeare of his raigne, he gaue leaue to build the Temple, Ezr. 4. 24. and the ſixt yeare of his raigne, hee gaue leaue to build the Temple; Ezr. 4. 24. and the ſixt yeare of his raigne it was finiſhed. Ezr. 5. 6. 15.
Darius that gaue leaue to build the Temple, muſt needs be Darius Hyſtaſpis, not Darius Nothns nor any other that come long after him: for,
1. It was one that raigned within very ſhort time after the 70. yeares expired; ſeeing Zacharie in the ſecond yeare of that Darius raigne, bringeth in the Angell ſpeaking thus: Zach. 1. 12. How long wilt not thou hauehave mercy on Ieruſalem, and on the Citties of Iuda, with whom thou haſt beene wroth theſe 70. yeares, and Zach. 7. 5. the Prophet ſaith, When you faſt and mourne in the fift and ſixt MonethMonth, and theſe ſeauenty yeares, Which was ſpoken in the fourth yeare of that Darius.
The Phraſe, (theſe 70 yeares) muſt needs import that they were not long before ended.
2. The age of Ezra, and of thoſe to whom Haggai ſpeaketh, Hag. 2. 3. Which of you ſaw the former houſe? will not ſuffer you to referre it to the times of Darius Nothus.
Hiſtories giuegive this Darius 20. yeares, and ſo much the Computation of the 7. weekes doth warrant.
The fift King was Artaxerxes, Ezr. 7. whom I take to be ſonne to Darius Hyſtaſpis; This is that worthy Prince vnderunder whom Ezr. firſt found fauour for the houſe of God, Ezr. 7. and after him Nehemie had commiſſion to build the Citie and to ſettle a gouernment there, Nehem. 1. Some 33. yeares of his raigne are ſet downe, Nehem. 13. 6. In the 32. yeare of Artaxerxes King of Babylon, I had returned to the King onelyonly at the end of a yeare, I got leaue: of him is meant, Ezr. 6. 14. they built and brought it to perfection, by the aduiſe of the God of Iſrael, and by the aduiſe of Cyrus and Darius, and Artaxerxes King of Perſia. Artaxerxes is there (by anticipation) ioyned to his father Darius Hystaſpis, becauſe the purpoſe of the holy Ghoſt was to ſet downe all the furtherers of the worke together: for albeit the ſtructure and edifice of the houſe was made an end of in the ſixt yeare of Darius; yet Artaxerxes by his decree furniſhed the ſacrifices and the veſſels for the miniſtery of the houſe, and other neceſſaries: As it followeth in the next Chapter, Ezra 7. And ſo was a coadiutor for the perfitting of the Temple. Such anticipations are common in the Scripture. See Exod. 16. 33. 34. 35.
This decree of Artaxerxes was in the ſeauenth yeare of his raigne Ezr. 7. 7. which is not to bee taken the next yeare after the ſtructure of the Temple, finiſhed in the ſixt of Darius Hyſtaſpis, as if by that it might bee gathered that Darius and Artaxerxes were all one; but ſome yeares after: for the very firſt verſe of the ſeauenth Chapter of Ezra giueth ſome kinde of inckling that there beginneth a new Story in the daies of another King. Now, after theſe things, in the raigne of Artaxerxes, King of Perſia, Ezra the ſonne of Seraiah &c. went vp from Babilon.
Further of the Kings of Perſia you finde nothing, ſaue that, Nehem. 12. 22. the Catalogue of the high Prieſts, is reckoned vp till the Kingdome of Darius King of Perſia, which was the laſt Darius whom Alexander the great did conquer; for Iaddua the high Prieſt there mentioned, is he that met Alexander. Therefore to the Kings that ſucceede Artaxerxes I giuegive among them the remainder of the 70. yeares, namely 26.
Great Zerxes I put not in this number, who ſpent his time in warres abroad, whilſt Artaxerxes did all at home: And therefore the holy Ghoſt hath him not in his Catalogue, Dan. 11. 2. hee is named a fourth King; but that is in reſpect of the Grecians. And were he King, or no King, all his yeares are ſwallowed vp in Darius his fathers, and his ſucceſſors.
The next difficultie is in the Greeke gouernment more vncertaine than the former: for here we lacke the light of the holy Scripture to go before vsus. And all other accounts whether taken from Hiſtorians in the ſucceſſion of the Syrian Kings, the high Prieſts, the Macchabees, or the Ptolomies of Aegypt, &c, or from Aſtronomicall obſeruations, and the Ecclipſes reckoned vp in Ptolomie, or from the Olympicke games which croſſe this accompt of 490. yeares, from the firſt of Cyrus to the deſtroying of Ieruſalem, that is the word of truth vttered by the Angell, are vaine, and not to bee beleeued.
This is certaine that the firſt 70. yeares & the laſt 73. being knowne as they are one as I hauehave ſhewed by Eſay, and the bookes of Ezra and Nehemie: the other by the new Teſtament and Eccleſiaſticall Storie, the interuenient time cannot bee vnknowne, though how to reckon each particular in ſo great variety of Greeke and Latin Hiſtorians, it be a thing impoſſible: wherefore let the Greeke gouernment (accompting it to beginne with Alexander, and to expire at Cleopatraes death) hauehave 321. yeares. Betweene Cleopatraes death, and the time that our bleſſed Sauiour was borne, are commonly reckoned 26. yeares. Chriſt liued 33. yeares and ſomewhat more: from his death to the deſtruction of Ieruſalem by the Romanes are 40. yeares.
So then vponupon the whole matter, the 70. ſeauens that is 490. yeares, are thus made vp.
The Perſian Monarchie held 70. yeares.
The Greeke gouernment was, 321.
From Cleopatraes death to the birth of Chriſt are, 26.
Chriſt liued, 33. yeares.
From this death to the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, 40. yeares.
Totall. 490.
A word now or two for a particular explication of the Text.
Wherein the Angell firſt layeth downe the ſumme of all, [verſe. 24.] That inſtead of 70. yeares captiuity, wherein the Land lay deſolate and kept her Sabbaths, they ſhall dwell in the Land 7. times 70. yeares before the Citie and Sanctuary ſhall hauehave an end; ſo farre doth the mercy of God exceed his wrath: within the compaſſe of which time, (and euen vponupon the point of the expiration of it, ſome forty yeares before) Chriſt, the King, Prieſt and Prophet of his Church, ſhall performe the worke of our redemption: for hee was to come the ſecond Temple ſtanding, Hag. 2. 9.
The power of his Kingdome euident in aboliſhing ſin, and bringing in euerlaſting righteouſnes.
Sinne he doth aboliſh by mortifying and ſubduing the power of it by his death: by pardoning and forgiuing both the guilt and puniſhment, by the full and all-ſufficient ſatisfaction that hee hath made vponupon the Croſſe, who is the propitiation for our ſinnes, righteouſnes (euerlaſting righteouſneſſe, which ſhall make vsus accepted of God for euer, and neuer can be loſt as Adams was) hee doth bring in▪ firſt, by the reckoning and imputing of his owne righteouſneſſe vntounto vsus, & making it ours through faith; whereby wee are iuſtified or held iuſt and righteous euen in the ſtrict and moſt exact Iuſtice of God himſelfe: Secondly, by making vsus new creatures by the vertue of his reſurrection.
Againe, he is our Prophet, by whom onelyonly God ſpeaketh vntounto vsus in theſe latter dayes, and in whom all viſions and reuelations hauehave an end. Heb. 1. 1.
Laſtly, he is our Prieſt, a Miniſter of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man; who by his owne blood entred once into the holy place, heauen it ſelfe, purchaſing euerlaſting redemption, and aboliſhing thereby the vnction of the Law. Hebr. 8. 2. & 9. 8. 12.
The ſumme of all being thus laid downe, the Angell in that which followeth brancheth the whole ſeauenty ſeauens into three heads or three diſtinct periods of time: From the going forth of the word, to reſtore and to build Ieruſalem: To wit, from the Edict of Cyrus, Ezr. 1. vntounto a Meſſiah (that is an annointed) gouernour, meaning Nehemie ſet vp in the twentieth of Artaxerxes, as we ſhewed before, ſhall be ſeauen ſeauens which make 49. yeares [1. part of verſ. 25]
In this period are comprehended all things that fell out concerning the re-edifying and furniſhing of the Temple.
And of this I vnderſtand that which the Iewes ſay, Io. 2 20. fourty and ſixe yeares was this Temple a building: which is true, accompting the beginning at the third of Cyrus; for from the Edict of Cyrus one yeare muſt be giuen them to conſult about their buſines being of ſo great waight and importance. In the ſecond it is like they tooke their iourney from Babylon to Iudea is ſome 4. monethes trauaile: Ezr. 7. 8. So grant a yeare and a halfe for their returne. The ſecond yeare after their returne, the foundation of the Temple was laid and ſomwhat proceeded in Ezr. 3. 8. So as till that time, there might be 3. yeares from Cyrus Edict. Thence to the twentieth of Artaxerxes, are 46. yeares more: for though the Edifice and ſtructure were made an end of in the ſixt of Darius, there wanted yet houſes for the Prieſts and other neceſſaries, which were not added till about the time of Nehemie.
The Iewes could not by that ſpeech vnderſtand any Temple built by Herod, but this ſecond Temple: for this is it that was ſtanding in the dayes of Chriſt, Hagg. 2. 9.
The ſecond period is, three ſcore and two ſeauens, (434. yeares) wherin a Gouernour being once ſet vp, ſtreet and ditch (that is the compaſſe of the wall) ſhall againe bee built. [2. part. verſ. 25.] Theſe 434. yeares begin in that twentieth of Artaxerxes, when Nehemie was made the Ruler, with commiſſion to build the Citie; which times, ſaith the Angell, ſhall bee troubleſome: for ſo they were, both during the time of the building of the walles; whereof, ſee the booke of Nehemiah, & during the whole time from thence vntounto the end. In the third period are two things diſtinguiſhed. Firſt, is the ſubuerſion of their gouernment. The Gouernour which is ſo to bee ſet ouer them from among themſelues, one of their brethren ſhall bee cut off: there ſhall be nothing to him, or he ſhall hauehave nothing, no more to doe there; all that forme of Gouernment ſhall vtterly be done away. [1. part. verſ. 26.]
And this is preciſely laid to bee the firſt worke that the ſeauentieth ſeauen ſhould bring forth: for, After 62. ſeauens neceſſarily implyeth, vponupon the beginning of the ſeauentieth.
The ſecond is the deſtruction of the Citie and Sanctuary by a forraigne enemie, the Romane Armie. By whom the Iudgements of God as an innundation or ouer flowing of mighty waters, ſhall ſuddenly and violently breake in vponupon them, by moſt cruell and deadly warre (for there periſhed in the ſiege 1100. thouſand Iewes, beſides 90. thouſand taken Captiues) till they bee brought to vtter ruine, that extreame deſolation, (ſo much the plurall doth import) which God from all eternity hath preciſely purpoſed and decreed. [2. part of verſe 26.]
This where in the waight of all lyeth may iuſtly require a diſtinct conſideration ſeuerally and by it ſelfe. Wherefore it pleaſeth the holy Ghoſt in the 27. verſe to expreſſe both the fruit that ſhould come of it, and the time when all this ſhall be done.
The fruit: Chriſt our Lord ſhall play the man, that one ſeauen mightily, valiantly and Gyant like (ſo the Hebrew foreignword doth ſignifie) confirming the Couenant with many, to wit, thoſe that are his. [1. part of verſ. 27.] What Couenant? The Couenant of grace, of forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, of reconciliation and euerlaſting righteouſnes: All which the holy Ghoſt ſaid before. verſ. 24.
And how did he ſo mightily confirme the ſame? He did confirme it mightily, both in reſpect of the Iewes, and of the conuerted Gentiles. In reſpect of the Iewes, by that Chriſt was to worke within the compaſſe of theſe weekes the rare, wounderfull, and extraordinary vengeance that he tooke vponupon his enemies, the people that crucified and put him vntounto death: whoſe Temple & Citie that ſtood ſo long and were ſo renowned, hee cauſed for this their fault to be razed and made euen with the ground, Luke 13. 34. 35. & 19. 43. 44. whereby he manifeſtly declared himſelfe to be the Lord of glory.
To the beleeuing Gentiles he did mightily confirme the couenant, by remouing the maine rub that lay in their way, and hindred the giuing of their names to Chriſt: Whilſt they ſaw not onelyonly the City where our Lord was crucified to flouriſh; but the ceremoniall ſhadowes to be frequented which did obſcure and drowne the truth of his comming in the fleſh. And this end Iulian the Apoſtata had before his eyes, when in deſpite of the Chriſtian name, hee commanded the re-edifying of the Temple.
The time, is in the middeſt of that weeke [2 part of verſ. 27.] Peraduenture the worke of the cutting of the annointed Gouernour was doing the former halfe weeke; the firſt 3. years and a halfe. And indeed he that readeth Ioſephus ſhal find it fell out ſo: for about the 9th. yeare of Nero, (which was 7. yeares before the deſtruction of the City) Albinus the Romane Gouernour there, by his monſtrous pilling, polling and other cruelty, did as Ioſephus ſaith, ſowe the ſeede of the Cities ouerthrow: And in the twelfth of Nero, within leſſe than foure yeare after that, Agrippa the laſt Gouernour that the Iewes had, from among themſelues was driuen out of the Citie; whereupon Ioſephus ſaith, The Citie was without a Ruler to guide it.
And ſo, you hauehave the Meſſiah cut off, and the Gouernment of the Citie quite extinct in the very inſtant of 3. yeare and a halfe, if it were neceſſary to flye to that.
But there is no ſuch neceſſity: The Hebrew word ſignifieth part of a time as well as halfe. Wherefore the ſence may well bee, in part, that is, during the reſidue, the remainder of that ſeauentieth weeke, after the annointed Gouernour cut off, (how long or ſhorttime ſoeuer the ſame be in doing,) he will performe the things mentioned in the ſecond part of the former verſe: which for the greater certainty, are heere reitterated [in the laſt part of verſe 27.] not altogether in the ſame words: but ſo as the one of theſe two verſes bringeth light vntounto the other: for,
1. Inſtead of deſtroying Citie and Sanctvary, verſ. 26. hee ſaith heere in the 27. verſe, He ſhall make to ceaſe ſacrifice and oblation, as needs they muſt when the Citie and Temple are deſtroyed. In right they ceaſed vponupon the death of Chriſt; but now they ſhall ceaſe infact.
2. Inſtead of a forraigne enemie doing the ſame by warre, verſe 26. hee putteth in this verſe, the wing or Legions of the Romane Army, laying deſolate; for wing was a proper terme of the Romane warfare. Whoſe Armies are called abhominable, becauſe they were Infidels, and worſhipped Idols.
And this to bee the ſence of the place; beſide the Angels thus ſuting of theſe things, you may ſee by comparing the three Euangeliſts that ſpeake of this Hiſtory: for where Math. 24. 25. & Mark. 13. 14. Chriſt ſaith, When ye ſee the abhomimation of deſolation ſpoken of by Daniel the Prophet, ſtanding in the holy place where it ſhould not: Luke interpreteth it thus, When ye ſhall ſee Ieruſalem compaſſed about of Armies, then know the deſolation thereof is at hand. Luke 21. 20. And ſo theſe words are but the ſame in ſence and ſubſtance that was in the former verſe, which ſaid, all this ſhould be done by warre.
3. Inſteed of inundation or ouerflowing of calamities, verſ. 26. heere you hauehave a powring forth of all Gods Iudgements at once, as if the windowes of Heauen ſhould be opened as they were at the floud.
4. Where the 26. verſe doth ſpeake of deſolation to the end of the warre, thoſe words expound theſe of the twenty ſeauenth, vntounto vtter deſtruction.
5. Preciſeneſſe of deſolation, in the 26. verſe, is ſomewhat more clearely vttered in the 27. vntounto vtter deſtruction preciſely determined.
So one of theſe noteth the greatneſſe; the other the certainty of the deſolation.
The Rabbinicall Doctors ſeeke for a knot in a ruſh, when they enquire vponupon this place how long this deſolation ſhall continue, and when the preciſe determinate time ſhall hauehave an end: for the period of all that Daniel heere ſpeaketh of, is the end of the ſeauentieth ſeauen. Howbeit in other Scriptures, Dan. 12. 11. 12. Math. 23. 38. 39. Luk. 21. 24. Rom. 11. 25. 26. that preciſe determinate time of the Iewes deſolation is preciſely propheſied and foretold: but eueryevery place hath his proper interpretation.
To cloſe vp this Treatiſe becauſe it may bee of great vſe for the cleering of this and many other hard and obſcure paſſages; I will heere ſet downe the iuſt periods of time from the beginning of the World to the diſſolution of all things, as they are to be gathered in holy Scripture.
Firſt, from the Creation to the Floud, are yeares, 1656. manifeſt by the yeares of the fathers before the Floud. Gen. 5. & 11.
Secondly, from the Floud vntounto the Promiſe made to Abraham, 426. for from the Floud to Terah, are 221. Terah begat Abraham at 130. At 70. he begat children: Gen. 11. 26. But that was Nahor his firſt borne, though Abraham for honour ſake be named firſt. Abraham he begat at 130. as appeareth in that Terah dyed at 205. Gen. 11. 32. when Abraham was 75. Gen. 12. 4.
The promiſe made to Abraham was at 75. for then and not before he left his owne Country Charran (which was his Country as well as Vr, or the Valley of the Chaldeans, and both in Meſopotamia) for Canaan Gen. 12. 4. And Exod. 1…. 4. it is ſaid, the pregrination of the children of Iſrael in Aegipt, meaning both there and in the Land of Canaan, where they were alike ſtrangers) was 430. yeares, So as the promiſe and the entrance into the Land begin together. Alſo if Terah had not beene dead before the promiſe, he (which none will ſay) ſhould hauehave receiued the promiſe of Chriſt to come of his ſeede as well as Abraham: for doubtleſſe, Abraham, as a Prophet of God would not hauehave concealed it from him.
Of neceſſity therefore two callings of Abraham are to be diſtinguiſhed: one in Ur of the Chaldeans, which being paſſed ouer, Gen. 11. is layd downe, Gen. 15. 7. and Stephen ſpeaketh of it, Act. 7. 2. 3. The ſecond after his fathers death, Gen. 12. 1. Which place is to be tranſlated not Iehouah had ſaid, but Iehouah did ſay, as a new commandement to goe on his iourney with an addition of the promiſe. And this Stephen mentioneth. Act 7. 4.
Thirdly, frō the promiſe to the giuing of the Law, 430. Gal. 3. 17. Which are the 430. yeares of peregrination, Exod. 12. 40. In 400. whereof Abrahams ſeed was afflicted, Gen. 15. 13. They ſhall intreat thy ſeede euill, 400. yeares. This affliction beginneth at Iſmaels perſecution of Iſaac, Gen. 21. 9. Gal. 4. 29. and continueth to their deliuerance out of the houſe of bondage, the ſetuitude of Aegipt. The perſecution of Iſaac was not at his birth, it muſt be when he was of ſome vnderſtanding, and the computation of time draweth it to about the ſixt yeare of his age; which was iuſt 30. yeares from the promiſe. Thus are thoſe three texts Gal. 3. 17. Exod. 12. 4. and Gen. 15. 13. cleered. Of theſe 430. yeares, 215. were ſpent in the Land of Canaan; for from the 75. yeare of Abraham to Iſacks birth, are 25. Iſaac was 60. when Iacob was borne, Gen. 25. Iacob went downe into Aegypt at 130. Gen. 47. 9. So onelyonly 215. are left for Aegypt.
Fourthly, from the Law, or comming out of Aegypt, to the building of the Temple. 480.
1. Kings 6. 1. Their ſumme ariſeth thus.
In the Deſert, 40. Deut. 1. 3. Ioſua 17.
The Conqueſt and partition of the Land, take vp 7. of it: As it is proued by Calebs age, Ioſh. 14. 7. 10. for the Land was diuided the 45. yeare after Moſes ſent him from Kadeſh Barnea to view the Land; out of which deduct 38. yeares that the Children of Iſrael remained in the wilderneſſe after Gods ſentence vponupon Calebs returne, and their remaine 7. 480. yeares from the Paſſeouer to the Temple, & he ruled the other 10. in all 17. As appeareth in that of thoſe, all but 17. are in the time of other Rulers, and that remaine can be caſt vponupon none but him. Iudg. 339. That is to ſay, Othniel. 40. Ehud and Shamgar 80. Debora. 40. Gedeon. 4. Abimelech. 3. Tolah. 23. Iair. 22. Ieptha. 6. Ibtſan. 7. Elon. 16. Abdon. 8. Sampſon. 20. Elie 40.
Acts 13. 19. it is ſaid, God gaue them Iudges as it were 450. yeares, vntounto Samuel the Prophet he ſaith, as it were, or in a manner, for in proper Chronicle and common ſupputation, it was 339. But Iudges that within the compaſſe of that time did tyrannize and oppreſſe them, tooke vp 111. yeares; namely, Cuſhan 8. Moab 18. Siſera 20. Midian 7. Ammon 8. Philiſtines 40. Saul 40. Act. 13. 21. where Paul ſaith, Afterwards they deſired a King, and God gaue vntounto them Saul the ſonne of Cis, a man of the Tribe of Beniamin, 40 yeares. As if he ſhould ſay, all this from the Iudges was 40. yeares: So comprehending the wholetime from the death of Elie, as wel the interim till Samuel medled with the gouernment, which was not in 20. yeares after … 1. Sam. 7. 3. as the whole time of his gouernment and of Sauls raigne, being 20 yeares more.
Dauid 40. Salomon 4. 1. Kings 6. 1.
Fiftly, the Temple ſtood before it was burnt by Nebuchadnetzar. 408.
To be gathered thus.
To Salomons death 36. for he raigned 40. in all.
The Kings of Iudah after him raigned 372. as the yeares are truely collected by Tremellius in the Argument of the firſt and ſecond Booke of Kings. The 390. yeares that Ezechiel bare the iniquitie of the houſe of Iſrael, Ezech. 4. whereof 40. (part of thoſe 390. verſ. 9.) were for the houſe of Iudah, doth no way croſſe this account of the Kings that ſucceeded Salomon; for neither doe thoſe 390. yeares begin when Ieroboam drew Iſrael away: but from about the 28. yeare of Salomons raigne, at what time waxing old, hee was led to the worſhip of falſe Gods: 1. King. 11. and all Iſrael ranne headlong into Idolatrie; neither doe they end with the deſtruction of the Temple and the Citie, but in the laſt and finall carrying away of the poore remain, by Nebuzaradan as appeareth, Ezech. 5. 4. which was ſome fiue yeare after. And the 40. yeare, of Iudah, are from the eighteenth yeare of Ioſia, when the couenant was renewed; 2. King. 23. 23. from which the people immediately fell away.
Sixtly, from the burning of the Temple to the Edict of Cyrus to build it anew.
And ſo adding the firſt 18. yeares of Nebuchadnetzar, you hauehave the 70. yeares Captiuity.
Seauenthly, from that Edict to the deſtruction of the Temple by the Romanes. 490.
Which are Daniels ſeauens, Dan. 9. whereof the firſt 49. yeares are for the full finiſhing of the temple and all the furniture thereof.
Eighthly, from a ſecond and the finall deſolation thereof, being endeuoured to be re edifyed by Iulian the Apoſtata in deſpight of the Chriſtian name, about Anno. 360. after Chriſt, till ſuch time as the Iewes acknowledging Chriſt the Lord, ſhall ſet vp a glorious Church at Ieruſalem againe, not of wood or ſtone, nor for any Legall worſhip; but for the ſpirituall ſeruice of God in Chriſt, are yeares. 1233. Dan. 12. 11. 12.
Ninthly, from thence to the full comming in of the Gentiles, the certaine time is not foretold, vnles (which I dare not ſay) any thing may be gathered from, Reuel. 20. 4.
But the tenth and laſt period is, that after the fulneſſe of the Gentiles once come in, the generation then liuing ſhall not paſſe away, till all things hauehave an end. Math. 24. 34.