A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Body of book · Chapter 7
Here the Map of Issachar is to be inserted.
THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR. CHAP. 7.
§ 1. ISsachar, Issachars numbers and em… nent persons.the fiftaGen. 30. 17. Son which Iacob begat on Leah his wife, had his posterity so increased in Egypt, that from thence came forth of this Tribe fifty bNumb. 1. 29.four thousand and four hundred. All which falling in the wilderness, for their frequent tempting of God, their Sons grew (Iudah and Dan excepted) more numerous then any other Tribe, insomuch that sixty fourcNum. 26. 25. thousand and three hundred, of twenty years old and upward, appeared at their second solemn muster in the plaines of Moab. Tolah the Judge was of this Tribe; Baasha and Elah Kings of Israel *1 King. 15. 27fair Abishag the Shunamite, wife (ord1 King. 1. 4. rather bed-fellow) to aged David; with another Lady (if in beauty, not in goodness her inferiour) of the same city, who so kindly entertained the Prophet Elisha.
§ 2. Issachar had the seaeDeut. 33. 18, 19. on the west, Iordan on thefJosh. 19. …2. east;His bounds & fruitfulnesse. Zebulun on the north, Manasseh on the south. A fair fruitfull countrey; for, as all Canaan is called the pleasantgPsal. 106. 24. land: so it is particularly observed of Issachars portion, he saw the landhGen. 49. 15. that it was pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. This Tribe better acquitted it self in the Subsidie, then in the Muster-book, they were the best Yeomantry of Israel, towards the advancing of ra…es and taxes. They loved rest, and a sedentary life. Blame them not, if sensible of the goodness of their soile, they were loath to leave home, because certain to remove to their loss, and are compared to aniGen. 49. 14. Asse couching between two burthens.
§ 3. Yet were not the men of Issachar of such servile natures,Not defective in valour. but that they could be valiant, when just occasion was offered them. They were as willing, and resolute as any other, inkJudg. 5. 15. helping Barak in the battell against Sisera. Yet even then we may observe, they marched not far from their own habitations, the field being fought in the bowells of their countrey. And well might his Asse, finde both heels and teeth, to kick and bite such, as offer to take his Hay from his rack and Provender a| way from his manger.
§ 4. Nor let the resembling of Issachar to an Asse; Excelling in Chronology.depress this Tribe too low in our estimation. The strength of his back, not stupidity of his head, gave the occasion thereunto … in one point of excellent skill, this Tribe surpassed all others, being men that had understanding of the times,l1 Chr. 12. 32. to know what Israel ought to doe. Now seeing time Ianus-like hath two faces, one looking backward [Chronology] the other forward [Prognostication] the question will be, in which of these lay the learning of the Issacharites? A learned manmRiv…t Exer…. in 49. Gen…sios. conceives them onelyonly like husbandmen, weather-wise by their own rurall observations. Sure more is imported in that expression, and not onelyonly Almanack, but Chronicle-skill contained therein; so that from deductions from former, they could make directions for the future times. Oh for a little of Issachars art in our age, to make us understand these intricate and perplexed times, and to teach us to know what we ought to doe, to be safe with a good conscience. So much of the persons in this Tribe; come we now to survay the eminent places contained therein.
§ 5. In the south confines thereof stood the regal city ofnJosh. 19. 18. Iezreel. Iezreel a regall City.For though the valley of Iezreel belonged tooJosh. 17. 10. Manasseh, the city it self must pertain to Issachar, otherwise the sixteen cities assigned him Iosh. 19. will fall short of that number. In Iezreel Ahab had a Princely Palace (haply the joynter-house of Iezebel) besides ap2 King. 9. 27. garden-house adjoining; and here in the city lived Naboth, as hard by lay his vineyard, which Ahab could not obtain from him, either by purchase orq… King. 21. 3. exchange.
§ 6. Some will finde more equity in Ahabs offers, then discretion in Naboths Naboths refusall defended.refusall. But, blame him not, if loth to offend his God, to accommodate his King. Being (no doubt) in his conscience perswaded that his earthly possession, was the earnest of his heavenly inheritance, and that his parting with the former, voided his title to the latter. Besides, his vineyard (six hundred years since the partition of the land by lot) had pertained to his ancestours (probably) moe ages, then Ahabs new erected palace had belonged years to his family.
§ 7. On the denyall Ahab falls sullen-sick. No meat will down with him for lack of a salad, because wanting Naboths Iezebels murdering of Naboth.vineyard for a garden of herbes, till Iezebel undertook the business. A letter is made up of her braines, her husbands hand and seal to the Elders of Iezreel, enjoining them to set up twor1 King. 21. 10 men of Belial, to accuse Naboth of blasphemy against God, and the King. She took it for granted, plenty of such persons were to be found in so populous, and vicious a place. Oh the ancient order of Knight of the poste, for money to depose any falshood. Hereupon Naboth is stoned to death, and hiss2 King. 9. 26. Sons also, flatly contrary to Gods command, which in this case had provided, ThetDeut. 24. 16. children shall not be put to death for their fathers, but every man shall be put to death for his own sin. But this was don…, to clear all claimes, and prevent all pretenders of ti…les unto the inheritance.
§ 8. Thu… Naboths vineyard was for Ahabs use turned into a garden of …erbes. Divine just…ce.Surely the bitter wormwood of Divine revenge grew plenti…lly there…n. Fo… in the same place his Son Ioram, and gran-child Ahaz…ah had a martiall interview with Iehu, and were both worsted by him. Here Iehu with a shot out of a bow (archery fatall both tou1 King. 22. 34. Ahab and his Son) wounded Iehoram to thew2 King. 9. 24 heart, and by speciall order to Bidkar … Captain, commanded that his corps should be cast into the field of Naboth the Iezr…lite. Oh the exact Topography observed in divine justice! so accurate is God, not onelyonly in the time, but place of his punishment.
§ 9. Greater is the difficulty about the death of King Ahaziah slain about the same time.Abaziahs double death reconciled. For, whereas it is xHeb. 9. 27.appointed for all men once, he seemed twice to die, and that in far distant places.
2 Kings 9. 27.
But when Ahaziah the King of Iudah saw this, he fled by the way of the Gardenhouse, and Iehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the charet [and they did so] at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam: and he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
2 Chron. 22. 9.
And Iehu sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (for hee was hid in Samaria) and brought him to Iehu, and when they had slain him, they buried him: because said they, he is the Sonne of Iehosaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.
But all is reconciled, if we take Samaria, not for the city so named, but for the whole kingdome of Israel, in which notion Ahab is styled King of y1 King 21. 1.Samaria, that is, the ten Tribes, whereof Samaria was the Metropolis. In this acception, Megiddo, and all the passage thereunto was in Samaria, where Ahaziah hoped in vaine, by his flight to hide, and conceale himself.
§ 10. All thus agreed concerning the dea…h,And his doubl… …riall. I hope no difference will arise about the buriall of Ahaziah. Though in one tex… hisz2 King. 9. 28. ow… servants, in another Iehua2 Chr. 22. 9▪ his men are said to bu…y him. The one might doe it by the leave and licence of the other, and Iehu his souldiers did deliver Ahaziah's de…d corps to his own servants, to interre it in Ierusalem.
§ 11. Iezebel survived not long after.The manner of lezebels death. As Iehu was entering Iezreel, she (newly painted) entertains him with a taunt out of the window, to try whether her tongue, or his sword were the sharper. We meet but with three principall speeches of her in Scripture; the first an Idolatrous oath and curse, Theb1 King. 19. 2▪ Gods doe so to me, and more also: the next, a mortall threat, and lowd lye, If I make not Elijah's, likecIbidem. one of their lives by to morrow this time: the last an impudent and unseasonable jeer, Had Zimri d2 King. 9. 31.peace that slew his Master? Presently she is thrown down headlong, and the dogs eat her up to the …eversion of hereIbid. vers. 35. skull, palmes of her hands, and feet. What, h…d the poison of her painting, … deeply pierced into these the nakedfFeet, in thos… parts, naked i… …andal…. parts of her body, that the dogs were afraid to feed o… them? However it came to pass, Iezebels skull may be worn as a deaths-head in the memories of all wicked persons, abusing their power, to minde them of their certain ruin, without serious repentance. The heads also of Ahabs children kill'd in Samaria, were laid in two heapes at the entrance of the gates ofg2 King. 10. 8. Iezreel.
§ 12. It may seem strange,The bloud of Iezebel why requ…red of Iehu. that seeing Iehu was warranted by commission from heaven, in the execution of Ahabs family, and friends, that God should afterwards threaten by his Prophet, I willhHose. 1. 4. avenge the bloud of Iezreel upon the house of Iehu. But it seems, though herein Iehu his chariot went in the path of Gods command, yet he did drive it on furiously, the pace of his own cruelty, vainglory, and ambition. Thus, that officer is a murderer, though acting the sentence of the Judge, if withall he pleaseth his private malice, in executing persons condemned to die. The matter of Iehu his act was rewarded, the manner revenged by God.
§ 13. The river Kishon runneth through the midst of this Tribe,The brave battell against …. which entring in at Naboths vineyard, taketh his course north-ward with a winding channell, not far from Shamir in mount Ephraim, wherein Tola the Iudge, or rather, the Iustice of peace in Israel (nothing of war being achieved in his government) both dwelt,iIudg. 10. 1, 2. and was buried. Hence on his western bank, Kishon beholds the place, where Barak fought that famous battell against Sisera. It is recorded to the commendation of such Israelites, kIudg. 5. 19.as assisted him, that they took no gain of money. Indeed they of Zebulun were by their callinglIudg. 5. 14. such as handled the pen, though now turned sword-men, in case of necessity. And when men of peaceable professions, are, on a pinch of extremity for a short time, forced to fight, they ought not, like souldiers of fortune, to make a tradeto enrich themselves thereby, seeing defence of religion, life, and liberty, are the onelyonly wages they seek for in their service.
§ 14. In this most eminent battell,S…ars wa…curs the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera. What, are the numerous people of Israel meant thereby, whom GodmGen. 15. 5. & 22. 17. promised to multiply as the Stars in heaven? or, are onelyonly the principall officers in their Army intended therein? Sure, it is safest to embrace the literall sense, that those celestiall lights, frowning with their malignant aspects, caused frights and fears in the hearts of the Canaanites. Such, as utterly deny all influences of Stars on mens mindes, shew therein, that the moon hath made too much impression on their crazy judgements, and lunatick opinions.
§ 15. But, the river of Kishon Kishon Gods besome.was not onelyonly a spectatour of this fight, but also an actour of a principall part therein: For, when the Canaanites routed in the battell, essayed to wade this river, so to recover their countrey on the other side, the streame thereof, probably lately made more deep, and rapid with extraordinary raine (the largess of some wa…ry Planet which fought for Israel)nIudg. 5. 21. swept them away. So that what fragments of these Canaanites, were left by the Israelites swords glutted with slaughter, Kishon was the voider to take them clean away.
§ 16. Hence Kishon Kishon and Enga…im.runneth on by Kishion (the vicinity of the name is argument enough, to place it on the banks of this river) elsewhere o1 Chron. 6.called Kedesh, being one of the four cities in this Tribe, belonging to the LevitespJosh. 21 28. Gershonites. More east whereof lay another of the same nature, Engannim, called Ienine at this day, being now a very pleasantqBiddulphs …ravells. p. 113. place, having fine gardens, orchards, and waters about it, as it hath its Hebrew name from a fountain. And that we may know, that the countrey hereabouts, still retaineth more then the ruines of its former fertility, a judicious rIdem ibidem.modern traveller tells us, that in his whole journey from Damascus to Ierusalem, he saw not more fruitfull ground, and so much together, then he did in two and twenty miles riding, betwixt mount Tabor and Engannim.
§ 17. Hence Kishon continuing his course northward,Sh…nem Abishags birthplach. leaveth the city sIosh. 19. 18.Shunem at some distance from his western bank, the birth-place of Abishag, wife-nurse to King David, to procuret1 King. 1. 3. heat to his decayed age. Time was, when he boasted, that his youth wasuPsal. 103. 5. renewed as the eagles, but eagles (notwithstanding the often casting of their bills, and years therewith) are at last seised on with age, and death, as it fared then with decrepit David. Adonijah, David's Son, afterwards lost his life, for petitioning to have this Abishag w1 King. 2. 23.for his wife. What was his fault? Incest, or treason? Surely, neither effected, no, nor attempted in any clandestine way, without leave from the King. Let it suffice, Solomon saw more, then we, in this matter; his eies also not wanting the magnifying-glass of State-jealousie, to improve his discoveries herein. But, this accident was onelyonly the hilt or handle, for Solomon to take hold on; Adonijah's former fault was the edge, to cut off his life. Thus, let those, who once have been desperately sick of a Princes displeasure, and recovered, know, that the least relapse will prove deadly unto them.
§ 18. In Shunem dwelt that worthy woman,Elisha his honourable land…lady. who prevailed with her husband, to harbour Elisha in his passage this way. Gods Prophets are no lumber, but the most profitable stuffe wherewith an house can be furnished. Landlords prove no losers by such Tenants, (though sitting rent-free) whose dwelling with them, pays for their dwelling with them. At Elisha's prayer God made this woman (barren before) the happy mother of an hopefullx2 King. 4. 17. Son. Somes years after, this child grown a stripling, and going into his Fathers field to see his reapers, was there smitten with a deadly sickness. So that the corn on the land might pass for the emblem of this childs condition, save that that being ripe, and ready wooed the cycles to cut it, whilst this green grain was mow'n down in the blade thereof. At noony2 King. 4. 20. the child dyed. Had one the same morning beheld the Sun arising out of the east, and this child coming forth of his fathers house in perfect health, he would not have suspected, that the noon of the one would prove the night to the other. But by the prayers of Elisha he was restored again unto her.
§ 19. This Shunamite was afterwards seven years absent,Restored to her lost possession…. in the land of the Philistines, during which time, the profits of her estate, as appears by the text,x were seised on by the Kings officers.z2 Kin. 8. 1. &c. Custome (it seems) intitled the Crown to their revenues, which resided not on their lands, especially (if living as she did) in the land of a forein foe. She addressed her self by petition to King Ioram, for restitution of her meanes. Formerly she had no use of the Prophets profer, toa2 King. 4. 13. speake for her to the King, or to the Captain of the host, who now was fain to prefer her suit in her own person. None know what hereafter may befall them. Such, whose young feet were onelyonly taught to traverse their own ground, may in their old age be learnt a harder lesson, to trudge abroad in attendance to others. Gehazi happily there present, attests her the woman whose Son was restored to life, and by the Kings command, her lands and profits were restored to he. Let her, under God, thank Elisha for this favour; for, that place in her house, where hisb2 King. 4. 10. bed, table, stool, and candlestick stood, kept possession for her in her absence, of all the rest of her Demesnes, and procured the speedy restitution thereof.
§ 20. To return to Kishon, Tabor a city.which somewhat more northward leaveth this Tribe, and entereth into Zebulun, having first divided it self into two streames, whereof the easternmost (being the north-boundary of Issachar) runneth bycIosh. 19. 22. Tabor, a city so called, from the vicinity of the mountain we formerly described. Hereabouts Zeba dIudg. 8. 18.and Zalmunna, made a massacre of many Princelike Israelites, for which fact Gideon ordered their execution. And here we take notice of two neighbouring mountains lovingly agreeing together.
1 Tabor on the north (whereof formerly in Zebulun) of so eminent note, that it passed for a proverbiall expression, of any unquestioned certainty, AseIer. 46. 18. sure as▪ Tabor is among the mountains. This place was in after ages much profaned with Idolatry, as appears by the ProphetfHos. 5. 1. complaining of the priests, that they had been a net spred upon Tabor.
2 Hermon, hard by on the south of this Tribe (the top-cliffe whereof is called Hermonium gBrocardus in Descrip. Terrae Sanc. Itin. ab Acone versu… Eurum.as a modern Traveller doth describe.hPsal. 89. 12. David puts them both together, The north and the south thou hast …reated them, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy name.
However others understand the Psalmist of another Hermon, that famous mountain formerly described in Manasseh beyond Iordan, being the east-border, as Tabor was in the heart of the land of Canaan; meaning thereby, that, middle, and marches; out-side, and in-side; center, and circumference; all the whole world must rejoyce in Gods power which made; and providence, which preserveth them.
§ 21. This east-stream of Kishon, Da…arah and Tarichea.in modern Maps called Kedummim, runneth to Daberah in the confines ofiIosh. 19. 12. Zebulun, but belongeth to this Tribe, out of whichkIosh. 21. 28. it was assigned a city for the Levites. Then falleth it into the sea of Cinnereth, or Tiberias, somewhat south of Tarichea a famous city, whereof frequent mention in Iosephus, but none in Scripture, to which we chiefly confine our description.
§ 22. The east part of Issachar is wholly taken up with the mountains of Gilboa, where the Armies of the Isra…lites, and the Philistines met, having formerly measured most part of this Tribe, with their military motions. The Philistines marching first froml1 S…m. 28. 4. Shunem tom1 Sam. 29. 1. Aphek; thence ton1 Sam. 29. 11. Iezreel, (backward and forward to finde an advantageous place for fight) thence to mount Gilboa, where they encountred, and conquered the Israelites in battell. Saul being here grievously wounded, desired his Armour-bearer to slay him, who refused it, as bearing his Armes for the defence, not destruction of his Master. Hereupon Saul slew himself, and his Armour-bearer followed his example. Both which, having since cast up their▪ Audit, can tell, what is gotten by the prodigall thrift of throwing away ones life, to prevent the losing thereof. Then a fourfold division was made of what remained of Saul. Hiso1 Sam. 31. 9, 10. head sent into the land of the Philistines; body hung up upon the walls of Bethshean; Armour offered in the Temple of Ashtaroth; p2 Sam. 1. 10.Crown, and bracelets brought by the Amalekite to King David. For though his tongue spake lies, his hands told truth, presenting the very regalia of King Saul. Wonder not, that Saul should weare these ornaments in battell, where an helmet had been more proper then a Crown; seeing we read in our EnglishqSpeed in the life of Richard the third towards the end. Chronicles, that in Bosworth-fight King Richards Crown-ornamentall was found among the spoiles in the field, and then, and there set by the Lord Stanley on the head of King Henry the seventh.
§ 23. David, Rain on mount Gilboa.on this dysaster of Sauls death, cursed Mount Gilboa,r2 Sam. 1. 21. Let there be no dew or rain upon you. But,sDescrip. T…r. Sanc. ab Acone versus Notum. Brochardus travelling over them Anno Dom. 1283. found, and felt both, being well wetted in his journey. What! were Davids words guilty of infidelity, seeing it is easier to withhold rain from a mountain, then to remove it from its foundation, and cast it into the sea? and yet our SaviourtMat. 17. 20. assures us this shall be done, if in faith desired. But, be it known, David intended not his curse should take effect, but meerly to manifest his great grief, and to shew, how far he was from delighting at the death of his greatest enemy. Better to fall under Davids Dirae, as he was a Poet, then as he was a Prophet, the latter lighting heavily indeed, asuAct. 1. 20. Iudas inwPsal. 109. 7. Achitophel could witness the weight thereof. Nor remaineth any thing more observable in this Tribe, save in the east part thereof, on Iordan they shew Pilgrims the place where*1 King. 5. Naaman (patient at last by his servants perswasion) washed seven times, and was cleansed of his Leprosie.
§ 24. Thus all the remarkable places of Issachar, Manass…h in Issachar.but not all those in Issachar, are already by us described. For, (as the text xIosh. 17. 11.expresly saith) the Tribe of Manasseh had in Issachar, and in Asher, even three Countries; that is, lying in Issachar, and Asher, but environed round with those Tribes possessions, yet pertaining to the portion of Manasseh. Let none blame Divine Providence of ill Architecture, for not well contriving the rooms in the house of Israel; the division of the land by lot, not being well designed, wherein Issachars Chamber [his portion] was made a thorough-fare, Manasseh having three closets [three small countreys] within the same. So that neither Tribe could enjoy his own with privacy, and intireness; and Manasseh (if but stepping out of the high-way) must in a manner trespass on Issachar, or crave leave of him, to come, through his, to his own inheritance. But know, all was ordered by theyEphes. 1. 11. counsell of Gods will, for reasons best known to himself; who would not have his children Churles, to ingross habitations by themselves; but, by such mixture of their portions, invited, yea, ingaged their persons to mutuall intercourse, seeing the very lots of their Tribes gave loving visits, and their Countreys (by Gods own appointment) came so curteously, and confidently, one within another.
§ 25. But very hard it is to conceive,And how in Asher. how Manasseh could have any land within Asher, which Tribe lay many miles more northward, and beyond the Tribe of Zebulun interposed. The Jewish Rabbins being much perplext at the Pedegree of A…zel, why it is twice reckoned up inzViz. 1 Chr. 8. 38. & 1 Chr. 9. 44. Chronicles, use to say, that they aOpus est quadring…ntis camelis onustis Commentariis, rationem reddere. Mar. Sutra cited by Buxdors. in Thesauro. sol. 202.need four hundred Camels loaden with Commentaries to give the true reason thereof. But their expression is more appliable to this present difficulty, how Manasseh could have any ground in Asher, except (as we have presented it in our Map) some part of Asher lay southward at distance, dis-jointed from the main body of that Tribe, which we have formerly described. Who knows not that pieces of Parishes, parcells of Manors, portions of Counties, though far off dismembred, relate unto them, notwithstanding the intermediate distance betwixt them?
§ 26. But let not Issachar, or Asher repine, that Manasseh had so much land in their Countreys, seeing though the right was assigned unto them, the Canaanites for a long time (till about Davids reign) kept all the same in their possession, as will appear by the ensuing parallel.
Joshua 17. 11. And Manasseh had in Issachar and Asher, Bethshean, and her towns, and Ibleam, and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor, and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor, and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanch, and her towns, and the inhabitants, of Meggido and her towns, even three Countrys. Judges 1. 27. Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean, and her towns, nor Taanach, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo, and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
Of Bethshean more conveniently hereafter. By Ibleam,b2 King. 9. 27. Ahaziah was wounded, as was formerly observed. Dor (mentioned for a sea-town in Ptolemy) had the King thereof conqueredcIosh. 12. 23. by Ioshua. Endor, whither Sisera's souldiers defeated in fight, not far off atdIudg. 5. 19. Taanach, (which also…was a regall city in the days ofeIos…. 11. 21. Ioshua, and afterwards belonged to the Levites) fled, were pursued,fPsal. 83. 10. perished and became as the dung of the earth. Hither Saul repaired to a witch, to raise Samuel, and received cold comfort from the dead, or Devill rather, informing him of his future destruction: so that Saul, formerly sick with fear of the worst, lived to hear Satan toll his passing-bell in his sad predictions.
§ 27. ButgIosh. 17. 11. Megiddo Megiddo an eminent city.was the most eminent City Manasseh had in Issachar. The King hereof was destroyed by Ioshua, and many years after Iosiah was slain in the vale of Megiddo, bidding Pharaoh Necho battell, in his march against Charchemish by Euphrates. Never Prince shewed more devotion in his life, or less discretion in his death, courting that danger which declined him, seeing Pharaoh desiredh2 Chr. 35. 21. peaceably to depart. But haply Iosiah conceived himself ingaged to fight him, in point of
1 Honour; because without leave he had made his land an high way to pass through it.
2 Policy; suspicious, though Pharaoh went forth as a friend, he would returne as a foe, especially if puffed up with success in his expedition.
But what shall we say? it was the sin of his subjects would not suffer Iosiah to keep quiet at home. Their impieties made him to march, thrust him into the field, forced him into the fight, yea, shot the fatall arrow, which wounded him at the heart.
§ 28. Now let none be troubled, because Iosiah (who rather deserved two lives) seems to have two deaths,Iosiah his death reco…ciled. one text making him to die i2 King. 23. 29.at Megiddo, anotherk2 Chr. 35. 24. at Ierusalem. Understand it, death arrested him with a mortall wound at Megiddo, but did not imprison him till he came to Ierusalem, where he expired. Much less let any challenge God, as worse then his word with Iosiah, having promised him by his Prophet l2 King. 22. 20.to be gathered to his Fathers in peace; for besides that that promise principally related to the captivity of Babylon (from which Iosiah was exempted) even such may be said to die in peace, which swim to their graves in their own bloud, if withall imbarqued in a good conscience.
§ 29. All Israel, Generall grief thereat.and principally the Prophet Ieremy, dropped many a precious teare on his hearse, whose*See the Sep…u…gints preface on the Lamentations. Lamentations are an Elegy on Iosiah's death; yea, their grief was no land-flood of present passion, but a constant channell of continued sorrow, streaming from an annuall fountain, it being made anm2 Chr. 35. 25. Ordinance in Israel. The Prophet speaking of a grand, and generall grieving for mens sins,nZech, 12. 11. compareth it to the mourning of Hadadrimmon (conceived to be a place hard by) in the valley of Megiddon.
§ 30. Iehosaphat the son of Paruah was Solomons purvey our ino1 King. 4. 17. Issachar, The Armes of Issachar.but the dis-jointed piece of Manasseh in this Tribe pertained partly to Baanah the son of Ahilud (to whom belongeth Taanach; Megiddo, and all Bethsh…an p1 Kin. 4. 12.) and partly to Aminada… husband to Taphath Solomons daughter, purveyour alone in the land ofq1 King. 4. 11. Dor. An argument of the great fertility of that little land, because the land of Dor alone, was a signe for a whole monethmonth in the Zodiack of Solomons yearly provisions. An Asse (formerly observed) argent, in a field vert, was Issachar's Arms, cou…hing between two rGen. 49. 14.burdens. Some by these understand Zebulun, and Manasseh, which bounded Issachar on both sides. But, why was their neighbourhood more burdensome, then any other Tribes? Such perchance, are nearer the truth, who expound the two burdens, Tribute and Tillage; betwixt which, Issachar, quietly cocuhed, never medling with wars, but when forced thereunto in his own defence.