A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Appendix · Chapter 36

A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament · Volume 3 · Appendix · Chapter 36

p. 6262 Chron. CHAP. XXXVI.

THIS Chapter gives a brief Account, Firſt, How Unhappy good Joſiah was in his four bad Sons, from ver. 1, to ver. 14. And Secondly, Of the Deſolation and Diſſolution of the Kingdom of Judah, from ver. 14, to ver. 20 And Thirdly and laſtly, Of the Jews final Deportation into the Babyloniſh Captivity, from ver. 20, to ver. 23. all which are Amplify'd upon in the 2d. of Kings 23.24, 25. Chapters.

Remarks upon the First Part, to wit, Joſiah's bad Sons are (1.) Jehoahaz, whom a Popular Faction made King, (as is aboveſaid) leſt Pharaoh-Necho upon his return ſhould make a Seizure (ſaith Maſius) upon the Vacant Kingdom. This Man proved a Degenerate Plant from ſo Pious a Father, following Amon and Manaſſeh more than Joſiah, reſtoring that Idolatry his Father had deſtroyed, (ſaith Menochius) partly to gratifie the People that had promoted him, which ſtill hankered after Superſtition even in Joſiah's time, and partly to Dulcifie the King of Egypt, who was a Worſhipper of Idols. Yet all this would not avail, for Necho in three Months time returns and Conquers him, 2 Kin. 23.33. but not without a great ſlaughter, ſaith Sanctius, from Ezek. 19.4. The Son endeavour'd (ſay Munſter and Lavater)with an Army to avenge his Father's death; therefore Necho did not only Depoſe him, (becauſe he had taken the Kingdom without his leave, and to ſhew he had Power to diſpoſe of the Kingdom) but alſo took him Priſoner, and carry'd him down to Egypt, where he died, 2 Kin. 23. ver. 34. as Jeremy had foretold, Jer. 22.11, 12. where he is call'd Shallum, and 1 Chron. 3.15.

Remark the Second; Necho ſets up Eliakim his Brother, (who was put beſide the Crown by the Factious People, being Elder than Jehoahaz, 2 Kin. 23. ver. 31, and 36. compared together,) and chang'd his Name into Jehoiakim, to ſhew his Soveraignty over him, (as Dan. 1.7.) both which Names ſignifie [God ſhall Ariſe.] This obſequious King carefully pays the Tribute Necho laid upon the Land, namely, 100 Talents of Silver (which amounted to Thirty ſeven Thouſand and five Hundred pound Sterling) and a Talent of Gold, which was Three Thouſand ſeven Hundred and Fifty Pound more: This large Mulct Jehoiakim levy'd upon his People, ver. 35. from whom likely he received no leſs ſumms of Curſes than of Coin. However, hereby he bought his Peace with Pharaoh, who gave him leave to Reign eleven Years, ver. 36. in which time he wrought much Wickedneſs, both by Idolatry, Oppreſſion of his Subjects, and Perſecution of the Prophets and other good Men, Jer. 26.20, 23. Ezek. 19.5, 6, 7. To all his other Evils he added this, that he ſlew Ʋrijah the Prophet, and would have done no leſs to Jeremy and Baruch, but that the Lord hid them from him, Jer. 36.25, 26. Much Evil is Recorded of this King, Jer. 22.13, 17. and 26.20, &c. and 36.21, 22, 23. Ezek. 17.5, 6, 7, &c. Whereas his good Father had wept at the hearing of the Roll of Moſes's Law read, this bad Son would have cut it in pieces, &c. But the Lord Chaſtizes him by Nebuchadnezzar, who in the latter end of his 3d. Year, Dan. 1.1. or beginning of his 4th. Jer. 25.1. compells him to turn Tributary to him, which he continued till his 7th. Year, then (Pharaoh his former Confederate) courted him to Rebel, &c. 2 Kings 24.1, 2, 3. where we are told of many more Scourges beſide the Babylonians, (as the Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites all foretold) wherewith the Lord ſcourg'd this Degenerate Offspring: But this King of Babylon was the principal, who took Jeruſalem and Jehoiakim, &c. (the King of Egypt not daring to Relieve his old Confederate after his Forces had been Defeated at Carchemiſh, &c. wherein God reveng'd upon Pharaoh the Death of good Joſiah, ver. 7.) whom he ſlew either in Jeruſalem (as Joſephus ſaith) and caſt him unbury'd for being in League with Necho, (Nebuchadnezzar's mortal Enemy) or he died by the way as he was going out of the Gates Captive to Babylon, and then was caſt out unbury'd, ſo had the Burial of an Aſi, ſoretold by Jeremy, Jer. 22.18, 19. tho' ſome refer this Fate to the next King.

Remark the Third, Jeconiah or Coniah or Jehoiakim ſucceeds him, who receiv'd the Scepter Young, manag'd it ill, and kept is not long, 2 Chron. 36.9. 2 Kings 24.8. at eighteen p. 627Years old (being but eight Years old when his Father began to Reign) he began to work wickedneſs, which was the Reaſon he was ſo ſoon cut off, for within a Year the King of Babylon was upon his back, 2 Kings 24.10. 2 Chron. 36.10. beſieges Jeruſalem, which by yielding it up according to Jeremy's advice to him, he preſerved it from Deſtruction, wherein (ſaith Joſephus) he acted the part of a good King: Notwithſtanding, Nebuchadnezzar carried him Captive to Babylon, and with him his Mother and Princes of the Royal Blood, 2 Kings 24. v. 11, 12. and all the Treaſures he met with or thought meet, ver. 13. and without any regard to thoſe ſacred Veſſels, he brake them in pieces, that he might Barrel up a greater Quantity of them, the better for convenient Carriage; and he carried then away the greateſt part of the Citizens, ver. 14 among whom was Mordecai, Eſth. 2.5, 6. and Ezekiel, Ezek. 1.2, 3. who therefore calls it his Captivity, Ezek. 40.1. [and all the Craftſmen and Smiths] that no new Arms or Fortifications might be made again againſt him [Leaving none behind but the poorer ſort, &c.] ver. 15, 16. yet fared it better with thoſe in Captivity, then with thoſe that remain'd unremoved, Jer. 24.4, 5, &c. to thoſe Jeremy wrote, if the Apocryphal Baruk may be believed, Chap. 6.

Remark the Fourth, Zedekiah is ſet up by the King of Babylon in his Place, ver. 17. and 2 Chron. 36.10. His Name was Mattaniah, which ſignifies the Gift of God (good Joſiah gave all his Sons good Names, but they all proved ſtark naught): As the King of Egypt in token of his Dominion had changed Eliakim's Name, 2 Kings 23.34. ſo the King of Babylon changeth Mattaniah to Zedekiah, and bound him by a ſolemn Oath to be Tributary to him, 2 Chron. 36.13. and gave him that Name Zedekiah, which ſignifies the Juſtice of God, intimating thereby, that if he broke his Oath, he ſhould find and feel the fearful effect of God's Juſtice: But his Nature ſtood croſs to his Name, for he broke Covenant both with God, Jer. 34.17. and with Man too, Ezek 17.18, 19. ſo Lavater: Zedekiah, forgetting the import of his Name, and how ſeverely the Juſtice of God had puniſh'd Jehoiakim and Jehoiakin or Jeconiah for their Rebellion, rebels alſo, and was guilty of the ſame perfidiouſneſs with his Predeceſſors, proving as bad as Jehoiakim, 2 Kings 24.18, 19. Doing much Evil in the ſight of the Lord. As 1. He and his People are very naughty Figs that could not be eaten, Jer. 24.8. &c. 2. He brake Covenant with the King of Babylon, that had ſettl'd him on the Throne, Ezek. 17. 18, 19.3. He brake the Lord's Covenant alſo made with his Subjects, Jer. 34.8, 11, 17, &c. 4. He conſented to caſt Jeremy into a loathſom Dungeon, Jer. 38.5.5. He cut in pieces Moſes's Copy of the Law, &c. Jer. 36.23, 24. and rent not his Garments, at the hearing of which good Joſiah had rent his Heart. 6. He hearken'd not to the Word of the Lord ſpoken by Jeremy, Jer. 37.2. nor humbled himſelf thereat, 2 Chron. 36.12, 13. no Repentance was in him for his former Sins, but the hardning of his Heart, 2 Kings 24.20. which Vatablus calls the effect of God's Anger, who was an Eye-witneſs of his Oath, &c. Thus ſtands he branded in Scripture.

Remark the Fifth, The Puniſhment of Zedekjah's Sin is ſet down, in 2 Kings 25. throughout, and 2 Chron. 36. where his Sin and the Sins of his Subjects are declared with all their Aggravations, ver. 14, 15, 16, 17. that now there was a General Defection both of Prieſts and People as well as of the Prince, though God, who afflicts not willingly, Lam. 3.33. but rather (as Vatablus ſaith) deſirous to ſpare them, ſent his Meſſengers in Mercy to admoniſh them, both early and late, like a good Houſholder, who is up with the firſt to give Directions, ſaith A Lapide, but they mocked the Meſſengers, yea, both miſuſed and murther'd them, 2 Chron. 30.10. Matth. 21.34, 35, 36. N.B. The laſt means God ordinarily uſeth to reclaim Sinners from their Sins, is the ſending of his Miniſters to tell them of their Sins, and to denounce God's Judgments againſt them for the ſame: If this prevail not, then there remaineth no Remedy [gnad leen Marphe] no healing, as Vatablus renders it, the wound is then become incurable; and the Rule is [Immedicabile Vulnus enſe recidendum eſt, &c.] Ovid, The incurable Member muſt be cut off. Wherever ſuch unreclaimable Obſtinacy is found, this thruſteth Thunder-bolts into the hands of a juſtly provoked God, and in this Caſe God will not pardon, Ezek. 24.13, 14. no Remedy, Prov. 29.1. and here, ver. 16. and Heb. 10.26, 27. a certain Expectation of Wrath only remains.

The Second Part of this 2 Chron. 36. is God's Judgments for their Sins.

Remark the Firſt, Therefore God brought upon them the King of the Chaldees, ver. 17. but more largely related, 2 Kings 25.1, &c. The ſame Nebuchadnezzer who had aſſaulted Jehoiakim, 2 Kings 24.1. and took him, 2 Chron. 36.6. the ſame who had carry'd Jehoiakin Captive to Babylon, 2 Kings 24.15. and now being thus provok'd by Zedekiah, he ſets on him likewiſe, and beſieges Jeruſalem in the ninth Year of that laſt p. 628King, and in the tenth Month, &c. Now the Evil came, Ezek. 7.5, 6 and 24.1. Zach. 8.14. both with a Witneſs, and with a Vengeance, &c.

Mark 1. A moſt numerous Army ſet this large City round about with a cloſe Siege, which laſted to the eleventh Year of Zedekiah, above a Year and half, 2 Kings 25.1, 2. to cut off all Proviſions from it.

Mark 2. Though this Siege was rais'd for a Time, by the coming of Pharaoh Hophra to relieve their old Confederates near to them, Jer. 37.5, 11. yet this proved but a broken Reed to Judah, Ezek. 29.6, 7. for when he ſaw the Chaldeans too ſtrong for him, he return'd home to Egypt, and the Chaldeans to the Siege: Hophra came out like Thunder, but went back like Smoak.

Mark 3. The Chaldeans, foreſeeing their Siege was like to be long againſt ſo well a fortified City, built Forts againſt it, which Vatablus calls a Warlike Engine upon Advance-ground for ſhooting Darts, Arrows or Stones into the City, Jer. 52.4. Ezek. 4.2. and 17.17.

Mark 4. During this long Siege (which Cluverius ſaith laſted till the third Year) Jeremy, knowing God's Will, ceas'd not to preſs Zedekiah to a yielding up the City, ſaying [He that goeth forth to the Chaldeans ſhall live, &c.] Jer. 38.2, 17. At this the prophane Princes are highly provoked, as if he weaken'd the Hands of the Men of War, ver. 4. they procure his caſting into the Dungeon, out of which Ebedmelech deliver'd him, ver. 12.

Mark 5. As the Force without was fearfully obnoxious to the City, ſo the Famine within was ten fold more, inſomuch that Fathers did eat their Sons, and Sons their Fathers, Ezek 5.10. and Mothers their Children, Lam. 4.10. and this Famine was follow'd with a grievous Peſtilence, Jer. 21.6, 7, 9. and 24.10.

Mark 6. The Beſiegers made a breach in the Wall, at which they entred and ſeiz'd upon the middle Gate, 2 Kings 25.4. Jer. 39.3. upon which Zedekiah fled betwixt the Outward and Inward Wall of the City by a private Way, having the Advantage of the Darkneſs of Night, and poſſibly ſome Vault under-ground as Ezekiel had foretold, Ezek. 12.12.

Mark 7. The Chaldees, that were round about the City diſcover'd him by their Scouts, purſue, overtake, and apprehend him, 2 Kings 25. v. 5. and bring him to Riblah, v. 6. where the King of Babylon doom'd him for his Perjury, Ezek. 17.18. to ſee his Sons ſlain before his Eyes (as fellow Rebels) a ſad Spectacle, and then have the Eyes of his Head put out, who had put out the Eyes of his Mind long before, elſe his Previſion (by the Prophets, Jer. 32.4. and 34.3. and Ezek. 12.13.) might have been a Prevention.

Mark 8. Joſephus obſerves, that Zedekiah could not reconcile thoſe two Prophecies of Jeremy in the Places laſt quoted, who tells him there [He ſhould go to Babylon] and of Ezekiel who ſaith [He ſhould not ſee Babylon] which were ſeeming Contradictions; hereupon he concluded that both theſe Prophecies were falſe, and both were lying Prophets. Joſeph. Antiq. 10.11. yet both were made good by the Event, for he was indeed carryed Captive to Babylon, but could not behold it, becauſe his Eyes were put out before at Riblah, and he went blind to Babylon: The Dutch have a Proverb [Whom God deſigns to deſtroy, he firſt puts out his Eyes] neither the falſe Prophet Zedekiah, nor the fond King Zedekiah could unriddle it, &c.

Remark the Second, Is the Deſtruction of the City, and Temple, and of the Kingdom.

Mark 1. Though Jeruſalem had been the Joy of the whole Earth, and the City of the great King, beautiful for Situation, Pſalm 48.2. yet now is it broken up, 2 Kings 25.4. by the Beſiegers, who broke down the middle Gate, Jer. 29.3, 4. there entred they and took the City, and plunder'd it, &c.

Mark 2. They then burnt the Temple, after they had plunder'd it of all its Treaſure (which had now ſtood four hundred ſeventy Years and upward, ſaith Joſephus) 2 Kings 25.9, 10. 2 Chron. 36.18.19, and Nebuzaradan burnt down [Kol-Beth Gadol, Heb.] every great Houſe, ſparing the ſmaller (ſaith Piſcator) for the pooreſt ſort were to remain behind, &c. 2 Kings 24.14. and 25.22.

Mark 3. This Captain of the Guard (which ſome ſenſe, Hebr. Rab tabbuchim) as Vatablus, Piſcator, Oſiander call, the Maſter of the Butchers or Slaughter-men, ſo his Sword-men ſeem to be called for their bloody Cruelty after he had ruin'd both ſacred and civil Fabricks and Palaces, firing both the Chief Prieſts and the Chief Princes out of their lurking Holes, where they lay abſconded in ſome ſecret Corner of the Temple, &c. All theſe he ſent to Riblah, where the King of Babylon ſlew them as chief Incendiaties in the Rebellion (ſaith Sanctius) and of Zedekiah's Council.

Mark 4. Dr. Lightfoot obſerves, that this Seraiah (who was ſlain here, 2 Kings 25.18, p. 62921.) was High Prieſt and Father to famous Ezra, Ezra 7.1. and Zephaniah was the Sagan, Suffragan, or ſecond Prieſt (who upon any extraordinary occaſion of Sickneſs or caſual Contamination, ſaith Mr. Gattaker, whereby the High-Prieſt was diſabled to officiate) this Grand Deputy was to ſupply his Place. N.B. Theſe two came to ſuch a fatal end at the fall of the Temple, as Hophni and Phinehas had at the Ruine of Shiloh.

Mark 5. The Time when the Temple and City were fired: This was on the ſeventh Day in the fifth Month, 2 Kings 25.8. which was in our July, in Memory of which fatal Month the poor Captive Jews kept an Anniverſary Faſt in Babylon during their Captivity, Zech. 7.3. bewailing the fall of Jeruſalem, &c. with Pſalm 137. and this ſeventh Day, Sanctius ſuppoſeth to be the Sabbath-day, whereon this prophane Perſon Nebuzaradan purpoſely brought into the Temple his Pagan Crew, to eat, drink and be merry therein, and when they had thus polluted the Temple with their Pagan prophaneneſs, he ſet it on Fire upon the ſeventh or Sabbath day, and it continued burning before it was wholly conſumed, until the tenth Day mentioned, Jer. 52.12, 13.

Mark 6. Munſterus (out of the leſſer Seder Olam) makes the Time of this Deſtruction of the Temple and City, to fall out in the three thouſand three hundred and eight Year of the World, and eight hundred and fifty Years after Iſrael's entrance into that Land, but Learned Dr. Ʋſher's Computation doth better, in carrying it up higher to three thouſand four hundred and five Years from the Creation: And Dr. Lightfoot advances it higheſt of all, to three thouſand four hundred and twenty Years, &c. ſaying, that the eleventh Year of Zedekiah, and the nineteenth of Nebuchadnezzar was this fatal Year of Jeruſalem's fall, and then were Ezekiel's hundred and ninety Years up, Ezek. 4.5. reckoning from Jeroboani's Apoſtaſy for Iſrael, and the forty Years for Judah from Huldah's Prophecie in the eighteenth of Joſiah; then the laſt Reliques of Iſrael and Judah were carried Captive, &c.

Remark the Third, The Caſe and Condition of the Jews after this diſmal Deſtruction of their City and Temple: The Conqueror (ſaith Sir Walter Rawleigh) exerciſed his abſolute Dominion over the Conquered, who upon a ſecond ſearch flew ſeventy two more that had hid themſelves, beſide the ſeven Men ſeiz'd upon before, Jer. 52.25. but only five of them were ſlain, 2 Kings 25.19. for Jeremy and Ebedmelech were two of the ſeven taken by Nebuzaradan (ſaith Dr. Lightfoot) and they both were delivered: Yet ſeventy two others were ſlaughter'd at Riblah, Jer. 52.25, 26, 27. which number hath a conſiderable Reflection on the ſeventy two Elders (that made up the Sanhedrim) who had been firſt choſen over them, Numb. 11.26, 27. and after this he took the ſtrongeſt of the People Captive to Babylon, leaving the weaker ſort behind to Till the Ground, 2 Kings 25.12. who would rather be a Burden than a Benefit to them.

Remark the Fourth, The Conquerour appoints Gedaliah (who according to Jeremy's Advice had ſubmitted in due Seaſon to the King of Babylon) to be Governour over this poorer ſort of People, 2 Kings 25.22. whom Joſephus calls Virum aequum & bonum [foreign] a moderate and juſt Man, in whom the King of Babylon much Confided, and therefore made him Vice-Roy and Tributary, ſaith Menochius: It appears that this Ahikam the Son of Shaphan was a righteous Man, and a Friend to the Prophet Jeremy, Jer. 26.24. Ahikam had been one of good Joſiah's Counſellours, 2 Kings 22.12. by this Man's Authority and Influence, Jeremy was delivered, and God rewarded him in making his Son Gedaliah Governour: Gedaliah, Hebr. ſignifies a great Lord, he was a Pious, Prudent, and meek ſpirited Man. The Prophet Jeremy is committed to Gedaliah's care, Jer. 39.11, 12, 13, 14. yet by ſome overſight of Officers, he is brought bound to Ramah, the Place of the Chaldees Rendezvouz, Jer. 40.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. there was a ſad Mourning of all the Captives at Ramah, Jer. 31.15. Matth. 2.18. but Jeremy is loos'd from the Bonds which the Jews had put upon him, and was diſmiſs'd to go back to Gedaliah, when 'twas perceiv'd he had no mind for Babylon; now that Promiſe took place [I will cauſe the Enemy to treat there well] Jer. 15.11. Probatum eſt: Nebuzaradan, is now as Active in honouring the Lord's Prophet, as before he had been in deſtroying the Lord's Temple, and the Place where his Honour dwelt.

Remark the Fifth, the mighty over-ruling Power, that the Almighty God hath over the Hearts of the moſt Mighty Men, as here over that moſt mighty Monarch Nebuchadnezzar (who now bid fare to be the abſolute Monarch of the World, when he conquer'd Nation after Nation, Jer. 25.15, to 32.) In whoſe Eyes God gave Jeremy ſo much Favour, as to take a Fatherlike Care for his Preſervation and future Proviſion, Jer. 39.11. &c. Having heard of his preaching Submiſſion to the Will of God in yielding, &c. As this Divine Heart-changing Power was made more manifeſt upon Nebuchadnezzar afterwards, when God ſent him a Grazing, &c. Dan. 4.31, to 37. ſo now it p. 630moſt eminently appear'd in changing the Heart of Nebuzaradan, that praefectus Laniorum the Prince of Butchers, and cauſing him to become ſo Divine a Preacher, Jer. 40.2, 3, 4. ſaying [The Lord by God hath brought all this Evil he had pronounced againſt this Place, &c.] N.B. A ſtrange, good, and pious Speech to come out of the Mouth of ſo had a Man. How could the Captive Jews, who were now preſent, hear it, but be much affected with it; eſpecially hearing him ſay, Behold I diſmiſs thee with all due Honour as a true Prophet (however deſpiſed and afflicted by thy own worthleſs Countreymen) I will not only looſe thoſe Bonds which they baſely put upon thee, but I will look well to thee, ſo that thou ſhalt lack nothing, and behold all the Land is before thee, &c. what could Pharaoh ſay more to Joſeph, Gen. 47.6. or Abraham to Lot, Gen. 13.9. in granting ſo noble a Choice, and moreover he gave Jeremy neceſſaries for his Journey, coming ſo Naked and Needy out of his late Priſon, and a Preſent fit for a Prophet, Jer. 40. ver. 5.

Remark the Sixth, The Fate of that Remnant who the King of Babylon left behind, 2 Kings 25.23, to 26. Jer. 40.6, 7.

Mark 1. 'Twas God's kindneſs to this poor People, in moving Nebuchadnezzar to make ſo good a Man (one of their own Countrey as Gedaliah was) to be their Governour, had a Babylonian Officer been ſet over them, he would have rul'd over them with Rigour, Gedaliah being known to be a Prudent and Pious Man, Jeremy (being left to his choice) came to him, and ſo did the Remnant of the Jews, even all the Captains of the Army, which had been ſcattered from Zedekiah in his flight, 2 Kings 25.5, 23.

Mark 2. And among the reſt came Iſhmael of the Blood-Royal, Jer. 40.8. and 41.1 Therefore he envy'd Gedaliah for ſuch great preſerment, looking upon him as a Traitor to his Country, in becoming Governour by a Babyloniſh Power, which yet he did in Obedience to Gods Word by the Prophet Jeremy, but who can ſtand before Envy, that ſharp fang'd Malignity, Prov. 27.4. which after cut down good Gedaliah.

Mark 3. Though Iſhmael proved a very Judas, yet other Jews came for juſter Ends, to whom Gedaliah ſware his good Affection, Jer. 40.9, 10. bidding them fall to their Husbandry under his Protection, &c. Moreover many Jews (who had fled into Foreign Parts for Succour and Safety) reſorted likewiſe to Gedaliah in Mizpah, and they alſo did gather Wine and Summer-fruits in abundance, ver. 11, 12. which was God's Bleſſing upon them for loving that Holy Land above prophane Nations.

Mark 4. Johanan the then honeſt Captain came and informed Gedaliah, that the King of the Ammonites had employ'd Iſhmael to ſlay him, but good Gedaliah believed it not, ver. 13.14. thinking probably that Iſhmael durſt not do it, both becauſe of his own Innocency, and the Babylonian Power to avenge ſuch Attempts, beſide he might ſuſpect likewiſe, that the other Captains did Envy Iſhmael for his ſo much pretended Familiarity with him, therefore he hinder'd Johanan from executing Iſhmael, ver. 15, 16, from his too much Credulity and Security, &c.

Mark 5. The Murder of good Gedaliah by that wicked Wretch Iſhmael, 2 Kings 25.25. this he did within two or three Months after the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, Jer. 41.1, 2. He and ten Deſperado's with him (to whom Iſhmael probably had promiſed to reſtore their Principalities, when he ſhould be King, or (at leaſt) Vice-Roy under Baalis King of Ammon, who was the Chief Engineer of all the enſuing Miſchiefs, ſet on work undoubtedly by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils to hinder ſo good a Work:) All theſe, having done their Homage before, came to Feaſt with Gedaliah, pretending a friendly Viſit, and when they ſaw (ſaith Joſephus) Gedaliah Merry with Wine, they took this opportunity to ſmite and ſlay him, and with him all his Gueſts the Jews (that were with him) and the Chaldeans alſo there preſent, that his bloody Act might not be known, Jer. 41. ver. 3, 4.

Mark 6. Iſhmael alſo flaies ſeventy Samaritan Proſelytes, ſuch as were coming to the Feaſt of Tabernacles in this ſeventh Month, wherein Solomon of old had kept the Feaſt of the Dedication of the Temple, and ſent the People with glad Hearts home, 2 Chron. 7.10. 1 Kings 8.66. but how is the Matter now altered: Theſe Innocent Men, who had not offended Iſhmael ſo much as by the leaſt Word, but going in the ſimplicity of their Hearts to worſhip God (in Mourning for the burnt Temple, &c.) and to wait upon Gedaliah, which was Iſhmael's main quarrel againſt them, this brutiſh bloody Butcher falls foul upon theſe fourſcore Men, Jer. 41.5, 6. whom with his Crocodile Tears and deep Diſſimulation he had deceived at the firſt, to find out how they ſtood affected to Gedaliah, and no ſooner did he underſtand that they did but once own him, but he and his Slaughter-ſlaves began their Execution of the Innocent, ver. 7.

Mark 7. But Ten of thoſe Fourſcore pleaded for their Lives, and were ſpared, p. 631ver. 8. ſaying, [We have Treaſures hid on the Field] knowing. Soldiers will do much for Money, and willing enough theſe Men were to part with their Wealth for redeeming their Lives. In this caſe Iſhmael's Covetouſneſs conquer'd his Cruelty, preferring their Coin above their Blood, and hoping to make a farther Prize of them by carrying them away Captive, &c. After he had caſt the 70 ſlaughter'd Samaritans into a Trench that Aſa had made to be a ſtop betwixt the Samaritans and himſelf, and now 'tis fill'd up with ſuch Samaritans as were Friends to the true Religion, ver. 9. which before was a Fence againſt ſuch as were Enemies, then carry'd Iſhmael away Captives, all the remainder at Mizpeh, even the King's Daughters, ver. 10. his own Kinſwomen, whom the Babylonians had ſpared: Thus found they leſs favour from a fulſe Brother, than they had done from a profeſs'd Foe. N.B. And thus Hereticks have out-done Heathens in Cruelty to the true Church in all Ages, &c.

Mark 8. Then Johanan hearing of Gedaliah's Death, went to fight againſt Iſhmael, ver. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. This Act of Fortitude, like that of Abraham's for Reſcuing Lot, God made ſucceſsful to Reſcue the Captives, full glad hereof: But the grand wretch eſcaped to Ammon with diſgrace; for no doubt but his Defeat and diſappointment of his high Deſign (for catching the Crown) would be twitted in his Teeth by Baalis King of Ammon, with whom he had abſconded, and ſecured himſelf from the Storm during the Siege of Jeruſalem, Jer. 40.14. N.B. With what Honour, and with what Conſcience could this bloody Judas live among the Ammonites-Courtiers, who would ever be reproaching him for the Miſcarriage of his Arrogant and Roguiſh Treachery! this muſt be more Vexation to his ambitions Mind, than Death it ſelf.

Remark the Seventh: The Captains and Common People (upon the Death of Gedaliah) reſolve to go down to Egypt, and did ſo, 2 Kings 25. ver. 26. tho' they had promiſed to be Ruled by the Counſel of the Lord in the mouth of the Prophet Jeremy, Jer. 42. and 43.

Mark 1. Johanan and the reſt feared that the King of Babylon would ſend his Captains to Revenge the Murder of Gedaliah, and with him, of many Chaldeans the Governour's Companions, 2 Kings 25.25. whom Johanan and his Captains (as he might imagine) ſhould have both caution'd and better guarded: They therefore were afraid, that the Chaldeans would come to puniſh them for their Neglect, Jer. 41.18.

Mark 2. Hereupon they humbly pray'd the Prophet for Divine direction, Jer. 42. 1, 2, 3. yet all this was but deep Diſſimulation, for they had ſet themſelves in the way to Egypt, before they came with this Requeſt to the Prophet, Jer. 41.17. yet do they promiſe with an Oath, what they never meant to perform, Jer. 42. ver. 4, 5, 6, 19, 20.

Mark 3. God delay'd Ten Days before he would Anſwer the Prophet's Prayer for Direction, Jer. 42. v. 7. No doubt but theſe Diſſemblers were impatient enough under ſuch a long Delay, yet God ſeemed by his ſilence to ſay to them, [I will not be enquir'd of by you,] Ezek. 20.3. unworthy of an Anſwer.

Mark 4. At laſt the Prophet comes, and from God promiſeth them protection from the Chaldeans, ver. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. if ſtill they will ſtay in their own Land; but withal, threatens Sword, Famine, and Peſtilence to overtake them if they went down to Egypt, both againſt God's expreſs prohibition, Deut. 17.16. and againſt that direful Commination, Deut. 28.68. telling them, ſuch ſtubborn Sinners cannot run out of the reach of God's Rod, Jer. 42.13. to 22.

Mark 5. The Proud Men endeavour to diſcredit this Prophecy, alledging, 'twas but a Juggle betwixt Jeremy and Baruch, Jer. 43.1, 2, 3. which was notoriouſly improbable; for what could Baruch gain by ſuch a Colloguing Bargain, in ſetting the Prophet againſt his own Country-men for a common Diſturbance?

Mark 6. Hypocriſie will at long-run diſcover it ſelf, [Some Mens Sins are open beforehand, &c. and others follow after.] 1 Tim. 5.24. Here Johanan ſhews himſelf an Hypocrite, ver. 4, 5, 6. than which, nothing is more Audacious and Deſperate when once diſcover'd. This Deſperado (in deſpight of God's contrary Command) begins his March for Egypt, (taking along with him all the Remnant of Judah) as if he would deſperately ſpit in the face of Heaven, and daringly challenge Jehovah to a Duel, as Galigula did his Jove, &c. Yea, Jeremy and Baruch he takes with him alſo, and not without a ſpecial Providence, theſe wretches muſt ſtill have a Prophet to make them more inexecuſable.

Mark 7. Poor Jeremy is hurry'd down to Egypt ſore againſt his Will: Thus many of God's faithful Servants are carry'd whither they would not go, as Peter, Joh. 21.18. But 'tis comfortable to conſider, as 'tis no Ʋntrodden Path, many have gone before therein; ſo God hath ſome ſpecial Work for them, as for Jeremy here, who no ſooner p. 632comes there, but he Propheſies againſt Egypt, and againſt them too that carry'd him thither, Jer. 43.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

Mark 8. Now are theſe Remnants of the Jews ſettled in Egypt, and in time fall to open Idolatry; the Prophet Jeremy reproves them for it, and for their Obſtinacy, &c. for which, by Figures, (joining Paradigms with his Prophecies to make more Impreſſion) he foretels both theirs and Egypt's Deſtruction, Jer. 43.8, 9. He builds an Altar of Brick, and tells them how the King of Babylon ſhall ſet his Throne upon thoſe Stones, and much more amply and plainly in the following verſes, and in Chap. 44. throughout; for which, ſome ſay, his Ʋngrateful Country-men ſtoned him with Brick-bats. N. B. This was all the Reward that this faithful Servant of God received for his One and forty Years pains taken amongſt them.

Mark 9. As to this Remnant, the Lord ſet his face againſt them for Evil in Egypt, whither they could eaſily come; Sed Revocare gradum, &c. hic labor, hoc opus eſt; they never return'd to their Country, but all periſhed there, (ſave a Methe-Miſpar, a poor few, a ſmall Remnant which God reſerved for Royal Uſe) when Pharaoh Hophra, that proud Prince, was ſlain by Nebuchadnezzar, as both Joſephus and Jerome do affirm, according to Jeremy's Prophecy, Jer. 44.11, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30. Joſephus ſaith, that Nebuchadnezzar came (about five Years after he had taken Jeruſalem) againſt Egypt and overcame it, and ſlew this their King, not ſparing theſe Jews who had ſo highly incenſed him, by the Death of Gedaliah his Deputy Governour in Juded, and by their running down thereupon to this King of Egypt for Refuge.

Remark the Eighth; Leaving this Remnant lodged in Egypt, and gradually conſumed under the weight of Jehovah's Oath, Jer. 44.26, 27, 28. whoſe Word would be ſure to ſtand againſt their ſtubborneſs, and in God's time did Hit them, when it might moſt hurt them, and waſte them away, &c. N. B. Now let us return to thoſe Jews who were carry'd by force in to Captivity from Judea to Babylon with Zedekiah, whereof an Account is given, 2 Kings 25.11. 2 Chron. 36.20. and Jer. 52.30. who in all were reckon'd to be but Four Thouſand and ſix Hundred. Now if it be well weighed how vaſtly Numerous thoſe two Tribes had been in Numb. 1. and 26. where they were numbred, and afterwards under ſundry Kings of Judah, yet are now reduced to ſo ſmall a number here; which intimates what a dreadful matter it is to provoke the Lord, by mocking and miſuſing his Meſſengers, till there was no Remedy, 2 Chron. 36.16. No doubt but multitudes periſhed by the Sword, Famine and Peſtilence. N. B. 'Tis true indeed, the Reader muſt Ruminate and Remark, there were Three Captivities of Judah Recorded in Scripture; the firſt was in the latter end of the 7th. and beginning of the 8th. Year of Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 52.28. and 2 Kings 24.12, 13, 14, &c. to the number of 18000 Captives in all, at Jehoiakim's reſigning himſelf and the City, &c. of which before: The ſecond was in the 18th. of Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 52.29. This was the time when the City was broken up in the 11th. Year of Zedekiah, which is call'd the 19th. of Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 25.8. the Old Year expiring and the New entring, &c. Again, a third is mentioned in the Twenty-third Year of Nebuchadnezzar, Jer. 52.30. which was about four Years after the former, and ſuppos'd to be upon the provocation of Iſhmael's ſo barbarouſly murdering Gedaliah his Lieutenant-Governour. Upon which Nebuzaradan came up and carry'd away Captive ſeven Hundred forty five Perſons, as an addition to the eight Hundred and Thirty-two before. N. B. The Captivity of King Manaſſeh going before all theſe, makes up the number Four Captivities, according to Sir Walter Rawleigh, who makes that of Jehoiakim (with whom Daniel was) and that of Jeconiah, (with whom Ezekiel was) to be two Diſtinct Captivities; but becauſe they were within ſome few Months each of other, the latter Reigning but three Months after the former, 2 Kings 24.8. 2 Chron. 36.9. therefore if not one (as ſome ſay) there be Five Captivities upon Record, lodging the Jews in Babylon.

Remarks upon the Seventy Years Captivity.

Remark the Firſt; The Lord by Jeremy had reveal'd the continuance of this Captivity to be for Seventy Years, Jer. 25.9, 12. and 26.6, 7. and 29.10. that ſo long the Land ſhould enjoy her Sabbaths, 2 Chron. 36.21. being eaſed of that wicked weight of a Race of Rebels againſt God, that brought upon it moſt heavy Curſes, and tyred it out with continual Tillage: But where to commence this Computation, and on what Year to ſix the Head of this Accompt, there is no ſmall Controverſie: Dr. Lightfoot counts them to begin the 4th. of Jehoiakim. See my Diſcovery of Antichriſt, p. 151, 152, 153. Others reckon them from the 11th Year of Zedekiah, which made the promis'd p. 633and expected Jabile of Freedom to the Jews themſelves the more uncertain, ſeeing the preciſe point of Time or Epocha of its beginning was not clearly expreſſed by any Prophet. Daniel only foots the Account in the beginning of Jehoiakim's Reign, Dan. 1.1. Jer. 25.1. which was the first News we hear of Nebuchadnezzar, and ſuppoſed to be the firſt Year of his Reign, which he began with this Expedition againſt Jeruſalem, &c. and the ſame Daniel underſtood from Jeremy's Prophecy, when the 70 Years Captivity were expired, Dan. 9.2. reckoning from the firſt of Nebuchadnezzar, in the latter end of Jehoiakim's third, and in the beginning of his fourth, (oft promiſcuouſly expreſs'd in Scripture) he knew when it was about to expire. N. B. So falls he on ſpeaking the ſame in his Prayers which God had ſpoken in his Promiſes, ver. 3, &c. and ſoon after performed with his Providences, the effect of that former ſweet Harmony in his Prayer, with God's Promiſe. Beſides, as there were ſundry Captivities, ſo there were ſundry Returns, &c.

Remark the Second; This Captivity of the Jews in Babylon was as Bad as Iſrael's Bondage in Egypt; for 'tis not only ſaid that the Jews were Servants (or Salves) to Nebuchadnezzar, to Evil Merodach and to Belſhazzar, 2 Chron. 26.20. as had been foretold, Jer. 27.6, 7. until his end come by the Kingdom of Perſia, but 'tis alſo expreſly declared, that the Jews were Slaves in Babylon as the Iſraelites made Brick in Egypt, 1 Chron. 4.22, 23. both which works were working in Morter, as Exod. 1.14. yea the Jews Bondage in Babylon was much worſe than that in Egypt in this reſpect, inſomuch as Iſrael's Souls were Free there, while their Bodies were in Bondage; for in Egypt they were not compelled to Worſhip Iſis and Oſiris thoſe Egyptian Idols, but there had their liberty to ſerve the True Jehovah, whereas in Babylon the Jews were compelled to worſhip Idols, Dan. 3.1, 6, &c.

Remark the Third; In the beginning of this 70 Years Captivity, the Prophet Jeremy compoſeth the ſad Ditty of his Lamentations, wherein he moſt dolefully bewails the Miſery of Jeruſalem and of the Jews, who were now carry'd Captives about 600 Miles from their own Country; yet doth he it moſt Elegantly, for all the Chapters in that Elegiack Book (excepting the laſt) are Alphabetical, every Verſe beginning in order with the Letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, and the Third Chapter doing ſo three times over, and all of it with ſingular Artifice in a Poetical Strain and Rapture; take one paſſage for a taſte, [Oi na lanu, chi chattanu] Lam. 5.16. which words run in a Rhiming Rhythmical Verſe, ſignifying [Wo to us that we have Sinned]; and indeed the whole of his Diſcourſe therein is carry'd on in a ſtately Style, in figurative Terms, full of Paſſion and Compaſſion; as to ſhew his love to his Country, ſo to work upon his hard-hearted Country-men, preſſing them to Repentance, Prayer, Patience, together with a Sanctify'd uſe of all their Sufferings, and a confident expectation of a moſt happy Iſſue at the end, notwithſtanding his doleful [Echa] which ſignifies [How] which he uſeth no fewer than three times in the 1ſt. Verſe of Lamentations; the 1ſt. intimating, 1. How are all the Holy Veſſels of God's Sanctuary now carry'd into Captivity? 2 Kin. 25.13, 14, 15, 16. 2 Chron. 36.18. Jer. 52.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. All the Inſtruments of God's Service, together with the Ornaments of the Temple, were all carry'd away, as had been foretold by Jeremy, Jer. 27.21, 22. where he adds to that Threatning (which they then would not believe) a comforting promiſe, that a great part of thoſe Veſſels ſhould be brought back again, and be anew Conſecrated to the Lord's Service, Ezra 1, 7. and 7.16. The 2. Echa, or [How] is the Glorious Temple (that Solomon built for an Houſe to the Lord, the Wonder of the World, &c.) now laid in Aſhes, becauſe his People had notoriouſly prophaned it and all the Holy Veſſels of it? &c. And the 3. Echa, or [How] is, His bewailing the Deſolations both of City and Country, once full of People, able to ſend forth vaſt Armies in the Days of David, Aſa, Jehoſaphat, &c. once a Princeſs commanding many Nations, but now a Solitary Widow, forſaken of her God, of her King, and of her People, &c.

Remark the Fourth; The Occurrencies Recorded in Scripture which happened in the firſt Year of this long Captivity, are

Mark 1. Young Daniel, and three other young Nobles of the Blood-Royal, are brought to Babylon, as had been foretold, Iſa. 39.7. where they refuſed to Defile themſelves with the Court's Diet, becauſe it was oft ſuch as was forbidden by the Law of God, Levit. 11. and Deut. 14. which would have been an offence to their weaker Brethren, with whom they choſe rather to ſympathize in their Adverſity, than to live in exceſs and fulneſs, Amos 6.6. This was done in the third Year of Jehoiakim, Dan. 1.1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 15. Their Pulſe and Water in their auſterity of Life made them look freſh and fat; ſhewing, Man lives not by Bread only, &c. Deut. 8.3. Matth. 4.4. The main matter p. 634that made them look ſo well, was God's bleſſing on their courſer fare: Joſephus the Jew is much miſtaken in Antiq. lib. 10. cap. 7. making this to fall out in the 4th. Yea of Nebuchadnezzar, and in the 8th. of Jehoiakim. Rabbi Don Joſeph upon Daniel, doth better, ſaying, Nebuchadnezzar in the firſt Year of his Abſolute Reign (after his Father's Death) came up againſt Jeruſalem in the latter part of Jehoiakim's third Year, and took it in the beginning of his fourth, Dan. 1.1. Jer. 25.1.

Mark 2. In this ſame firſt Year of the Captivity it was, that Jeremy prepared a Cup of Indignation for Jeruſalem, and for all the Nations round about it, and at laſt for Babylon it ſelf, Jer. 25.1, &c. The Captivity began at the firſt Year of Nebuchadnezzar, and ended at the firſt Year of Cyrus and Darius, 2 Chron. 36.20, 21, 22. (in which Court Daniel continued all that time, Dan. 1. ver. 1, 21.) Jeremy's Cup was Babylon's Sword which was Commiſſion'd by God, Jer. 47.6, 7. and cauſed to ride its Circuit like a Judge in Scarlet. N. B. And this Cup tho' it began at Jeruſalem (Judgment begins at God's Houſe, Ezek. 9.6. 1 Pet. 4.17.) and made Judea Deſolate for Seventy Years; yet after it had gone its Round, running from Nation to Nation, it ends at laſt at Babylon it ſelf, Jer. 25.9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19, to 29. the Scourging Rod God burns at last.

Mark 3. In this Year alſo Baruch writes the Prophecy of Jeremy in a Book, Jer. 36.1, to 8. About twenty Years had Jeremy ſpent his pious pains among them, for he began to Phopheſy in the 13th. Year of Joſiah, Jer. 1.2. (who Reigned 31 Years) ſo as Jeremy Propheſied 18 Years during Joſiah's Life, and this was the 4th. Year of Jehoiakim. Here God commands Jeremy to Record all the Revelations he had from God for 22 Years laſt paſt, and to write the ſumm of all his Sermons, that they might be reſerved as Witneſſes againſt them, ſeeing they had been nothing better by that Doom he had ſo deſervedly denounced againſt them, Chap. 25, &c. And now the Time drew near, wherein all was coming to paſs; at this juncture Jeremy was confin'd to his Houſe by Jehoiakim; for he ſays, Jer. 36.5. I am ſhut up. Therefore Baruch muſt Read the Roll for him.

Remark the Fifth; There is no particular Occurrence Recorded in many of the following Years of the Captivity, yet in the Second of the Seventy there is, namely, the Reading this Roll publickly upon a publick Faſt-day, and the Effects thereof, Jer. 36.9, to the end: A Faſt-day (on which a great concourſe of People could not but be expected from all parts of the Country) was a fit Seaſon for Reading this Scripture Roll, yet was it not the Ordinary Yearly Faſt, Levit. 23.27. call'd the Day of Expiation or Atonement, for that was held on the Tenth Day of the Seventh Month, whereas this was kept in the Ninth Month, appointed upon Emergency for fear of the Chaldeans, &c.

Mark 1. It ſeems there was ſome Form or Carcaſe of Religion yet left in this ſo Degenerated Nation, inſomuch that a Faſt was obſerved; for the Prophets (God ſent them) kept the Coal from being quite quenched. N. B. This is one difference betwixt the Lord's caſting off the Jews at this time, and that of his caſting them out for Crucifying of Chriſt afterwards; for now God ſent them Prophets both before and all along their Captivity, therefore 'tis call's a Tranſmigration only; but this laſt eaſting out hath had no Prophets ſent from God to them, ſo their Houſe is left Deſolate, as if under an utter Rejection for almoſt this Seventeen Hundred Years, &c.

Mark 2. Baruch Read this Roll probably out of a Chamber-window or ſome Balcony, that all the People under him might the better hear, ver. 10. The Princes (it ſeems) were not preſent at this Faſt, but were Solacing themſelves with their Court-Conſolations, while the People were Humbling themſelves before the Lord and Trembling at the Word: Therefore Micaiah, (one that had heard it) runs to tell theſe Privy-Counſellors, ver. 11, 12, 13. They ſent Jehudi to fetch Baruch, who comes couragiouſly, and theſe Princes (not all out ſo bad as the King) very courteouſly bade him [Sit down and Read the Roll,] v. 14, 15, 16. So far they were at the firſt affected with it, that tho' they durſt do no other but Acquaint the King; yet knowing the fierceneſs of his Temper, &c. adviſe Baruch to Hide himſelf and Jeremy, ver. 17, 18, 19, 20. hereby all beard their Doom, Princes as well as People.

Mark 3. Jehoiakim had ſo Debauch'd his own Conſcience, that he falls into a Rage to hear this Divine Revelation: This was the Ninth Month, anſwering to the latter part of our November, and the former of our December, ſo 'twas a Cold Seaſon, yet the King's Soul was colder than his Body; for while he was warming the latter in his Winter-Chamber, the former was cold and careleſs of calling upon God, not at all countenancing and encouraging his People with his Preſence, who at this very juncture were now Cold and Empty, Faſting and Praying in the Temple, and had been hearing the word of God read to them by Baruch, ver. 20, 21, 22.

p. 635Mark 4, No ſooner had Jehoiakim heard two or three Columns read by Jehudi, but he (Tiger-like) catches up the Penknife, cuts this precious Piece in Pieces, and caſts it in to the Fire, ver. 23, 24, yet neither the King nor thoſe curſed Court-Paraſites were afraid. N. B. Jehoiakin's Father, good Joſiah had his Heart melted at the hearing of the Law, 2 Chron. 34.27. but ſo had not this deſperate degenerate Son of his, who like a Frantick Perſon, doomed thoſe innocent Papers (as it were) to a double Death, (they muſt be both cut and burnt) and he himſelf will be the Executioner.

Mark 5. Elnathan, who had been too active before for the King in apprehending, and executing Ʋrijah the Prophet, Jer. 26.22. and now poſſibly touched with ſome remorſe, interceded with the King for the Rolls ſaving, &c. Jer. 36. ver. 25. Notwithſtanding this Interceſſion of Elnathan and his two Partners (Delaiah and Gemariah) Jehoiakim deſperately runs on headlong to perpetrate that unparallel'd Impiety to deſtroy it; and not only ſo but immediately in a rage ſent his Serjeants to Arreſt Jeremy and Baruch, but the Lord hid them from the hands of his Blood Hounds, ver. 26. N.B. The Rabbins ſay, God caſt a Scotoma or Miſt before their Eyes, as Gen. 19.11. and 2 Kings 6.18. or God might provide for them an hiding Place in ſome honeſt Man's Houſe, as thoſe Princes had adviſed them to do, ver. 19. which they might warrantably do when hunted for their precious Lives, ſeeing there is no Fence but Flight, nor Counſel but Concealment, to ſuccour an Innocent Subject againſt the Mad Fury of an enraged Soveraign.

Mark 6. Shall this Frantick King eſcape by Iniquity? No verily, God in anger caſts him down, Pſalm 56.7. for here he is made to know, as God's Word cannot be bound, 2 Tim. 2.9. ſo nor can it be burnt or aboliſh'd by all the Tyrants of the World: God will revive and preſerve it, Matth. 5.18. as he doth here, ver. 27, 28. adding a moſt doleful Doom to this deſtroyer of it, ver. 29, 30, 31, 32. In the new written Roll 'tis ſaid, that his Succeſſor ſhould but ſit on the Throne for three Months and ſome odd Days, and that himſelf ſhould have a moſt Infamous Funeral, the Burial of an Aſs threatned before, Jer. 22.19. whereas his good Father Joſiah both lived and died in Glory, &c.

Remark the Sixth, No Hiſtorical Paſſage is found Recorded in Scripture, as preciſely fixed upon either the third, fourth, fifth, ſixth, or ſeventh Year of the Captivity. The Story of Jeremy's ſetting Wine before the Rechabites is indeed ſaid to be in the Days of Jehoiakim, Jer. 35.1. but in what Year 'tis not mentioned; yet as the end of that Action is clearly expreſs'd, that their abſtinence from Wine, &c. did ſhew their faithfulneſs to a Law of their Father, to aggravate thereby the Jews falſhood and faithleſneſs to the Covenant of their God; ſo they tell the Prophet there, ver. 11. the Reaſon why they now had left their Tents and were come into the City; 'twas for fear of the Chaldeans, and of the Syrians that join'd with them to invade the Land, 2 Kings 24.2. which was the Army that came up againſt Jehoiakim, when he rebell'd againſt the King of Babylon (as is before noted) at the Inſtigation of the King of Egypt: Therefore this Relation of the Rechabites muſt be about the latter Years of Jehoiakim, who in the eleventh Year of his Reign (which Dr. Lightfoot reckons the eighth Year of the Captivity) was Captivated, kill'd and buried with the Burial of an Aſs, 2 Kings 24.2, 5, 6. 2 Chron. 36.5, 6. Jer. 22.19. and 36.30, 31. Ezek. 19.9. 'tis ſuppoſed (from this laſt Scripture) that the Chaldeans put an Iron Collar upon this Captive-King's Neck and faſten'd an Iron Chain at it, to drag him to and fro at Pleaſure; which Chain was enough to change the Roaring of this Lion, into the Roarings of a deſpairing miſerable Caitiff. This hard uſage might ſoon kill this proud King, and break his haughty Heart, &c. which being done and he Dead, they caſt his Corps out like Carrion into ſome by-Corner, &c. N.B. A Juſt Hand of God upon this wicked Prince, that he who had made ſo many to weep (by his ſqueezing ſo much Money out of them to pleaſe Pharaoh) ſhould have none to weep over him when Dead; that he who had ſo ſtately a Palace in Jeruſalem, ſhould now not have ſo much as a Grave to Houſe his Carcaſe in, but be in an infamous Manner thrown into a Ditch, or on a Dunghil to be devoured by the Beaſts of the Earth, and by the fowls of Heaven.

Remark the Seventh, The Scripture of Truth doth in the next Place relate the moſt remarkable Occurrencies; As Firſt, Of the eighth Year of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign, 2 Kings 24.12. which was likewiſe the eighth Year of the Captivity (for there is a Synchroniſm betwixt them, both being of one Time and running in Parallel Lines together) then were three thouſand twenty three Jews carried Captive to Babylon at Jehoiakim's Captivity, Jer. 52.28. which ſaith, it was done in the ſeventh Year. This ſeeming Contradiction, Grotius, Vatablus, and Dr. Lightfoot do reconcile, ſaying, Firſt, The Siege began in the latter End of the ſeventh Year, and the City was taken in the beginning p. 636of the eighth. Secondly, In the ſame Year was the next Captivity of Jehoiakin or Jeconiah, who reigned but three Months and ten Days of that Year (as before); he was no ſooner on the Throne, but Jeremy denounceth his Captivity, and the fall of that earthly Kingdom of Solomon, calling the Earth, Earth, Earth, to hear the Word of the Lord, Jer. 22.24, 29, 30. and thereupon foretelleth the Spiritual Kingdom of Chriſt, one greater than Solomon, Jer. 23.5, 6. denouncing woes againſt thoſe curſed Guides that haſtened the Ruine of David's earthly Kingdom, from thence to the End; then it was that ten thouſand out of the City, and eight thouſand out of the Country were carried Captive, 2 Kings 24.14, to 17. and with them Mordecai, Eſth. 2.6. and Ezekiel, Ezek. 1.2. and 40.1. Thirdly, In the ninth Year of the Captivity came Zedekiah to the Kingdom, 2 Kings 24.17, to 20. Jer. 52.1, 2, 3. 2 Chron. 36.11, 12, 13. the Sins of the People were the true Cauſe why God gave them this wicked King, who broke Covenant both with God, Jer. 34.17. and with Man, Ezek▪ 17.18, 19. God harden'd his Heart, that he humbled not himſelf, &c.

Remark the Eighth, The next remarkable Paſſage Recorded, is in the nineteenth Year of the Captivity, which was the nineteenth Year of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign, and the eleventh of Zedekiah's. Then was the full, fatal and final Fall of that Earthly Kingdom, &c. 2 Kings 25.2. Jer. 39.2. and 52.12. 'tis true, this Time is call'd the eighteenth Year of Nebuchadnezzar, ver. 29. Jer. 52. and the ninth Year of Zedekiah, 2 Kings 25.1. and Ezek. 24.1. but we muſt ſuppoſe the King of Babylon beſieged Jeruſalem about two Years before it was [Tibbakang, Hebr.] broken up with Battering Rams, ſaith Vatablus, 2 Kings 25.4, 8. nor may we ſay with Grotius▪ that this Place of the eighteenth Year ſeems to be corrected by that Place of the nineteenth, but better ſay with Lyra, 'twas the latter end of the eighteenth, and in the beginning of the nineteenth; and though the Books of Kings and Chronicles give no account of any Occurrence betwixt thoſe Years of nine and nineteenth of the Captivity, yet find we ſome Paſſages of Remark in the two Prophets of Jeremy and Ezekiel.

Mark Firſt, In Jeremy, who relateth how Hananiah in the beginning of Zedekiah's Reign in the Fourth Year; falſly foretold the return of the Captives within two Years, Jer. 28.1, &c. This Prieſt probably (but a pretended Prophet) had ſeen how ill Ʋrijah and Jeremy had ſped, by telling the Truth; therefore he reſolves to Preach Placentia, pleaſing Matters, to have Honour from the Princes, and likely lucre too from the People; ſo he affronts Jeremy publickly in the Temple, as a lying Prophet, in ſaying the Captivity would continue for ſeventy Years; but the Iſſue was, Hananiah is ſtruck with Death within two Months after his falſe Prediction, becauſe he taught Rebellion againſt the Lord, as Jeremy had foretold him, ver. 14, 15, 16, 17.

Mark 2. After this Jeremy tells us, how he ſent a Letter to the Children of the Captivity in Babylon in the former part of Zedekiah's Reign, the Date and Contents thereof are declared, Jer. 29.1, 2, 3, &c. and Chap. 30. and 31. altogether Conſolatory to the Captives; and Chap. 49.34. and Jer. 50. and 51. in another Letter afterward to Comfort them, that they muſt Exerciſe Patience, and not Antedate Promiſes, as their falſe Prophets prompted them to do (againſt whom Jeremy denounced their moſt dreadful Doom, Jer. 29.21, 22.) yet would they but wait, God in due Time would deliver them, and deſtroy Babylon, and Elam that help'd her. Calvin ſaith, that Zedekiah ſuffer'd Jeremy's Letters to be ſent by his Meſſengers [Non ex Pietatis ſtudio] not from any Reſpect either to God or to his Prophet, but out of Self-Love▪ for he had heard by Hananiah that Itconiah (his Corrival) and the Captives would in two Years Time come back to Jeruſalem; if ſo, he muſt reſign up his Throne, wherein the King of Babylon had ſeated him; therefore ſends he Embaſſadors to Nebuchadnezzar to teſtifie how obſequious he was to his Lord and Maſter, and was Content they ſhould carry Jeremy's Letters, knowing the purport of them was to perſwade the People there Patience, and to live peaceably in Babylon, and not think yet of returning, to give him Diſturbance.

Mark Thirdly, In Ezekiel, whom in the fifth Year of Jehoiakin's Captivity, and the thirteenth of the firſt (as Dr. Lightfoot computes) the Lord raiſed up a Prophet in Babylon (as Jeremy was in Jeruſalem) and he began to Propheſie in the fifth Year of Jehoiakin's or Jeconiah's Captivity, or (as ſome call it with Lavater) a Tranſmigration, becauſe he yielded to the Beſieger, &c. Ezek. 1.2. and the ſame Ezekiel foretells the fatal Iſſue of Zedekiah's breaking his Covenant: Firſt with God, Ezek. 16.38. and then with Man, even with the King of Babylon, Ezek. 17.15. who had ſet him up, and ſworn him to be faithful; yet he revolts and ſeeks ſuccour from the King of Egypt, which perfidious Perjury and Treachery was the true Cauſe of Ruining all, 2 Chron. 36.13.

Mark Fourthly, Ezekiel alſo (in the ſixth Year of Jeconiah's Captivity, and the fourteenth p. 637of the firſt) hath the Lord ſhewing him,All Ezekiel from Chap. 8. to the End. Daniel 2, 3, and 4. Chapters.Dan 2:3Dan 2:4 what juſt Cauſes he had to remove his Glory from the Temple, Ezek. 8.1, &c. Chap. 9. and 10. and 11. and 12. and ſo on to Chap. 20. All this muſt be while Zedekiah Reigned, the King of Babylon had ſet him as a Vine, Ezek. 17.6. but not Content with that, he muſt needs be a Cedar [out Caeſar, aut nullus] therefore did he bend his Boughs and Roots toward the other great Eagle, Pharaoh, for relief, ver. 7, 8. ſo falſified his Fidelity, which was his utter Deſtruction.

Mark Fifthly, Again Ezekiel Propheſies in the ſeventh year of Jeconiah's Captivity, and of Zedekiah's Reign, Ezek. 20.1. which was two Years and five Months before the fatal Siege began, here ſome rank Hypocrites came to be reſolv'd of Ezekiel, whether it were better to ſhake off the Babylonian Yoke, or patiently to bear it: Whereas beforehand they came concluded what courſe to take, ver. 31, 32. Ezekiel by his Prophetick Spirit pierced into their putid Hypocriſie, loath'd their falſe looks, and abhorr'd their Motion, God had no Anſwer for ſuch no more than he had for Saul, 1 Sam. 28.15. the Prayers of ſuch are an Abomination, Prov. 21.27. yet tells them, the Day of this Prophane Perſon was now come, and the Crown muſt be overturned, overturned, overturned until Chriſt come, Ezek. 21.25, 26, 27. the Earthly Kingdom ſhall be no more in its former Glory.

Remark the Ninth, Now Ezekiel returns us to the eleventh year of Zedekiah, and the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, and of the firſt Captivity, Ezek. 26.1, &c. all which Computations, Grotius, &c. make contemporary: Now are Ezekiel's three hundred and ninety years compleated from the firſt Diviſion of Iſrael's Kingdom into ten Tribes and two, Ezek. 4.5. and now was the City and the Temple deſtroyed, &c. 2 Kings 25.2, to 20. 2 Chron. 36.17. to 21. Jer. 39.2, to 15. and 52.5, to 28. N.B. Having made this moſt neceſſary Digreſſion in enquiring what happened betwixt the ninth and nineteenth of the ſeventy Years Captivity;

The Enquiry following, is, what followed this fatal nineteenth year?

Anſwer, The Prophets Jeremy and Ezekiel, do ſupply what is not Recorded either in the Book of Kings, or in that of Chronicles.

Mark 1. Jeremy gives an account of what was done in the twenty third year, &c. Jer. 52.30. Nebuzaradan comes then and carries away ſeven hundred and forty five more Captives, probably to revenge Gedaliah's Murder.

Mark 2. Ezekiel tells of a Meſſenger that came with ſad Tidings of all that had been done at Jeruſalem, unto him now Captive in Babylon, Ezek. 33.21. and this he dateth in the twelfth Year of his own Captivity, which at leaſt was the twentieth of the firſt Captivity, Ezek. 1.2. The City and Temple had been burnt one Year and five Months before this Meſſenger came to Ezekiel.

Mark 3. Ezekiel ſaith, that in the five and twentieth Year of Jechoniah's and his own Captivity, which was the thirty third Year of the firſt Captivity and of Nebuchadnezzar's Reign, the Lord ſhews him a new and more glorious Temple, than that which was burnt being bigger than all the old Jeruſalem, and a new Jeruſalem bigger than all the Land of Canaan, Ezek. 40.1, &c. who (after the Defeat of Gog and Magog in the foregoing Chapters deſcribed) brings a new Prophecy in his laſt nine Chapters concerning the Chriſtian Church, and the Spiritual State and Conſtitution of it, all under Typical and Figurative Repreſentations. Thus the Wiſer of the Rabbins underſtand thoſe Chapters, not of Earthly Accommodations, according to the Letter, but of Heavenly Accompliſhments in a Spiritual and Myſtical Senſe: And thus John the Divine doth Interpret them, Rev. 21. and 22. Chapters, of an Heavenly Jeruſalem that Mother of us all, both Chriſtian Jews and Chriſtian Gentiles, &c.

Mark 4. Ezekiel Records, Ezek. 29.17, &c. How in the twenty ſeventh of his Captivity (which was the thirty fifth of the firſt, ſaith Junius) Nebuchadnezzar had lately taken Tyrus, which coſt very dear, even thirteen Years Siege, ſaith Grotius, this Year God gave him Egypt as his Wages for his Soldiers hard Service, ver. 18, 19, 20. the King of Egypt was the only Potent Prince that now ſtood againſt him (Jeremy's Cup having gone round to ſubdue all other Nations) and Egypt being ſubdued likewiſe (ſaith Lavater) now is Nebuchadnezzar (in the thirty ſixth Year of the Captivity) the moſt abſolute and univerſal Monarch of all the World, and is become the golden Head, a Tall Tree towering up as high as Heaven, he grows proud and will be worſhipp'd as a God in the ſecond Year of his entire Monarchy, Dan. 2.1. the three Nobles (now forty Years old, ſo improperly call'd Children) deny it, yet are delivered, Dan. 3. the Tree is cut down, and he is ſent a Grazing among Beaſts for ſeven Years in Madneſs and Miſery, Dan. 4 and then reſtor'd to his Wits, and to his Throne. N.B. Moſt famous is the Hiſtory of the thirty ſeventh Year of the Captivity of Jehoiakin or Jeconiah, recorded p. 638in 2 Kings 25.27. to the end; and Jer. 52.31, 32, 33, 34. which ſacred Records, joyntly afford us many Remarks: As

Firſt, This thirty ſeventh of Jeconiah was the forty third of the firſt Captivity, for Nebuchadnezzer was ſtruck with his Madneſs by the Hand of Heaven, which began in the thirty ſixth Year of the firſt Captivity, and of his Reign, when he was come to his A… the higheſt Pitch of his Elevation, Dan. 4.4. that was the Year of his Triumph, and then had he the Viſion of his Downfal, ver. 30, 31, 32, 33. His Diſeaſe was not only a Phrenzy, but alſo a Lycanthropy, ſaith Dr. Willet, for beſide the bruitiſh change of his Mind, his Body was much changed in Living and Feeding among Wild Beaſts, and though he was not tranſformed into a Beaſt, yet was he ſo deformed, that the Beaſts took him for a Beaſt, as going upon all four, and feeding as they did, and though in ſhape d ffering from them, yet might they look upon him as a Monſter among them: Thus was this proud Prince caſt down from his higheſt Pinacle of Pride, He, who had driven ſo many People out of their Countreys, is by a juſt Judgment of God driven out of his own Kingdom, and from all Company of Mankind, and this was done by his own Courtiers, when they ſaw him begin to be Mad; leſt he ſhould do much Miſchief by his Madneſs, and now for his brutiſh Conditions, He now hath the Brutes for his Companions, &c. N.B. He who was wont to be fed with the Daintieſt Fare, He now eateth Graſs as an Ox, inſtead of his Purple and Royal Robes, He is now cover'd all over with ugly Hair and ſhaggy like a Beaſt or thick and black like Eagles Feathers, and his Hands, that had held the Royal Scepter (which gave Commands to all the World) are now deformed with long and ſharp Nails like Birds Claws, ſo that in the whole of his Shape, he came nearer to a wild Beaſt than to a Man, yea for his precious Ointments, he is now wet with the Dew of Heaven, and all this for ſeven Years together (ſo long was God in taming this ſturdy Rebel) which being added to thirty ſix, the Year of his profoundeſt Pride, make up the number of forty three, being the forty third Year of the firſt Captivity.

Remark the Second, When thoſe ſeven Years were expired in God's hiding Pride from him, Job 33.17. (which could not be ſoon nor eaſily done, as when ſome Vital Part is corrupted, the Cure is difficult and long in doing) then was the merciful God pleaſed (who had by a Miracle of Mercy hitherto preſerved him from being worry'd by wild Beaſts) to reſtore him to the uſe of his Reaſon, cauſing him to lift up his Eyes to Heaven, with which he had for ſeven Years look'd down altogether to the Earth, and ſo much Religion God gave him as to acknowledge God's greatneſs, his own vileneſs, and the Worlds nothingneſs, Dan. 4.34, 35. then did his Lords and Counſellors (by the Direction of God and Daniel, faith Calvin) come with Compaſſion to him, ver. 36. yea ſuch as had before deſpis'd and rejected him, when they ſaw his former Splendour and Majeſty return'd by the great God upon him, they came creeping to him, and by an univerſal Conſent of his both Peers and People, he was reinveſted in the Throne, and became the moſt Auguſt and Magnificent King upon Earth, and his Kingdom was therefore call'd the Lady of Kingdoms, Iſa. 47.7, 8. after this He Reigned two Years, Praiſing the God of his Mercy, Dan 4. ver. 47. and then Died. &c.

Remark the Third, 'Tis expreſly affirm'd, that Jehoiakin or Jeconiah's Head was liſted up in the thirty ſeventh Year of his Captivity, but the Day of the Month is rendred doubtful, becauſe 'tis ſaid to be done on the twenty fifth Day, Jer. 52.31. and on the twenty ſeventh Day, 2 Kings 25.27. here's a double Date, and therefore the one is to be doubted: Hereupon Capellus ſaith, there muſt be lapſus Librarii in one of thoſe Dates: But Buxtorf anſwers, 'tis better to acknowledge our own Ignorance, than to accuſe the Sacred Text of Corruption, for the Decree at Court (for his Advancement) might be on the twenty fifth Day, and the Execution on the twenty ſeventh, or he was brought out of Priſon, on the former Day (ſaith Learned Lightfoot) and promoted above all Kings, &c. on the latter Day; and his Head is ſaid to be lifted up (or magnifi'd in Chaldee) becauſe as a Captive King [Demiſſo capite ambulabat] he walk'd with a dejected Countenance, as Gen. 40.7, 13. but now both his Releaſe and Advancement was an Elevation both to his Mind and to his Looks.

Remark the Fourth; The occaſion of his Exaltation was this: Nebuchadnezzar dies, and Evil-Merodach his Son ſucceeds him. The cauſe of this Succeſſor's favour to Jeconiah was (1.) either, as the Rabbins, Lyra and Sanctius ſay, That his Father returning to his Right Mind, and being reſtored to his Throne, (in which his Son had ſate, during his Fathers grazing among the Beaſts of the Field for ſeven Years) and now hearing of his Sons Male-Adminiſtration of the Government in that Interregnum, and of his Rejoycing at his Fathers Madneſs and Miſery, he caſt his Son into the ſame Priſon where Jehoiakin was, who told him his Caſe, and thereby found this favour with him, &c. Or, (2ly.) as Learned Gattaker (declining this Tale told by the Talmudiſts) p. 639ſaith, If Conjectures may be given in a Caſe ſo uncertain, it may be ſuppoſed, that Jehoiakin being a Youth of 18 Years when brought Captive to Babylon, 2 Kings 24.8. and of a comely Countenance, and having been King of a Kingdom of great Note in thoſe times, this induced Evil-Merodach (then but a Stripling, and about the ſame Age) to caſt a campaſſionate Eye and Affection upon him, who, tho' he could not ſhew his favour to him while his Father lived, yet he did it after his Deceaſe, when Royal Power came into his hands ſo to do. Or, (3ly.) as ſome others ſay, this Favour was ſhewn him, becauſe of his voluntary yielding himſelf unto Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kings 24.12. whereunto ſome add [according to the Advice of the Prophet Jeremy] which God hereby made to appear that he approved of: But we read of no ſuch Advice given by Jeremy to Jehoiakin, tho' to Zedekiah 'tis Recorded he did ſo, Jer. 38.17, 18. but no where is it ſaid ſo to Jeconiah, &c. But (4ly.) tho' the Cauſe on Man's part be hard to aſſign, being uncertain, yet this is certain on God's part, that God made many ſo be pitied by thoſe that carry'd them Captive, Pſal. 106.46. Jer. 15.11. Dan. 1.9. and 2.48, 49. and 3.30 and 6.2, 28. Neh. 1.12. and 2.8. Acts 7.10. God gave Acceptance thus for Jehoiakin, &c.

Remark the Fifth; Evil-Merodach in the firſt Year of his Reign (after his Father had Reigned 45 Years current) ſheweth favour to this Jehoiakin or Jeconiah, the manner how he did it is Recorded, 2 Kin. 25.27, 28, 29, 30. and Jer. 52.31, to 34. There thoſe Acts of Favour are Reducible to theſe Six Heads. 1. His Releaſing him from Priſon, ver. 31. after he had been 37 Years a Priſoner, which was a long time to live in a Priſon, till he was 55 Years old, 2 Kings 24.8. yet after all, the Lord Releaſed him, becauſe he had yielded to his Enemy, &c. 2. Evil-Merodach ſpake kindly to him, ver. 32. probably from ſome private Affection to his Perſon, and from ſome Lenity he had learn'd out of his Father's Madneſs and Miſery: Nor did he only ſpeak good words to him, but he alſo did good Deeds for him, beyond his expectation. 3. He ſets his Throne above the Thrones of his fellow Captive Kings, ſuch as Nebuchadnezzar had lodged there, yet afforded them ſome Evidences of Royal Dignity above common Captives, while kept in Captivity, but Jeconiah had the Precedency above them all. 4. He changed his Priſon-Garments, ver. 33. as Ʋnfit for the King's Preſence. So 'tis ſaid of Joſeph, Gen. 41.14, 42. Now is he Array'd not in mean Apparel, but in the quality of a Prince at Liberty. 5. He is Admitted to the King's Table, Eating daily with him, as did Croeſus with Cyrus, ſaith Grotius, and as David did with Saul, 1 Sam. 20.3, 27. N. B. Oh that we may do ſo with Chriſt, &c. 6. And he had an Allowance at the King's Coſt and Charges for himſelf and his Houſhold aſſigned him, every day a Portion all the days of his life, ver. 34. ſo long as theſe two Kings lived together. This likewiſe is a Believer's Portion, who therefore may feed with joy, Eccleſ. 9.7. N. B. 1. Evil in Hebr. ſignifies a Fool. Hence ſome ſay, this King of Babylon's curſed Courtiers call'd him [Evil-Merodach] that is [Fool-Merodach] becauſe he was ſo kind to Jehoiachin and his People. N.B. 2. The Lot of this Jehoiachin was far better than that of his Predeceſſor Jehoiakim, whom the King of Babylon ſlew outright, and gave him the Burial of an Aſs, as is aforeſaid: Now a living Dog is better than a dead Lion; this Man lived long, tho' the life of a Priſoner, and better than that of his Succeſſor Zedekiah; who tho' not ſlain, but let to live in Priſon, yet was he deprived of his Eyes, and lived blind all his days, never coming to any ſuch Preferment. N. B. 3. This Jeconiah and his Company of Con Captives were the Basket of good Figs which Jeremy ſpake of ſo comfortably, that they might be Eaten, and that they ſhould Return, &c. Jer. 24.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The Rabbins report, that Jeconiah, tho' he had been a Wicked Prince, and therefore was writ Childleſs &c. Jer. 22.24, to 30. yet Repented of his Wickedneſs, (as Manaſſeh had done before him) and therefore was preferred by Evil-Merodach till the day of his Death: But Zedekiah and his Subjects were the Basket of evil Figs, Jer. 24.8, 9, 10. who were look'd upon as the Happier becauſe then at Home, and laughing at Jeconiah and his Company as Cowards, for yielding, &c. No doubt but theſe Fellow-Captives did ſhare with Jeconiah in his Comforts, when he was thus preferred, tho' no mention be made of it: So little is there lost either in doing or ſuffering for God's ſake, whoſe Retributions are more than bountiful as to Jeconiah, &c. when the other Rotten Figs never Return'd (as the others did) but were caſt to the Dunghil, &c.

Remark the Sixth; The Babylonian Empire (after it had ſwallowed up the Aſſyrian, as is before obſerved) ran along in parallel Lines with the Jews Captivity; they were contemporary, beginning and ending (much-what) about one and the ſame time; for the firſt Year of Nebuchadnezzar (that moſt Abſolute Monarch of Babylon) was the latter end of the Third Year of Jehoiakim, Dan. 1.1. and the beginning of his Fourth. Jer. 25.1. and then began the Seventy Years Captivity of the Jews, as is aforeſaid. Now Jeremy foretold that the Jews ſhould continue Captives during the Reign of Three Kings of Babylon, p. 640Jer. 27.7. They muſt ſerve the Father Nebuchadnezzar, and his Son Evil-Merodach, and his Grandſon Belſhazzar; and then that mighty Monarchy ſhould come from its Riſe to its Ruine. 'Tis manifeſt that the Father Reigned 45 Years, and his Son 23 Years, and his Grandſon only about 3 Years; all which Years caſt up together, amount to the Expiration of the Seventy Years Captivity, and of the Babyloniſh Monarchy, whereof Daniel had a Viſion in the firſt Year of Belſhazzar, Dan. 7.1. where the Prophecy of Daniel properly begins, his former Chapters being moſtly Hiſtorical, and therefore laid together before he begins his Prophetical matters, to the end of his Book. In Daniel 5. he gives the Hiſtory of Belſhazzar, ſpeaking nothing of Evil-Merodach, becauſe nothing Remarkable came to paſs in his Reign, ſave only his Releaſing and Advancing Jeconiah, which had been related before, 2 Kings 25.27, &c. and Jer. 52.31, &c.

Mark 1. In this Hiſtory of Belſhazzar, His Name ſignifies Bel (that Idol of Babel, Iſa. 46.1.) is my Power and Treaſure: Thus they attributed to a Dunghill-Deity what belong'd to Jehovah the True God.

Mark 2. Nebuchadnezzar is oft call'd this Man's Father, Dan. 5.11, 13, 18, &c. who indeed was his Grandfather, as appears from Jer. 27.7. and ſo the Acceptation is uſual in Scripture. Thus Abraham is call'd the Father of the Jews, Iſa. 51. 2. John 8.56. and David the Father of Joſiah, 2 Chron. 34.2. and Chriſt the Son of David, Mat. 1.1.

Mark 3. About the latter end of Belſhazzar's ſecond Year of his Reign, and beginning of his third, Babylon's ſins were come to the full, and Belſhazzar toppeth them up with his Drunken and Idolatrous Feaſt, Dan. 5.1, 2, &c. whereof Jeremy had foretold, Jer. 25.26. calling that bezelling King of Babylon the King of Sheſhach, for his quaffing in the Sacred Veſſels of God's Temple to the honour of Shac the Babylonian Goddeſs, and in contempt of Jehovah; he was drunk, ſpewed, and fell, Jer. 25.27.

Mark 4. This Drunken Feaſt is mention'd by Herodotus and Xenophon, ſolemnized upon his Birth-day (ſay ſome) or on the occaſion of an Anniverſary Solemnity. However, Cyrus took this opportunity (ſaith Xenophon) and made himſelf Maſter of the City. N.B. Moſt ſtrange is the ſecurity and ſtupidity of Belſhazzar, to be bezelling and drinking himſelf drunk, and his thouſand Lords all likely drunk for company, while he was beſieged by ſo potent an Enemy.

Mark 5. When Belſhazzar was ſwallowed up with that Wine, Iſa. 28.7. (which he had ſwallowed down) he ſends for the Sacred Veſſels of God's Sanctuary for him and his Concubines to carouſe in them, ſparing thoſe Veſſels he had conſecrated to his Idols. Thus while Wine was in, his Wit was out, Hoſ. 4.11. and 7.5. He caſteth off all fear of God, and falls into the ſins of Sacriledge and Blaſphemy, triumphing (ſaith Calvin) over the God of Iſrael.

Mark 6. In the midſt of their mad Merriments, the ſame Divine Hand that had written the Law upon Two Tables, Exod. 31.18. now writes the Doom of Babel and of Belſhazzar upon the Wall of the Palace, Dan. 5.5. This ſtrange ſight immediately marr'd all their mirth, v. 6. making it to dwindle into a dreadful conſternation, and made this God-contemning King to knock his knees the one againſt the other from Horror and Aſtoniſhment; ſo that Ʋrina defluebat, ſaith Grotius, he plainly bepiſs'd his breeches.

Mark 7. In this Fitt of Soul-confounding fear (which Iſaiah had foretold, Iſa. 21.4. and Jeremy, Jer. 50.43.) he calls for his Caldean Conjurers, ver. 7. promiſing Promotion (next to himſelf and the Queen-Mother) to him that could Read the Writing on the Wall; but all theſe Wiſe-men of Babylon were become Fools, as Iſa. 19.11, 13. and could not Read it, tho' in their own Language, ver. 8. The King can better Read thoſe bitter things writ upon the Wall of his Conſcience, being made Legible when held to the Fire of God's Wrath; as the Fire will diſcover thoſe Letters which are written with the Juice of an Onion, &c. No wonder then, if now he were thus damp'd, ver. 9. and caſt into Melancholick Dumps.

Mark 8. When all were at this confounding Non-plus, the Queen came in and directed Belſhazzer to Daniel, &c. ver. 10, 12, 13. This Woman (ſaith Grotius) was not his Wife (for his Wives and Concubines were preſent with him, ver. 2, 3. ſo could not be ſaid to come in) but ſhe was his Mother the Queen of Evil-Merodah, or rather his Grandmother the Queen of Nebuchadnezzar, who was now an Old Woman, and whom Herodotus calleth Nicochris, and greatly commendeth her for her Wiſdom and ability of Speech, whereof ſhe gives here Ample Evidences: As (1.) in her Abſence from this Unſeaſonable and Intemperate Feaſt, which was an Argument of her Temperance. (2.) She prudently inſinuateth into the Affrighted King, by the ordinary Salutation, O King, Live for ever. (3.) She with the Gravity of a Matron, exhorts him to bear up, and not be overmuch troubled: And (4.) She makes Honourable mention of Daniel, (tho' in a Pagan Dialect) and perſuades the King to make uſe of him by her own Experience. N. B. Here a p. 641Woman's Wiſdom outſtript all the Wiſe-men of Babylon: We uſe to ſay, The Wit of a Woman is beſt at a pinch, and ſometimes more prompt than a Man's is, as Judg. 13.23.

Remark the Seventh; Daniel is call'd in, Reads and Interprets, ver. 13, to 29.

Mark 1. Belſhazzar (as Ignorant of him) asks if he were the Man, ver. 13. Daniel had deſerv'd of the Babylonian State to have been better known of Belſhazzar and better Reſpected, ſeeing he had been ſo famous for his Oracles, and ſo highly honour'd by his Grand-father Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 2. and Dan. 4.

Mark 2. This Silly and Shallow King (now almoſt affrighted out of his little Wit) can ſay nothing to Daniel but what was put before into his Mouth by his Wiſer Grand-mother, ver. 14. only what ſhe had diſcreetly concealed (that he was one of the Captives) this he blurts out in way of Reproach to Daniel, but for a Vaunt of his Grand-father's Victories, yet never takes notice of the Honour that had been done to Daniel; nor could Belſhazzar be ſo Ignorant of Daniel as he ſeemed to be, ver. 16. for he knew the Dreams, Honours and Troubles of his Grand-father, ver. 22.

Mark 3. Daniel (who had not intruded himſelf among the Aſtrologers, but came at the King's Call) hereupon, after a Noble Rejection of his Offers, knowing they were of a ſhort date, ver. 17. begins firſt to preach a ſevere Sermon to him as one Rejected of God, ver. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. becauſe he had not taken warning by God's ſeverity againſt his Grand-father for his Pride, &c. N. B. Not to profit by former Examples (eſpecially ſuch as are Domeſtical) is a great Aggravation and a groſs Provocation to the Great God.

Mark 4. Then Daniel read the Writing, &c. ver. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. which none of the Chaldeans could do, becauſe (ſaith Weems) it was writ in the Samaritan Characters; ſo the Babylonians could not Read them, nor could the Jews underſtand them, becauſe they underſtood not the Chaldee Tongue as Daniel did: Lavater and Maldonate think, that only the Initial Letters [M.T.P.] were writ for Mene, Tekel, Peres; as J. N. R. J. for Jeſus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum; and S. P. Q. R. for Senatus Populuſque Romanus; or as M. K. B. J. that is, Michemoka Baelohim Jehovah; the words of Exod. 15.11. which was the Motto upon the Maccabees Enſign in their Wars, &c. But the Rabbies ſay, tho' they were Chaldee words writ at length, yet in Samaritan Characters; beſide, the Interpretation was Metaphorical, as weighing in a Balance; and above all, God had blinded all the Wiſe-men's Minds, reſerving this Honour for Daniel.

Mark 5. The Interpretation, 1. Mene, Mene, ver. 25, 26. The word is doubled (ſaith Vatablus and Calvin) for more Confirmation, or becauſe both the Jews Captivity and Belſhazzar's Kingdom were now compleated in Number, (ſaith Maldonate) both thoſe two Reckonings were now caſt up, &c. 2. Tekel, ver. 27. Thou haſt no Weight nor Worth in God's Balance; as thou haſt made light of God, of his People and Veſſels, ſo God Accounts as light of thee; thou art now to be caſt away as Reprobate Silver, according to all former Prophecies in Iſa. 13, and 14, &c. Jer. 25.12. and 50, and 57. and Dan. 2.32. ſaith Maldonate. 3. Peres, ver. 28. Thy Kingdom is Divided between the Medes and Perſians: They are jointly call'd [a Chariot with a couple of Horſemen, &c. Iſa. 21.7, 9.] and thus Daniel Interprets it; for Cyrus the Perſian was joined with Darius the Median in the Siege of Babylon, tho' the latter only carries the Name here (ſaith Dr. Lightfoot) becauſe he was the much Older Man, and indeed Cyrus's Grand-father, as Heathen Writers do affirm.

Mark 6. Belſhazzar (without any Nay-ſay) performs his Promiſe, as loath to be worſe than his word, (ſo Herod, Matth. 14.9.) and deſirous to oblige Daniel's favour at a dead lift: And Daniel at length admits it, partly that he might not ſeem too rudely to ſlight the King's Kindneſs as one diſaffected; and partly that he might be the better known to the Perſians, and ſo become a Comfort to God's poor People, as afterward he did, &c.

Remark the Eighth; Babylon is taken, Belſhazzar ſlain, and Darius ſucceeds, v. 30, 31.

Mark 1. Maldonate out of Xenophon ſaith, That the Babylonians kept Carrouſing with their Cups that Night after their ſumptuous Supper Feaſt, bragging how they were Victualled for 20 Years Siege, and not at all fearing the Aſſault of the Beſiegers, who immediately began to Storm the City, [Somno vinoque Sepultam] half drowned in Drink and Sleep: The Centinels and Watchmen give the Alarm, as Iſa. 21.5. crying, Arm, Arm: And one Poſt runs to meet another, to tell the King that his City was taken at one end, as Jer. 51.31. All being punctually foretold fifty Years before this.

Mark 2. Tho' Joſephus ſaith nothing of the manner how Babylon was taken, yet other Learned Men ſay it was betrayed by Gaddatha and Gobryas, two of Belſhazzar's Courtiers whom he had wronged; upon which they (to be reveng'd of him) fled to the p. 642Beſiegers, directed Cyrus's Soldiers a private way into the City and into the King's Palace, and firſt Killing the Guard, they kill the King, ſaith Xenophon.

Mark 3. This was the fatal Night wherein famous Babylon fell, according to many Predictions of the Prophets, as by Iſaiah: (1.) Iſa. 13.17. God ſtirred up the Medes, &c. and Lucifer's is faln from Heaven; the King of Babylon had been the Terrour of the World, ſo call'd the Morning Star, Iſa. 14.11, 12. and 20. Belſhazzar being ſlain at his Drunken Feaſt was not Embalmed (as was their cuſtom with Kings) but wanted Funeral Rites, thoſe Dues of the Dead. Again, Iſa. 21.2, 3, 4, 5. The Prophet Acts Belſhazzar's part, crying, [I Belſhazzar am in a woful caſe, &c. the Night of my Pleaſure and Revelling is turn'd into Fear, the Hand-writing of the Wall has marr'd my Mirth; I cry'd, [Prepare the Table] but (1.) more need have ſaid, [Prepare the Battel.] Again, Iſa. 47.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Babylon, the Lady of the World, becomes a forlorn Widow bereft of her Children; to wit, Monarchy and Kingdoms. (2.) Jeremy foretold all this with Iſaiah; as Jer. 25.12, 16. Babylon ſhall be moved, and ſhe ſhall be Mad. Again, Jer. 50.17, 18. Belſhazzar's Bones ſhall be broken, and his Empire tranſlated to the Medes and Perſians. Again, Jer. 51.2, 13, 39. God ſends Fanners that make clean work, its end was come; their Wine at their Drunken Feaſt was mix'd with the wrath of God, ſo it wrought ſpeedily and furiouſly; and Bel is made to belch up all his Spoils, ver. 44. yea the Veſſels of the Temple, (Ezra 1.7. and 5.14.) and Babylon is ſpoiled, ver. 55, &c. (3.) Habakkuk foretels the Fall of Belſhazzar, whom he brands with four Faults, a VVine-bibber, &c. Hab. 2.5, &c. denouncing diſmal Woes againſt him and his City, to the end of the Chapter, eſpecially for forcing Drink upon others, ver. 15. the practice of Roaring Boys in our days, not obſerving Eſth. 1.8, &c. Ahaſnerus's Law, and

Quinetiam Spartae mos eſt laudabilis ille,

Ʋt bibat Arbitrio pocula quiſque ſuo.

Let every Man drink what he liſteth without forcing, &c.

N. B. Babylon was firſt built by Nimrod, as Nineve was after by his Nephew Ninus, Gen. 10.11. Hiſtorians tell us, its Walls were ſtrong to a Miracle, being two hundred Cubits high (of the largeſt ſize of Cubits) and fifty Cubits thick, having an hundred Brazen Gates, and many ſtately Towers, &c. It had laſted the head City of the Aſſyrian and Chaldean Monarchy for 1700 Years, until Cyrus came, and then down tumbles Babylon, with its ſtrong Walls, Gates and Towers. N. B. As certainly, ſpeedily, and utterly as the literal Babylon did here fall, accordingly ſhall Myſtical Babylon do in God's time, [Babylon is fallen, is fallen,] Rev. 14.8. and 18.2. is borrowed from Iſa. 21.9. Daniel tells Darius's Age, Dan. 5.31. to ſhew, the Deſtroyer of Babylon was born in that very Year wherein the King of Babylon was deſtroying Jeruſalem; thus God provided a Remedy for the Jews, when the Malady lay ſo heavy upon them, &c.