The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 4

The Annals of the World · History 1 · Age of the world 4

p. 14The fourth Age of the World.

UPon the 15 days of the 1 month (our 5 of May, being tuesday) at midnight, the first-born of Egypt being all slain, Pharaoh and his servants, made hast to send away the Israelites, with all their substance, & the spoiles which they had gotten from the Egyptians: and they the self same day, wherein they were let go out of bondage, being the compleat terme of 430 years, from the first pilgrimage of their ancestors; reckoning from Abrahams departure out of Carran, the day after the Passeover, took their journey, & marched away, being 600000 men, besides children, and came to Ramesses, [Ex. 12. 29, 30, 31, 37, 41, 51. Num. 33. 3.] From hence their several encampings are set down by Moses: which out of the Hebrew signification of words, Jerom expoundeth mistically, in his Treatise of their 42 encampings, written to Fabiola, from whom I have thought good to make the first encamping at Ramesses. Thus then:

1. At Ramesses, where the Israelites were placed by Ioseph, [Gen. 47. 11.] they all met who either dwelt mixt among the Egyptians [Exod. 3. 2.] or who at that time were scattered over all Egypt to gather stubble, [Exod. 5. 12.]

2. Was succoth, where Moses first declared to them the Commandments of God, for the yearly keeping of Easter, and the hallowing of the first-born to him; Ex. 13.]

3. Was Etham, in the border of the wildernesse; whither they came, the Lord conducting them in a pillar of a cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, Exod 13. 20, 21.]

4. Was Pihairoth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon.

Here Pharaoh with his host overtook them, here Moses divided the waters with his rod, and they passed through the midst of the Erythraean, or red Sea, unto the desert of Etham, whom, when Pharaoh & his army would needs follow, they were all overwhelmed p. 15of the waters coming together again, at the dawning of the day, where by the Israelites were wholy quit and freed from the bondage of the Egyptians, whose carcasses when they saw floating all the sea over, and cast upon the shore, [Exod. 14. 13.] they forthwith sang a song of praise and thanksgiving unto God, for their deliverance, [Exod. 5. 20.] Which in the [Apocalyps, 15. 3.] is called the Song of Moses: and is of all others, any where to be found or mentioned, the first of that kind.

Now that this fell out, upon the 21 day of the first month, to wit, upon the last day of the feast of sweet bread (whereon a solemne assembly by Gods appointment was to be held) is the general opinion of the Iewes, and most agreeable to truth.

From hence they marched three whole daies through the wildernesse of Etham, to wit, the 22, 23, 24. dayes of this month, being Tuesday, Wedensday and Thursday of our weeke, but found no water all the way, [Ex. 15. 22. Numb. 33. 8.]

5. Was at March; so called from the bitternesse of the waters there found; whereupon the people which had gone without water three whole daies, beginning to murmure, Moses, by the throwing a piece of wood into them, made them sweet, and withal taught the people, in time to come, to put their trust in God, [Ex. 15. 23. 26.]

6. Was at Elim; where were 12 fountains of water, and 70 palme trees: and at Elim, they encamped by the side of those fountains, [Ex. 15. 27. Numb. 33. 9.]

7. Was by the Red Sea, [Numb. 33. 10.]

And now we come to the Second month.

8. Upon the 15 whereof, (our June 4. being thursday) the Israelites came to the place of their 8 encamping: in the wildernesse of Sin, which lieth between Elyma and Sinai, where, when for want of food, they had murmured against God, and their leaders, about the evening-tide, God sent them Quailes, and the next morning, rained upon them Manna from heaven; and of that kind of bread, they lived afterward, by the space of 40 years, and even untill they came to the borders of the Land of Promise, [Ex. 16. 1, 35.]

9. Was at Dophka.

10. Was at Alush.

11. Was at Rephid…m; where when the people murmured again for want of water, (from whence the place was afterwrds called Meriba and Massa Moses gave them water, by striking the hard rock with his rod, [Exod. 17. 1, 7.] which rock followed them also throughout the wildernesse, [Psalm 78. 16, 20. Psalm 105. 41. 1 Cor. 10. 4. Deut. 9. v. 21.]

The Amalekites, falling upon the reare of the Israelites, all spent and tired with their long journey in the wildernesse as they were, slew some of the hindermost and feeblest of them, against whom Moses sent out Jehosua, al. Josua the son of Nun his servant, to fight with them, [Ex. 33. 11.] whose proper name, which was Hosea, Moses changed into Iehosuah, [Num. 13. 16.] or Iesus, [Nehem. 8. 17. Acts 7. 45. and Heb. 4. 8.]

He therefore fighting with the Amalekites in Rephidim, whiles Moses was in prayer on the top of the hill, overthrow them: and the people by Gods Commandement were charged utterly to destroy and root out that whole nation: and for a memorial thereof, they there built an Altar, [Deut. 25. 17, 18, 19. Exod. 17. 8, 16.]

The Third month.

12. Encamping was in the Desert of Sinai: where the Israelites encamped over against Horeb: from whence they removed not by the space of almost a whole year; for they removed from the wildernesse of Sinai, upon the 2 day of 2 month, of 2 year, after their coming out of the land of Egypt, [Numb. 10. 11, 12.] and they came thither upon the same day of the 3 month, of the 1 year, after their coming out of Egypt: to wit, the same day, or number with 3 month, (i.e.) upon the third day of the third month, as Fr. Ribera, lib. 5. de Templo, at large declareth; and that falls in, with 22 of our Iune, happening upon a Monday.

When Moses went up into the mount, God there declared to him, that he would renew his covenant with the Israelites; That he would bind them to himself by a law; and that he would favour and love all those, would observe and keep that law: which when they readily agreed unto, he gave them two daies space to prepare themselves for the reverned receiving of that Law. He forbade all save Moses and Aaron, to approach the mount: and afterward, in great majesty (they all looking on and trembling at the sight) God came down upon the Mount, (Ex. 19.)

God published his law, contained in the ten commandements, with a terrible voice, [Ex. 20. Deut. 5.] which neverthelesse disannulled not the promise of Grace, made unto Abraham 430 years before. [Gal. 3. 17.]

The people being in this great fear, God gave them sundry other Lawes, [Ex. 20. 21, 22, 23. with Deut. 4. 13, 14.] all which being written in the book of the Covenant, Moses proposed to the people: which done, rising early in the morning, he built an Altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up 12 statues, according to the 12 tribes of Israel, and sent 12 young men of the first-born (as the Chaldee paraphrase hath it) whom the Lord had consecrated to himself, [Exod. 13. 2. Numb. 3. 13. and 8. 16, 17.] as ministers of those holy things, [Exod. 19. 22.] before the Levitical Priesthood was ordained; which offered sacrifices, first p. 16for sin, and then of thanksgiving to the Lord; and when Moses had read the book of the Covenant, containing the Commandments expressed in the [20 c. of Exod.] with the three chapters following, in the years of the people, then taking the blood of the calves and goats so offered, with water, and scarlet wool, and hissop, he sprinkled the book therewith, and all the people, or those 12 statuaes representing the 12 Tribes of Israel: and so perfected that solemne covenant between God and his people, [Exodus 24. 2. with Hebr. 9. 19, 20.]

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 men of the Elders of Israel, went up into the mount, and there beheld the glory of God: and the rest returning, Moses with his servant Joshua, abode there still, and waited six daies, and upon the seventh day, God spake unto him, and there he continued 40 daies, and 40 nights, [Exod. 24. 9, 18.] (reckoning those six daies which he waited for the appearance of the Lord) eating no meat all that while, nor drinking water, [Deut. 9. 9.] where he also received Gods command, touching the frame of the Tabernacle, the Priests garments, their consecration, sacrifices, and other things comprised in [Exod. 25▪ ] and in the six chapters following.

The Fourth month.

When those 40 daies and 40 nights were ended, God gave Moses the two Tables of the Law in stone, made by Gods own hand, and written with his own finger, [Exod. 31. 18. Deut. 9. 10, 11.] bidding him with all, quickly to get him down, for that the people, had already made to themselves a molten calf, to worship it: Moses by prayer pacified God, and went down from the mount, and seeing the people keeping a festival in honour of their Idol, in the Camp, he brake the Tables of the Law, at the foot of the mount: for which the Jewes keep a solemn fast unto this day, the 14 day of the 4 month: which hath led some men into this errour, to think that the 40 daies of Moses his staying in the mount, are to be counted from the day imediate…y following the promulgation of the ten Commandments, omitting altogether the intermediate time, spent in writing, and reading the book of the Covenant, and composing the Covenant so made between God and his people, with solemn Rites and Ceremonies thereunto belonging. [Exod. 24.]

Moses, having burnt and defaced the Idol, put 3000 of the people to death, by the hands of the Levites, [Exod. 32. 20, 29. Deut. 9. 21. & 33. 9.]

The next day Moses returned again into the mount; and there again entreated the Lord for the people, [Ex. 32. 30, 31, 32]

He commanded them to lay aside their gorgeous a parrel, and to set up the Tent of the Congregation (which for that present supplied the room of the Tabernacle afterwards built by Bezaleel) without the Camp; and having drawn the people out of a deep sense of Gods wrath, to repent them of their sin, by his prayer obtained, that no longer the Angel, but God himself, should be their guide and leader in their way, [Exod. 32.]

God commanded Moses to frame new tables of stone, and the next day, to bring them with him into the mount: coming with them the next morning, and standing in the cleft of a rock, God passing by, shewed him a glimpse of his glory, [Ex. 34.]

Moses staying again 40 daies and 40 nights in the mount, without meat or drink, praied there for the people, [Deut. 9. 18. & 10. 10.] God being appeased, renewes his Covenant with the people, upon certain conditions, gives his Lawes anew, and bids Moses to commit them to writing: and he himself again, writes the ten Commandments in the tables which Moses brought unto him, [Ex. 34. 10, 28.]

The Sixth month.

Moses after 40 daies returnes from the mount, with the tables in his hand; and covering his face with a vaile, because it shone, he published the Laws of God to the people, enjoyned the observation of the Sabbath; and commanded a free-will offering to be made toward the building of the Tabernacle according to Gods order, [Ex. 34. & 35.]

And to the end that this offering and contribution should the more orderly and effectually proceed, all were numbred from twentie years old and upward, and they were found to be six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty, every of which, according to the Law prescribed by God, [Exod. 30. 12, 13.] contributing half a shekel, the total summe amounted to one hundred talents of silver, and 1775 shekles, [c. 38. 25, 26.] whence it is gathered, that every talent among the Jewes, amounted to 3000 shekles: or 50 pounds sterling: every pound containing 60 shekles, [Ezek. 45. 12.] over and above which polemoney, out of the voluntary offerings, was made up the sum of 29 talents of gold, and 730 shekles; and of brasse, 70 talents, and 2400 shekles, [Exod. 38. 24, 29.] As for other materials requisite to this building of the Tabernacle, there came in more than enough: insomuch that the people were commanded to bring in no more, [Ex. 36. 5, 6, 7.]

Bezaleel and Aholiab were appointed by God for the chief workmen herein, [Exod. 31. 2, 6. and 35. 30, 35.

In the first six months of this year, Year of the World 2514 a. were the Tabernacle, The Julian Period 3224 Year before Christ 1490 the Arke of the Covenant, the Altar, the Table of shew bread, the Priests garments, the holy Oyntments, the Candlestick, and other utensils, and vessels belonging to the sacrifices, finished in the desert at mount Sinai, and were brought unto Moses; [Exodus 36. with the three chapters following.]

p. 17Then was Moses commanded by God, first that upon the first day of the second monethmonth he should set up the Tabernacle and furnish it with all things belonging thereunto, [Exod. 4. 2, 8.] Secondly, that he should anoint them with holy oyl; and should consecrate Aaro… and his sons for the Priesthood, [Exod. 9. 15.] which he also is said to have done; but not both of them at the same time: For upon the very day appointed, he erected the Tabernacle, with all things thereunto belonging, [Exod. 40. 17, 33.] but the other part of the command he performed a while after, and at another time, prefixed by God; [Levit. 8. 1, 13.] for performance whereof; one day sufficed not, namely, for the consecration of the Priests and Altar both; but fuil seven dayes were spent therein, [Exod. 29. 35, 36, 37.]

On the first day of the first monethmonth (answering to our 21▪ of April, Year of the World c. being wedensday) of the second year after their departure out of Egypt, the Tabernacle of the Covenant wa… set up, and filled with the glory of God, [Exod. 40. 2, 17, 34.] out of which God, at several times, uttered his will and commandments to Moses; which are comprised in the 7 first chapters of Leviticus. In the same 2 year, and first monethmonth, the Israelites, forewarned by God, celebrated the Passeover at the evening of the fourteenth day, (which with us is 4. May, being tuesday:) Upon which day, some of the people complaining to Moses and Aaron that they could not keep the Passeover with the rest of their brethren, upon the day appointed, because they were become unclean by touching a dead body; a law was made by God that all such persons should keep their Passeover upon the 14. day of the second monethmonth, because they could not keep it upon the day first appointed [Numb. 9. 1, 14.]

On the first day of the second mont… (21. of May, Friday by the …ulian Calender) God commanded Mos…s to take the number of all the males of the children of Israel; except the Levites, from 20 years old to 60 by their Tribes: and to appoint the Levites for the service of the Tabernacle, and to give their attendance, for the setting of it up, for the taking of it down, and removing and carrying it from place to place, as occasion should require, [Numb. 1. 1. c. 26. 64.]

The number of them came to 603550▪ [Numb. 10. 1, 46.] being just the same number which was taken 7 moneths before, when they were …ested for a contribution to the building of the Tabernacle, [Exod. 38. 26.]

Moses, according to Gods command, Exod. 29. 37. c. 30. 22, 30. & 40. 9, 15.] anointed the Tabernacle and the Altar, with all things thereunto belonging, with the holy oyl, and consecrated them to the Lord. He consecrated also Aaron, and his four sons, with the same oyl, and with …ites and ceremonies prescribed for the execution of the Priestly Office; commanding them not to depart from the door of the Tabernacle in seven days space, [Levit. 8.] for so many dayes the work of the consecration of them, and of the Altar was in doing, [Exod. 29. 35, 36, 37. Levit. 8. 33.]

Then was set down and commanded the order of the Tribes in their march and encamp…ngs, [Numb. 2.]

The number of Levite… from one monethmonth old and upward, was found to be 22300. [Numb. 3. 15, 35.] or, taking out thence their first born, to 2200. onelyonly: all which were assumed to the service of God, in lieu of the first born, of all the rest of the children of Israel. And because the number of the first-born of the children of Israel, exceeded the whole number of the Levites, (their first-born deducted) to the number of 273. therefore was there lai… upon them for every of those supernumerary heads five shekels, by way of redemption, [Numb. 3. 39, 50.]

The Levite… thus set apart, were, with all due solemnity, consecrated to God, and for his service; every man having his certain time appointed, when he should begin, and when he should end his attendance upon his ministration, [Numb. 8. 5, 26.]

The Levites from 30 years old to 50. were found to be 8580. and their offices and services were parted among them, according to their families, [Numb. 4.]

All …eprous and unclean persons were put out of the Camp. The lawes for restoring of damages, and of jealousie were ordained, [Numb. 5.]

The vow, the consecration, and manner of the Nazarites was instituted, [Numb. 6.]

Upon the 8 day next following the finishing of the consecration, Aaron offered sacrifices and oblations; first for himself, and then for all the people: all which being kindled and consumed by fire, falling from heaven upon them, bred a full belief in the people, that the Priestly office among them was ordained by God himself, [Levit. 9.]

When all the Tabernacle was now fully set up, and anointed all over, together with the utensils, and things thereunto belonging; and the Altar which had been 7 dayes in consecrating, was now dedicated by Aaron his first oblation of sacrifices made upon it; (for the seven former dayes were for expiation, or cleansing, and ordained for the hallowing of it, Exod. 29. 36, 37.)

Then came the Heads of the Tribes which were numbred, and they brought six waggons covered over, and twelve oxen, and joyntly offered them before the Tabernacle: all which were consigned into the hands of the Levites, the sons of Geshon and Merari; as belonging to their office, and afterward others every day brought their several sacrifices, and things belonging to the ministry of the Tabernacle, and offered them towards p. 18the dedication of it, wherein twelve dayes were wholly spent, [Numb. 7. 1, 10, 11. and 84. 88.]

Wherefore upon this first day, Naasson, from whom David, and according to the flesh, our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ himself came; made his offering for the Tribe of Juda: and then the rest, every one for his Tribe, and in that order as they were ranked in their encampings. [Numb. 7. 11, 12, 83.]

Nadab and Abihu, the two eldest sons of Aaron (which going with their father up into the Mount Sinai, had there seen the glory of God, Exod. 24. 1, 9, 10.) going into the Sanctuary, with strange or common fire (not with that fire which fell from heaven, Lev. 9. 24. and which was perpetually to be kept alive, and continued for the burning of the sacrifices and incense in times to come) were struck dead in the place by fire sent from heaven, [Levit, 10. 1, 9. Numb. 3. 2, 3, 4, 26, 60, 61.] And for them the Priests were forbid to make lamentation: Moreover for some particular mens neglect of duty, all the Priests were charged to forbear wine and strong drink, before they were to go into the Tabernacle. A law also was made, that what was left of the sacrifices should be eaten by the Priests: and Aarons excuse therein was admitted by Moses, [Levit. 10. verse 6, 20.]

Upon that occasion was the Law made (about the tenth day, as it seemeth, of this monethmonth) that the high Priest alone; and he but once in every year, should enter into the Sanctuary; and that to be upon the day of expiation and general fast, which was to be kept upon the 10 day of the seventh monethmonth, [Levit. 16. 1, 34.]

On the 14 of this monethmonth, (June 3, Thursday) at Even, the Passover was to be celebrated by those, who that day monethmonth before were in their uncleannesse, [Numb. 9.]

The blasphemous person, by Gods command was carried out of the Camp, and stoned, [Levit, 24. 10, 11, 12, 13.]

All the laws contained in the seventeen last chapters of Levit. seeme to have been made in this monethmonth.

God commanded two silver trumpets to be made, by which the Congregation was to be called together; and the time of their removing, and marching, and sacrificing, signified to the people, [Numb. 10. 1, 28.]

Jethro, who was also called Hobab, brought his daughter Zipporah, with her two sons, Gershon and Eliezer, which were left with him, to his son in law Moses, and he dedelivered them to him: and having congratulated his, and the whole people of Israels deliverance out of that Egyptian bondage; he openly declared, both by word and deed, his faith and devotion toward the true God. And by his advise, Moses imparted the government of the people to some others, and ordained Magistrates for the deciding of lesser causes, [Exod. 18. with Deut. 50. 9, 18. and Numb. 10. 29.]

The 19 day of this monethmonth, seemeth to have been the last that the 1… Heads of the Tribes made their oblations in, for the dedication of the Altar; on which Ah…ra made his offering for the Tribe of Nephthalie, [Numb. 7. 78, 88.]

On the 20 day of the second monethmonth (being the ninth of our June, falling on a Wensday) God commanded the Israelites to remove their camp, and to go forward in their journey, to take possession of the land which he had promised to give them, [Numb. 10. 11. 12. Deut. 1. 6, 7.] whither Moses would have had Jethro to have gone along with him: But he refused, and thence returned to his own home, [Numb. 9. 29, 30. with Exod. 18. 27.]

The cloud, which covered the Tabernacle being lifted up, they cast themselves into four squadrons, or battalions, and marched from Sinai; where they had stuck, by the space almost of one whole year; and after 3 dayes continual journey, came to the wildernesse of Paran, [Numb. 10. 12, 33.] where they rested them 23 dayes, without removing.

13. Their 13 remove, was to Kibroth Hattaavah, [Numb. 33. 16.] where they that murmured were struck with fire from heaven, (whence that place, was called Taber) but were delivered at the intercession of Moses; yet fell again to murmuring, and provoked God, by their loathing of Manna, and desiring of flesh, [Numb. 11. 1, 10. Psalm 78. 19, 20, 21.]

Moses complained to God of the over-great burden of this government which lay upon him; and desired to be discharged of it: but God to ease him of the charge, gave him for assistants, the Court of the 70 Elders; of which number, Eldad and Medad, remaining in the Camp, prophesied, [Numb. 11. 10, 17, 24, 30.]

God gave the people Quailes: not as in the year before, for one day, [Exod. 16. 12. 13.] but for the whole monethmonth together: but sent withal a most grievous plague among them. Whereupon, and from the burying place, or graves of them that lusted, that place was called, Kibroth-Hattaavah, [Numb. 11. 31, 34. Psal. 78. 26, 31. and Psal. 106. 15.]

14 The fourteenth remove, was to Hazaroth, [Numb. 11. 35. & 33. 17.]

M…iam and Aaron spake evil of Moses their brother; because he had married a woman of Ethiopia; to wit, Zipporah of Madian, which was a part of the Eastern Ethiopia, otherwise called Arabia: and made themselves equal in all points with him: But God p. 19maintained Moses above them, and struck Miriam with a leprosie: whereupon she was removed out of the Camp: But at the prayer of Moses, after seven dayes, she was healed, [Numb. 12. 15. Deut. 24. 9.]

Miriam, Year of the World d. being cleansed, upon some day of the 4 monethmonth; as may be gathered out of what is said before, returned into the Camp: and upon her return, the Israelites removed: and,

15. Upon their 15 remove, they pitched in Rithma, in the desert of Paran, [Numb. 12. 6, 33, 18.] near unto Kadesh-Barnea, [Numb. 13. 26.]

On the fifth monethmonth.

From the Wildernesse of Paran, [Numb. 13. 3.] or Kadesh Barnea, [Numb, 32. 8. Deuter. 1. 19, 22. & 9. 23. Iosh. 14. 7.] the people desiring it, and Moses likeing well thereof, [Deut. …. 2…, 23. But above all, God commanding it, [Numb. 13. 1, 2.] at the time when grapes first grew ripe; twelve spies, one for every Tribe, (of which Caleb the son of Jephunna, was for the Tribe of Judah) being then 40 years old, [Iosh, 14. 7.] and Hoshea the son of Nun, whom Moses had called by the name of Joshua, for the Tribe of Ephra…m, were sent to discover, and spye out the land of Canaan: which entering into it by the desert of Sin, lying toward the south, went quite thorough it, to the very North parts thereof, even to Rechob, [Numb. 13. 21, 22. Deut. 1. 23.]

The sixth monethmonth.

The spies having spent 40 dayes in searching out the land, returned to Kadesh in the Wildernesse of Paran: bringing with them one branch of a vine, with a cluster of grapes upon it, gathered in the valley of Eshcol, which took its name from thence, with Pomgranats, and Figgs of the land, [Numb. 13. 23, 27. Deut 1. 24, 25.] from which ripenesse of the fruit at that season it appeareth, that this happened near before the 7 month, because a little before the feast of Tabernacles, (which was kept upon the 15 day of that monethmonth) the fruits of the barne and wine-presse, were always gathered, [Exod 23. 16. Levit. 23. 39. Deut. 16. 13.] Ten of the twelve so sent to spie out the land, by speaking ill of the country, and the barrennesse thereof, and withal, magnifying the Cities for their strength, and the giantly stature of the men therein; disheartened the people from marching any further toward it; whiles Caleb, did all he could, to perswade the people to go on, [Numb. 13. 28, 33, & 32. 9.]

The people being terrified with the relation made by the rest, would needs back again into Egypt; and were ready to stone Caleb and Joshua, for telling a contrary tale. And God threatning the people, with a sudden destruction, was bowed to spare them, by the prayers of Moses: Yet so, as withal he denounced to them, that all of them which were then twenty years old and upwards should die in the Wildernesse, and never see the land which was promised unto them: ad that they should wander in that Wildernesse fourty years, [Numb. 14. 1, 35. & 26. 64, 65. & 32. 10, 13. Deut. 1. 26, 36. & 9▪ 23. Josh. 5. 6. Psalm …5. 8, 11. & 106. 24, 25, 26.] reckouing all in a round summe; for it is manifest, that their children entered that land, in the 39. year, by comparing [Numb. 32. 13. with Deut. 2. 14.]

The te…lp…es, which had caused this mutiny among the people, God destroyed all by sudden death, [Numb. 14. 36, 37.] in remembrance whereof, the Jewes to this day, keep a fast, upon the seventh day of the sixth monethmonth, called Elul.

God therefore bad them remove their camp, and return back into the desert toward the Red Sea. But they, contrary to this command, would needs go forward into the mountain, and were there vanquished by the Amalekites and Canaanites, and pursued, as farre as Hormah. Therefore they sate down and wept before the Lord; but he would not hear them, [Numb. 14. 40, 45. Deut. 1. 40, 45.]

Upon this calamity, and the continual dropping away of the Israelites, in the Wildernesse, Moses composed the 90 Psalm, [Lord thou hast been our refuge, &c.] in which he also sheweth that the ordinary age of men, was reduced to 70 or 80 years at the utmost: therefore,

The age of man, was now a third time, contracted and cut short a third part of what it was before.

The Israelites continued in Kadesh many dayes, Year of the World 2515. a. [Deut. 1. 46.] for whether it were for a day or two, or a monethmonth, or a year, so long as the cloud continued over the Tabernacle, the Camp all that while continued in the same place, and removed not, [Numb. 9. 22.] But that in some places the Camp continued many years, appeareth, for that in the space of 37 years, there are but 17 encampings mentioned; for leaving Kadesh, they returned into the Wildernesse, as I said be fore, toward the Red Sea, and encamped about the Hill-Country of Seir many dayes, [Deut. 2. 1. Iudg. 11. 16.] Now the 17 encampings, belonging to this compassing of the Wildernesse of Seir, mentioned in the 33 of Numb. were in this order:

The 16 encamping was at Rimmon Parez. The 17 at Libna. The 18 at Rissa. The 19 at Kehelatha. The 20 at Mount Shepher. The 21 at Harada. The 22 at Makhe…oth. The 23 at Thahath. The 24 at Thara. The 25 at Mithka. The 26 at Hishmona. The 27 at Moseroth. The 28 at Bene-Iaakan, or Beeroth Bene-Iaakan: (i.) Of the well of the sons of Iaakan, [Deut. 10. 6.] The 29 at Horagidgad, or Gudgoda, [Deut. 10. 7.] p. 20The 30 at Iothatha, (i.) a place full of springs of water, [Deut. 10. 7.] The 31 was Hebrona. The 32 was Ezion-Gaber, which is near to Elotha, and joyning upon the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom, [1 Reg. 9. 26.]

Now to that long demourage of theirs in Kadesh, The Julian Period 3225 Year before Christ 1489 or the encampings next ensuing upon their removes from thence, all that seems to referre; which we finde delivered in the fifteenth, and four next ensuing chapters, of Numbers; as well that of the lawes there mentioned to have been made, as the Historicall part thereof. As how he that gathered sticks on the Sabbath; (for though the sacrifices were omitted in the Wildernesse, yet was still the use of the Sabbath entirely observed) was, by the Oracle from God, stoned to death, by all the people, c. 15. and how Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, raising a mutiny against Moses and Aaron, were swallowed alive into the earth, and 250. of their associates, whiles they offered incense perished by fire, sent upon them from God. And how God commanded their censors to be taken and used, for the over-laying of the Altars, for a memorial of them to the children of Israel. And how the people murmuring against Moses and Aaron for the calamitie which had befallen their brethren, were stricken by God and perished, to the number of 14700. men, c. 16. And how twelve rods being brought by the twelve Princes, and laid in the Sanctuary: Aarons rod, onelyonly budded, and brought forth almons; and was laid up before the Ark, for a sign to those who should afterward be given to rebellion, [cap. 17.] All which things are thought to have been done in the later half of the second year, after their departure out of the land of Egypt. Moses committing to writing nothing, but what fell out in the two first years, and the last of their travel in the Wildernesse; and passing by what else happened in those 37 years intervening, saving onelyonly the matter of the 17 stages or encampings formerly mentioned. See Abulensis, upon Numb. cap. 1. Quaest. 3.

The Scripture also sheweth that the time, which the Israelites spent in travelling from Kadesh Barnea, till they passed the vale, or brook Zerad, which was half a year after they removed from their 32 encamping; and another half year before they passed the River Iordan, took up the full time of 38 years. In which space of time, all that generation of rebels against God was wholly spent, dead and buried, [Deut. 2. 14, 15, 16.]

Now for the 9 first years, which the Israelites spent in the Wildernesse, Armais governed in Egypt, and Sethosis invaded the East: both which were brothers and sonnes to Amenophis, (which was he that was drowned in the red Sea) as we have formerly noted, to the year of the world, 1494. Of whom Manetho in his Egyptiaca, mentioned by Josephus in his first book against Apion, writeth thus. Sethosis being furnished with cavalry and shipping, made his brother Armais ruler, indeed, over all Egypt, and let him use all other Regall power and authority there: onelyonly he forbad him to wear a Crown; and charged him in no wise to abridge the Queen which was the mother of his children: and that he should also refraine from all other concubines of the King: But he himself made war in Cyprus and Phoenicia, and against the Assyrians and the Medes. Some of which he subdued by power and force of arms, others he took in, thorough the sole dread and terrour of his name: and now puffed up with this great successe near home, he went on with the greater confidence to ravage and spoile all the Kingdoms and Countries of the East. But some few years after he was gone, Armais whom he left in Egypt, casting off all fear of sinne, did all things contrary to what he was commanded by the King: For first, he misused the Queen, and lay continually with the Kings corcubines; and at length, following the advice of his friends, used a Crown also, and plainly rebelled against his brother. Thus Manetho the Egyptian, adding withal, that Armais, was Danaus; and Sethosis was called both Egyptus, and that from him, the whole land was called Egypt: and also Ramesses, after his Grandfathers name. From which similitude of names and things, it is manifest, that both Tacitus comes to call him Ramses, and Herodotus, Sesostris; for so Tacitus sayes, That a King called Rhamses, having conquered all Lybia, and Ethiopia, and the Medes and Persians, and Bactria, and Scythia, and all the lands which the Syrians and Armenians, and their borderers the Cappadocians held, together with Bythinia, and Lycia, lying upon the Mediterranian Sea: and so far Tacitus of him, under the name of Rhamses. And for Sesostris, Herodotus in his second book, writes in this manner. Their Priests, saith he, speaking of the Egyptians, report; That he was the first, who with a Fleet of long Ships, going out of the Arabian gulf, brought all the nations, bordering upon the Red-Sea, into his subjection. Which done, he came back the same way: and having gathered a mighty Army, marched into the Continent (of Asia) and there subdued all the nations which stood in his way. Then passing out of Asia, crossed into Europe; there conquered the Scythians, and Thracians: whither, and no further, saith he, it seemeth to me, that Egyptian Army came, because here, and no further off, are to be seene yet extant, the Markes and Monuments of his name and Victories. Of which Monuments so erected by Sesostris, he averreth, that himselfe had seen some remaining in Palestine of Syria: as also two others in Ionia, one at Ephesus, as ye go into Phocea, the other, on the way leading from Sardis to Smyrna. The like report makes Diodorus Siculus, of Sesoosis lib. 2. but makes him far ancienter, than these times: and indeed the age attributed to his brother Danaus proves, that he was contemporarie with Moses, as also Manetho p. 21makes him, and Diodorus himself in his 40 book, misseth not much of the same mark; where he saith, That at what time all forraigners were turned going out of Egypt. Danaus and Cadmus, with their companies came into Greece, and moses with his, went into Judea, as we may find in the Selections of Photius, for the better understanding whereof, and in some sort, to fill up this void space of 37 years, omitted by Moses, it shall not be amisse here to insert, the times of these forraign affaires, taken out of Eusebius his Tables, and are as follows.

Egypt (which was formerly called Aeria) was so called from Egyptus who was there made King, Year of the World 2520 upon the expulsion of his brother, The Julian Period 3230 Year before Christ 1484 Danaus: wherein out account varies two years only from that of Eusebius. for

Egyptus, Year of the World 2522 who was also called, The Julian Period 3232 Ramesses, Year before Christ 1482 and Sesostris, and Sesoosis, after the terme of 9 years spent in several voiages and wars in forraign parts, (as Diodor. Sic. in his first book testifieth,) returned to Pelusium. Whereby Armais, who is also called Danaus, when he had ruled over Egypt 9 years, fled for fear of his brother Ramesses, or Egyptus; and falling from the kingdom which he had so gotten in Egypt, came into Greece, as Georgius Syncellus hath it, in the Greek Eusebius, published by Scaliger, page 26. 27. having first attempted to poyson his brother Egyptus, at a banquet provided for him: but missed of his purpose, as both Herodotus lib. 2. cap. 107. and also Diodorus Siculus lib. 1. pag. 53. (in the Greek and Latin edition of him) testifies.

Danaus coming into Greece, Year of the World 2530 there made himself Master of Argos; The Julian Period 3240 and made it abound with waters: Year before Christ 1474 Danaus by his 50 daughters, Destroyed the 50 sons of his brother Egyptus: save onelyonly his son Lynceus, which reigned after him, to wit at Argos.

Busiris the son of Neptunus, Year of the World 2533 and Libra the daughter of Epaphus, The Julian Period 3241 exercised a tyranny, Year before Christ 1471 in the parts joyning upon the river Nile, barbarously murdering all strangers, which passing that way fell into his hands; whence is that of Ovid. lib. 3. de Tristi, more cruel thou, than was Busiris art, and that of Virgil, 3. Georg. who of Eurysth…us hard heart, hath not heard? And altars, by the unworthy B…sir reard? unworthy indeed to be defended; but much more unworthy was he to have been commended by any man, which yet was his hap to be, by Socrates the Orator, in his, Busiridis Encomium, and therein, (as after him, also Eusebius did) he sayes, that he was the son of Libya, the daughter of Epaphus and Neptunus. Where observe, that this Ramesses, surnamed Myamun, (of whom I spake, in the year of the world 2427) is by Muthological writers, surnamed Neptunus, and was the man who commanded the new born infants of the Hebr…ws to be drowned; and that left behind him two sons, Amenophis, (i.e.) Belus of Egypt (the father of Egyptus and Danaus) that oppugner of the Almighty God, and which with his host, was overwhelmed in the Red-sea; and left Busiris his son, so infamous, for butchering of strangers, (a fitting off-spring of such a father) to succeed him, whereunto you may add, if you please, out of A. Gellius, lib. 15. cap. 21. that the Poets were wont to call men, barbarous, cruel, and devoide of humanitie, the sons of Neptune: as born of that mercilesse element, the sea.

In these times, Year of the World 2543 Tatthe son of Hermes Trismegistes, The Julian Period 3253 lived, Year before Christ 1461 saith Eusebius, with which agreeth that which the Egyptians deliver, that Sesostris, learned his wisdom, from this Hermes, as we find in Elian, lib. 12. Var. Histor. cap. 4.

Cadmus and Phenix, Year of the World 2549 going from Thebais in Egypt into Syria, The Julian Period 3259 erected a kingdom in Tyre and Sidon. Year before Christ 1455 Euseb. Chron.

Now after the Israelites had compassed the hill-country of Seir and Edom, Year of the World 2552. b. by the space of 37 years, The Julian Period 3262 from Kadesh-barnea, Year before Christ 1452 to Ezion-gaber, in Edom; going from the North to the South, even to the shoare of the Red-sea, God then commanded them to turne Northward, and march strait forward to the land of promise: and because the land of Edom lay in their way thitherward, he charged them, that they should not, in any wise, draw a sword upon them, as being their brethren: telling them how great a providence and care he had used, in preserving themselves by the space of 40 years in the wildernesse, [Deut. 2. 1, 7.] putting such an imperfect number of 40. for an imperfect, of 39.

In the first monethmonth of the 40 year, after their departure out of Egypt; the Israelites coming into the wildernesse of Tzin, they there encamped.

33 Encamping was at Kadesh, [Numb. 20. 1. with the 33. c. of the same, v. 36, 37, 38. and Iudg. 11. 17.] To wit in Kadesh of Tzin, in the very borders of Edom, [c. 20. 14, 15.] towards Ezion-Gaber, and the Red-sea, and not at Kadesh Barnea, where they made their fifteenth encamping, and which lay near the border of Canaan, toward the south, Numb. 34. 4. Iosh. 15. 3.]

Here Miriam, al. Maria, died. [Numb. 20. 1.] 4 moneths before her brother Aaron, and 11 moneths before her brother Moses. … that she was the eldest of the three; and attained to the age of 130 years, appeareth, [Exod. 2. 4, 7.] so that she was a pretty big Maid, when Moses was born: as was noted before upon the year of the world, 2433. and the Jews to this very day, keep the memory of her decease, upon the tenth o… the first monethmonth.

The people again, for lack of water, murmure against Moses and Aaron: whom when God commanded to call water out of the hard rock, onelyonly by speaking to it; Mose being p. 22moved in his mind, through impatience, and diffidence of the thing; spake something, what ever it was, unadvisedly with his lips, but struck the Rock twice with Aarons rod, that was budded and blossomed, and thereby drew water from it, which, as those other drawn out of another Rock, 37 years before, [Exod. 17. 7.] upon this occasion, were called Meribah, or Waters of strife, [Numb. 20. 2, 13.] for it is most likely, that the former water, which Tertullian calleth, Aquam Comtiem, The water that followed them, (of which I spake in the eleventh encamping) was swallowed up in the Rad-sea, so that in this second distresse for water, the children break out into the like mutinous disposition, as their Father, so long before, had done.

Moses and Aaron for their dissidence and unbelief here shewed, in executing the commandment of God, were debarred from entering into the land of Canaan, [Numb. 20. 23. 24. c. 27, 14. Psal. 106. 32, 33.

The Israelites, sent messengers to the Edomites and Moabites, to desire passage thorough their land; But they refused to let them passe thorough the bodie of their countrie, [Num. 20. 14, 20. Iudg. 11. 17.] yet were content they should passe by the skirts thereof, [Deu. 2. 4, 6, 29.] whereupon they, staying a while at Kadesh, [Iud. 11. 17.] went forward.

34 The 34 encamping, which was in mount Hor, Upon the borders of Edom, [Num. 20. 22, 23. and 33. 37.] or Mosera, [Deut. 10. 6.] whither the Isrelites are saied, when they removed from Beereth-bene Iaakan, or the wells of the sons of Iaakan, which was their 28 encamping, to have come; to wit, having by the way encamped, in Gudgoda, al. Hor-agidgad; lethatha, and other places; for whereas it is said, [v. 7.] that from thence, they came to Gudgoda, and from Gudgoda to Iotbatham, the words from thence are not to be understood of Mosera, but of Beeroth, as many learned men have long since observed upon this place.

Upon the first day of the fifth monethmonth, our August 18. being tuesday, in the 40 year, after their coming out of Egypt, Aaron dyed at Mosera, in the top of the Mountain, of Hor, at the age of 123 years, leaving his son Eleazer, his successor, in the high Priest-hood, [Numb. 20. 23, 28. and 33, 38, 39, Deut. 10. 6.]

The Israelites bewailed Aaron 30 dayes long, [Numb. 20. 29.] to wit, all that whole month, wherein he dyed.

Upon the sixth monethmonth, the king of Arad, who dwelt on the Southern part of Canaan, hearing of the Israelites approach, went forth, and fought against them, and took many of them prisoners, whereupon they vowed, a vow to God; and having gotten the victory over them, accordingly they destroyed them and their cities: from whence that place was ever called Horma. (i.e.) the place where that vow, of utterly destroying the Cananites, was made, [Num. 31. 1, 2, 3. and 33. 40.]

Then leaving mount Hor, and shunning the plain country, which leadeth from Elatha, and Ezion-Gaber, and the Red-sea straight into Idumea, they fetcht a compasse and came about to the East-side of it, [Numb. 21. 4. Deut. 2. 40. and there ethy made

35 The 35 encamping at Zalmona, [Num. 33. 41.] so called from an image there set up: for when the people murmured because of the fierie serpents, (not little worm, breeding in their flesh, (as Fortunius Licetus, in his third book, de spontaneo V…ventium ortu. c. 51. dreameth) but plain fierie serpents) sent among them by God, which annoyed them, they were there healed, by looking up to the figure or image, of a brazen serpent, set up upon a pole, or post, by Gods appointment. [Num. 21. 5. 9. Joh. 3. 14. 1 Cor. 10. 9.]

36 The 36 encamping, was at Punon, [Numb. 33. 42.]

37 The 37 at Oboth, [Numb. 21. 10, 33, 43.]

38 The 38 at Ije-Abarim, upon the borders of Moab, [Num. 33. 40.] to wit in that desert, which lyeth over against the land of Moab, toward the East, [Numb. 21. 11.] and is called the desert of Moab, [Deut. 2. 8.] for continuing their march thorough that wildernesse, they came at length to the East of Moab, [Iudg. 11. 18.]

And when they removed thence, to passe by the valley or brook of Zared, God forbad them to make war upon Moab, [Num. 21. 12. Deut. 2. 8, 13.]

Now they passed over Zared, 38 years, after the sending of their spies, from Kadesh Barnea, the whole race of them which mutined, and rebelled against God from 20 years old and upwards, being wholly extinct and dead, [Deut. 2. 6.]

39 The 39 encamping was at Dibon-God. [Numb. 33. 5.]

The 40 was at Almon-D…blathaim, [Numb. 33. 46.] al. Beth-Diblathaim, in the wildernesse of Moab. Year of the World 2553. a. [Ier. 48. 12. Ezek. 6. 14.]

The Israelites coming now to passe the borders of Moab, at Ar, and approaching the country of the Ammonites, God forbad them to make any war upon the Ammonites, [Deut. 2. 18, 19, 37.] and then commanded them to passe over the river Arnon: which at that time was the boundary between Moab and Ammon, [Deut. 2. 24. Num. 21. 13.] so that they encamped over Arnon, and never touched upon the territory of Moab, [Deut. 2. 24. Num. 21. 13. Iudg. 11. 18.]

For departing from thence to Beer, where was the well, which the Princes, and better sort of the people, with Moses their Law-giver, digged with their staves, they came to Matthana, Nahaliel, Bamoth, and the valley, which is in the country of the Moabites, at the entrance of the hill which looketh toward the wildernesse, [Num. 21. 16.] to wit of Kedemoth, [Deut. 2. 26.] and there pitcht.

p. 2341. Being their 41 Encamping: to wi…, at Abarim, over against Nebo, Numb. 33. 47. For as for Maanah and the others names, they were not encampings, as Tremellius observeth upon [Num. 2. 12.] but only places thorough which they passed in their march, before Moses sent messengers to the Amorites. Though the Chaldee Paraphrases take them not at all for proper names of places, but only as appellative, and interpret them of the waters of the well (as of the Rock, 1 Cor. 10. 4.) which followed the Israelites to the brooks, and from the brooks, to the mountaines, and from the mountaines, to the Valley of the Moabites.

From the wildernesse of Kedemoth, Moses sent messengers to Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, praying him to suffer him to passe quietly through his borders (as the Edomites and Moabites had done) because that was a shorter cut to the foords of Jordan; but when he denyed them passage, and made war upon them, they slew Sihon, and possessed themselves of all his Cities, and dwelt in them [Deut. …. 24, 36. Numb. 21. 21, 31. Judg. 1. 19, 22.]

Then sent Moses his spies to Jaser; which they took, with the townes thereunto belonging, and cast out thence the Amorites, from the river of Ru…, which is the bound of Moab, [Numb 21. 13. & 22. 36.] to the brook of Jabboc, which parteth it from Ammon, [Deut. 3. 16. Jos. 12. 2. and 13. 10.] yet never medled they with the Country lying upon the river Jabboc, neither with any of the lands belonging at that time to the children of Ammon of Moab, as God had commanded them, [Deut. 2. 9. and 9. 37. And therefore, when the Ammonites, 264 years after, complained that the Israelites had taken their land, from Jabboc to Arnon, and even to the brooks of the river Jordan; Jephtha rightly answered them, that they had not meddled with the lands, either of the Moabites of the Ammonites; but that when they had slain Sihon, they took all the lands belonging to the Ammorites, from the river Arnon, to Jabboc, and possessed it, as their own inheritance, [Judg. 11. 13, 15, 22, 23.] Though it be true also, that Sihon King of the Amorites had formerly taken from Vaheb King of the Moabites, Heshbon, and all that Country of his, unto Arnon: [Numb. 21. 14.] so also had he taken from the Ammonites, … their Country, in like manner, even to Arroer, which lieth over against Rabba, [Deut. 3. 11.] for that all that land belonged formerly to the Ammonites; and afterward was taken from the Amorites, and assigned to the tribe of Gad, to dwell in, appeareth, [Jos. 13. 25.]

When the Children of Israel marched on their way to Basan, Og King of Basan, being a remnant of the G…ants, met and fought with them at Edrem, an… was there with all his people, utterly destroyed; and the Israelites possessed themselves of all his Country, to wit, threescore Cities, and all that coast, as far as Argob, [Deut. 3. 1, 11. Numb. 21. 33, 34, 35. Amos 2. 9.] All which Country of Argob, stretching to the borders of the Geshur…tes, and Mahacathites, Jair the son of Manasses, is said to have taken and called after his own name, Havoth-Jair, [Numb. 32. 41. Deut. 3. 14.] Which Manasses was indeed the son of Segub, of the tribe of Judah; but reckoned among the Manassites, both in regard of the inheritance he had among them, and also in reference to hi-Gran…mother; for she being the daughter of Machir, of the tribe of Manasse, the father of G…ead, bar… Segub, father of this Ja…r, unto Hezron, when he was sixty years of age, a… appeareth [1 Chron. 2. 21, 22.] where it is further added, that this Jair possessed 23 Cities, in the land of Gilead, and that he took Gessurim and Aram (according to the best Expositors) with the villages of Jair, and Kenath with her villages, sixty Cities in all; though indeed Nobach, under him, took Kenath, with her villages, and called it Nobach after his own nam…, [Numb. 32. 42.]

After these victories the Israelites leaving the mountains of Abarim, encamped in the plain of Moab, on this side of the foord of Jordan, which …adeth to J…rico, from Beth-Jeshimoth, unto Abel-Shittim, [Numb. 22. 1. and 33. 48, 49.] So that their

42. Two and fortieth encamping, was at Shittim, [Numb. 25. 1 al. Abel-Shittim, c. 33. 49.] where they continued, till at length under the leading of Josuah, they came to the bank of Jordan, [Jos. 3. 1.]

Baalak the son of Zippor, King of Moab, considering all, what the Israelites had done to the Amorites, feared, least that under colour of passing through his Country, they would possesse themselves of his whole kingdom: and therefore, taking counsel with the Princes of the Midianites, his neighbours, sent for Balaam the son of Beor, a soothsaier, out of Mesopotamia, to come and curse the Israelites; promising him great rewards for his labour: purposing afterward to make war upon them, [Numbers 21. 1, 6. Deut. 33. 4. Josuah, 24. 9.]

Balaam, forewarned of God, refused at first to come: but being sent for a second time, he importuned God to let him go, and went with a purpose indeed to curse Israel; but God offended herewith, made the dumb Asse of this wisard, on which he rode, speaking in a mans voice, to reprove his folly, [Numbers 22. vers. 7, 35. 2 Peter, 2. vers. 15, 16.]

Balaam, twice offered sacrifices, and would fain have cursed Israel, to gratifie Balak therein: but being forced thereto by the Spirit of God, instead of curing, he blessed them altogether; fore-telling, what felicity attended them, and what calamit…es should p. 24befall their enemies, [Numb. 23, and 24. Deut. 23. 5. Josuah 24. 10.]

And by his advise it was, that the women of Moab, and Midian were set on work, to turn the Israelites away to Idolatry: and to make them fall a whoreing with them, [Num. 25. 1, 2, 3. c. 31. 16. Deut. 4. 3. Psal. 106. 28. Apocal. 2. 14.] Wherefore God commanded Moses, first to take all the ring-leaders of this disorder, and to hang them up before the sun: and then he gave order to the Judges, to put to death all such of them as had joyned themselves to Baal-Peor; and last of all, God sent a plague upon the people, whereof there died 23000 men in one day, [1 Cor. 10. 8.] which added to them which were hanged, and killed with the sword, amount in all to twenty four thousand, [Numb. 25. 4, 5, 9.]

Phineas the son of Eleazer, by killing Zimri, the son of Salu, chief of his fathers family, of the Tribe of Symeon; and Cosbi the daughter of Sur, a Prince of the Midianites, appeased the wrath of God, and so that plague ceased, [Numb. 25. Psal. 106. 30.] And God therefore setling the High-Priesthood for ever upon the house of Phineas, commanded them also to make war forthwith upon the Midianites, [Numbers, 25. vers. 12, 13, 17, 18.]

Moses and Eleazar, by Gods command, in the plain of Moab, near unto Jordan, over against Jerico, numbred the people from 20 years old, and upwards, and found them to be 601730 men: besides the Levites; whose number, reckoning them, from one month old and upwards, came to 23000. and then Moses received Gods command for the parting of the land of Promise, among the Israelites, [Numb. 26. 1, 63.]

The daughters of Zelophead, had their fathers land parted among them for want of issue male: and by this occasion was the law for succession in heritages drawn up, and made, [Numb. 27. 1, …1.]

God signified to Moses, that he should die: and Josuah was thereupon declared to be his successor, and Moses laied his hands upon him, and gave him instructions, [Numb. 27. 12, 23. Deutronom…e 3▪ v. 26, 27, 28.] And several lawes were then made, [Deuteronomie 28. v. 29, 30.]

Twelve thousand of the Israelites, under the leading of Ph…neas, vanquished the Midiani…e, and slew all the males among them, with their five Princes, and among them Sur the fat…er of Cosb…, all which were under the subject on of Sihon the Amorite, whiles he l…ved; and Balaam the wisard, who when he should have returned into his own Country of Mesop…tam…a, [Numbers 24. 25.] staied among the Midianites, [Numbers 31. 1, 8. Josuah 13. 21, 22.] And of the females only the virgins were saved alive, [Numb. 31. 9, 54.]

The lands which belonged to Sihon, and Og were divided and given to the tribes of Reuben, and Gad, and the half tribe or Manasses, by Moses, [Numb. 32. Deut. 3. 13, 20. and c. 29. 8. Ios. 13. 8, 12. and 22. 4.] all from the river Arnon, to mount Hermon (which is also called Shemir, and Syrion, and Sion) and joyneth upon Anti-Lebanon, [Deut. 3. 8, 9. Deut. 4. 48. Jos. 12. 1. Jos. 13. 9, 11.]

When the Israelites were now going into the land of Canaan, God commanded them to root out the Canan…tes and their Idols, [Numb. 33▪ 50, 56.] and that they should divide the land, westward of Jordan, among the nine remaining tribes, and the other half tribe of Manasses, [Numb. 34.] and concerning the 48 Cities of the Levites, and six Cities of Refuge, [Numb. 35.] of which there were three appointed then by Moses himself, on the east of Jordan, [Deut. 4. 41, 42, 43.]

Upon the 5 day of 11 month (Feb. 20. falling upon our Saturday) in the 40 year after their departure out of Egypt, in the plain of Moab; Moses made a speech to the children of Israel; set down in the 1, 2, 3. c. of Deut. and to the 40 v. of the 4 c. and afterward continued his speaking to them; to the 27 c. of the same.

Moses, with the Elders of Israel, commanded the people, that in their passage over Jordan, they should set up great stones, whited over with chalk or plaister, and the ten Commandments to be written on them, and the forme of blessing upon the mount Gerizim, and of cursing in mount Ebal, [Deut. 27.] exhorting them to observe the Law of God, by setting before their eyes, what benefits would ensue thereof; and dehorting them from the breach of that law, by assuring them of what miseries would overtake them: if they forsook the Law, [Deut. 28.]

Moses, by Gods command, renewes the Covenant, made by God with them, and their children in mount Horeb: and again perswades them, to keep that Covenant, by all the blessings and curses, which would undoubtedly follow the keepers or breakers of it, [Deut. 29.] yet with a promise of pardon and deliverance, if at any time, having broken it, they should repent them of their sin: and tells them further, that God had therefore thus declared his will unto them, to the end, that none hereafter offending, should pretend ignorance, if he offended, [Deut. 30.]

Moses having written this law, delivered it to the Priests, the sons of Levi, and the Elders of the people to be kept: The same day also he wrote his song, and taught the same to the children of Israel to be sung, and having finished the book of this law, he took order to have it laied up, in the side of the Arke, [Deut. 31.] But that most excellent song of his, is contained in [Deut. 32.]

p. 25Moses, drawing now near to his end, blessed every tribe in particular, by way of prophecie, saving only the Tribe of Symeon: which his last Will and Testament is conteined in [Deut. 32.]

In the twelfth month of this year, Moses, going up out of the plain of Moab, into mount Nebo, which was a part of the countrey of the Abarims, from the top thereof, lying over against Jerico, he beheld the land of Promise, allover▪ and then dyed, [Numb. 27. 12, 13. Deut. 3. 23, 29. Deut. 32. 49, 50. Deut. 34. 1, 5.] being then, 120 years old, [Deut. 31. 2, 3, 4, 7.] Of all which time, he spent a full third part, wanting only one month; in his government of the people of Israel: as is not amisse observed by Josephus, in the later end of his 4 book of antiquities: as departing this life in the last month of the year, and first day of that month, which by the Macedons is called Dystrus, and by the Hebrewes Adar: which better suiteth, with the accompt of Historians shortly after following, than with the tradition of the Jewes of later time: who saith that he died upon the seventh day of the mouth Adar, as in Sedar Olam rabba, c. 10. in his foreign book of the death of Moses, in the proeme of Maymonidas to the book, called Misnaioth, and in the Calendars of the Jewes of this time appeareth: who still celebrate the memorial of his death, by a solemne fast upon this day.

The body of Moses, God translated out of the place where he died, into a valley of the land of Moab, over against Beth Peor, and there buried it: nor doth any man know the place where he laied it, unto this day, [Deut. 34. 6.] But that this valley was in the land of Sihon King of the Amorites, which the Israelites won from him, appeareth out of [Deut. 4. 46.] and that Beth Peor, was assigned to the Rubenites, out of [Jos. 13. 20.] and therefore, whereas here Moses is said to have been buried in the land of Moab; as likewise [Deut. 29. 1.] the Covenant is saied to have been renewed in the land of Moab, it is to be understood of the land which formerly did belong to them: but was lately taken from them by Sihon King of the Amorites, as I shewed before out of [Num. 21. 26.] and was now possessed by the Israelites.

Michael the Arch-Angel, as we read in the Epistle of Jude; disputed with the Devil about the body of Moses: which the Devil would fain have brought to light; that he might thereby have ministred an occasion of Idolatry to the people of Israel, as Chrysostome in his 1. Homilie upon Mathew: and Thodoret, upon Duteronomie, Quest. 43. and Procopius Gazaeus, upon Deuteronomie, and others say: though we no where find that the Jewes ever gave themselves to this foreign: i.e. This worshiping of Reliques: But this contention of Michael with the Devil about the body of Moses, went about heretofore in a certain Apocryphal, entitled, foreign: i.e. of the Assumption of Moses, as we read in Origen foreign, lib. 3. cap. 2. and in Gelasius Cyricenu… in the Acts of the Council of Nice, part. 1. c. 20. Like unto which, somewhat is also found in foreign of Rabbi Nathan.

The Israelites mourned for Moses in the land of Moab, 30 dayes, [Deut. 34. 8.] to wit, all the whole 12 month.

And here ends the Pentatuch, or the five books of Moses, containing the history of 2552 years and a half, from the beginning of the world; and the book of Josua begins with the 41 year after the departure of the Children of Israel out of Egypt.

The First Month.

Josuah being confirmed in his Government by God, sent forth with spies from Shittim to the City of Jerico: which being harboured by Rahab in an Inn, and privily sent away when search was made for them, lay three dayes close in the mountain, and then returned to him, [Jos. 2.]

Josuah commanded the people, besides their manna, which as yet ceased not, to take other provant and victuals along with them, as being three dayes after to passe over Jordan, [Jos. 1. 10, 11.]

The next morning, they removed from Shittim and came to the river Jordan, and there encamped that night, [Jos. 3. 1.]

The third day after, warning was given them, as it should seeme, to provide victuals; the people also were commanded to sanctifie and prepare themselves to passe over Jordan the morrow after, [Jos. 3. 2, 5.]

Upon the 10 day of the first month, April 30. being on a Friday, to wit, the same day that the Paschal lamb was to be chosen out of the flock, the Israelites, by the leading of Josua, a type of Jesus Christ, went up out of the river Jordan, into the promised land of Canaan, a type of that heavenly country: they passed through the river on dry foot, the waters being for that present divided, and that at a season, when they usually over-flowed the banks, for a memorial of which miraculous passage, Josua set up twelve stones in the very channel of Jordan; and taking twelve other stones from out of the middest thereof set them up in the place where they next encamped, at Gilgal, [Jos. 3. and 4.]

The day following (as it seemes) Josuah renewed the use of Circumcision in Gilgal, which had been omitted 40 years, and there the people rested them and abode, untill they were whole again, [Jos. 5. 2, 9.]

p. 28Upon the fourteenth day of the first month (the fourth of May, being our Tuesday) in the evening, the Israelites celebrated their first Passover in the land of Canaan, [Iosua 5. vers. 10.

Next day after the Passeover (May 5. being Wednesday) they are of the fruit of the Land of Cannan, unleavened bread, and parched corne; and manua ceased, the very day after they began to live of the fruits of the land; and the children of Israel after that, saw manna no more, but lived that year, of the fruits of the land of Canaan, [Ios. 5. 11, 12.].

Our Lord Jesus, Captain of his Fathers Host, appearing to Josua, the typical Jesus, before Jerico, with a drawn sword in his hand, promised thereto defend his people, [Ios. 5. 13, 14, 15.]

Jerico, the Ark of God having been carried round about it, was taken the seventh day, the walls thereof falling flat down, at the sound of the Priests trumpets: and was utterly destroyed, and all put to the sword, saving only Rahab, and her family, [Ios. 6.] who marrying afterward to Salmon, of the Tribe of Judah, bare of him Boaz, [Mat. 1. 5.]

The Israelites at their siege of Ay, being abandoned by God, for the sacriledge, committed by Achan, are smitten by their enemies: Achans sin being discovered by the casting of lotts, and he found guiltie, was stoned to death, and together with his children and cattel, burnt with fire, [Ios. 7.] and God being hereby pacified, Ay was taken by an ambushment; and utterly destroyed, and twelve thousand men slain in the taking of it, [Ios. 8. 1, 29.]

In mount Ebal, according to the law made, there was an Altar erected, for sacrifices to be made thereon, and the ten Commandments, engraved on it, the blessings and cursings were repeated in mount Ebal, and mount Gerizim, and the book of the Law read in the ears of all the people, [Ios. 8. 30, 35.]

The kings of Canaan, moved with this great successe of the Israelites, bandy themselves together against them, save only the Gibeonites, who craftily found a way to save their own live, by making a league with them: but were, neverthelesse, afterward deputed to the servile offices of the house of God: [Ios. 9.]

Adonl-zedec, King of Jerusalem, with the Kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Debit, hearing that Gibeon was fallen off from them, joyned their forces together, and besieged it; But Josua having raised the siege, pursued those five Kings, and had the killing of them, as far as Azecah, and Mackeda, at which time, the sun stood still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, by the space almost of one whole day, and untill the Israelites were fully avenged of their enemies, [Ios. 10. 1, 14.] Whereupon Laurentius Codomannu observes two things: 1. That whereas Aialon, was distant from Gibeon, scantly, one German mile toward the west, it is very likely that the moon was then past the full and well on in the wain. 2. That seeing both those great lights began and ended their standing still both together, the Asronomical account is no waies confounded by this stay, even as (saith he) in musick, the harmony is not in any sort broken, nor the voices jar, if they all rest at the same time, and then begin again, every man in his part, unto the end of the lesson.

Josuah, following the chase, those five Kings hid themselves in a cave at Mackeda, which cave, Josuah commanded to be rammed up with stones, and a guard to be set upon it, till the enemy being wholy routed, had betaken themselves to their fenced Cities: and when all the armie was safely returned to Josua in Mackeda, then were the stones removed, and those five Kings taken out of the cave, and the captaines of the Host, bid to put every man his foot upon their necks; and them to be hung up upon five gibbets, untill the sun went down, and then to be throwne into the same cave again, and the mouth thereof stopped up with stones as before: [Ios. 10. 16, 17.]

And thus ended that most busie year of the wold, 2553. in the first six months, whereof Mose…h mses…f took in and possessed all that land over Jordan, toward the east, and in the later, Joshuah conquered the most part of all, that lay to the west of it: and in the middest of the year, manna ceasing, the people of Israel began to suesist and live upon the profits of the land of Canaan. Year of the World 2554. a.

From the Autumne of this year, The Julian Period 3264 wherein, Year before Christ 1450 after the failing of manna, they began to till the ground and sow it, is to be reckoned the first year, foreign, (i.e.) of their tillage, and the rise of the sabbatical years hence to be taken, Ex. 23. 10, 11. Lev. 25. 2, 7. Deut. 15. 1, 9. and Deut. 31. 10.]

The five kings thus destroyed, all the rest of the kings, combined together against the Israelites; and with them Josuah had a long war, [Ios. 11. 1, 18.] which lasted full six years: Year of the World 2559. a. as we shall see anon.

Josuah, The Julian Period 3269 now grown old, Year before Christ 1455 was commanded by God, to divide all the land on the west of Jordan, among the nine tribes remaining, and the other half tribe of Manasses, [Ios. 13. 1, 7.] whereupon he first divided the land of Gilgal, (where the Tabernacle of God then was, and the Army then lay) among the Tribes of Judah, and Ephra…m, and the half tribe of Manasses, [Ios. 14. 6. Ios. 15. 16, 17.] at which time Caleb the son of Jephunna, 45 years after the time that he was sent to spie out the land by Moses, desired to have Hebron with the mountain countries of Judea, to be assigned to him for his part: undertaking to expuise the Anakims from thence, [Ios. 14. 6, 10, 13.]

p. 27Yet would not Joshua permit (as Tremellius hath here very well observed) that Caleb with his own company should assault Hebron: but himself went with the whole Army to take it in; and having taken it, then gave it unto Caleb; to wit, the lands and villages thereunto adjoyning: reserving the city it self, and suburbs thereof for a city of refuge, and for the Priests use, [Iosh. 21. 11, 12, 13. 1 Chron. 55. 56, 57.] For, that, neither Hebron, nor Debir, though both lying within the land, and inheritance assigned to Caleb, were yet taken by the Israelites, not the Anakims rooted out from thence, appeareth out of the [14 and 15 chap. of Ioshua] so that all which is contained in the book of Ioshua, from [verse 28. cap. 10.] to the end of chap. 11. and in the first chapter of the book of Judges, from the ninth, to the fifteenth verse, seems wholy to be referred to this place, because of the contiguity and coherence of the matter handled in each of them.

For when as the children of Juda and Joseph, being established in their possessions, according to their Tribes; a great part of the land of Canaan remained still in the hands of the Gentiles; Joshua before the proceeded to any further apportioning of lands, going with the Host of Israel from Gilgal, took Makkeda at the first assault: and so did he Libna in like manner; utterly destroying the Kings and people of either Kingdom, [Iosh. 10. 28, 29, 30.]

From thence he marched with his Army to Lachish: took it the second day after he came before it, and put all there likewise to the sword. And when Horam King of Gezer came to relieve it, Joshua met him, and destroyed him and his people, so that he left not a man of them alive: and then marching to Eglon, took it the very day he came before it, and put all to the sword, [Iosh. 10. 31, 35.]

Afterward Joshua with all Israel, going up from Eglon to Hebron; took it, and put to the sword the new king thereof; (for the old one was hanged six years before) with all the cities belonging, [Iosh. 10. 36, 37.] whence Caleb also cast those three Gyants, the sonnes of Anak, so much renowned and talked of 45 years before, [Numb. 13. 22, 23.] to wit, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, [Iosh. 15. 14.]

Then Joshua with the Army, marching out of the south of Canaan, came before Debir, [Iosh. 10. 38.] which formerly was called, Kariath-Sepper; where, when Caleb had proclaimed, that whoever took it, should have his daughter to wife: it fell out that Othoniel, cousin germain to Caleb, and the son of Kenaz took it: and thereupon married his daughter Acsah, and had with her in dowry, a piece of land with springs of water in it, [Iosh. 15. 15, 19 Iudg. 1. 11, 15.] and having taken the city, he put their new King also (for the other he had caused to be hanged with the rest, six years before) with all his cities to the edge of the sword, [Iosh. 10. 39.]

To conclude, Joshua destroyed all the Hill-Country, and all the South parts, plaine and valley, and all their Kings, even from Kadesh-Barnea, as far as unto Gaza; and all the country of Goshen, (which was in the lot of the Tribe of Judah) as far as Gibeon. And all these Kings, and all their lands took Joshua at one time (i.) in one expedition or journey; for God himself all that while fought for Israel: and having thus done, then he with all the Host of Israel, came back to Gilgal, [Iosh. 10. 40, 43.]

The rest of the Kings, with whom Joshua had warred a long time, hearing what Joshua had done, resolved to set upon him with all their forces united in one: but Joshua coming suddenly upon them, and unawares, slew them and possessed all their land, [Iosh. 11. 1, 16.] from the mountain, which goeth up to Seir, which is the frontier of Edom, unto Baal-Gaddem, in the valley of Lebanon, which lyeth under the Hill of Hermon, [Iosh. 11, 47. Iosh. 12. 7.]

Then went Joshua and rooted out those Gyants, the Anakims with their cities; out of the Hill-Countries, out of Hebron: (this was done by the hands of the Tribes of Judah, [Judg. 1. 10.] out of Debir, out of Anab, and g…nerally out of all the mountains of Juda, and all Israel. And so having gotten the whole land into his hands, he divided it among the children of Israel for a possession, by shares or portions (as we shall see in the year following) according to their Tribes: and so the land rested from war, [Iosh. 11. 23. Iosh. 14. 15.]

The seventh year, Year of the World 2560. a. reckoned from the first year wherein they began to till the ground in Canaan, was withal the first Sabbatical year which was kept among them. When by this typical Jesus they were brought into this place of rest, which was a true type and figure of that Sabbath and Rest, which the true Jesus was to acquire, and bring the people of God into, [Heb. 4. 9.] And from hence also, the years of Jubile, or of every fifty years space, is to be reckoned, [Levit. 25. 8, 13.]

Upon the 15 day of the seventh monethmonth, (our November the fifth, falling upon a Saturday) the Israelites kept the Feast of Tabernacles in booths made of boughs of trees, according to the law, [Levit. 23. 29, 40.] and much more solemnly than was afterward used in the times of the Judges or Kings, [Neb. 8. 17.]

When God was now about to give the Israelites rest from all their enemies round about them, so that they might dwel there securely; it was requisite that a place also should be appointed, which himself should chuse, to place his name there, [Deut. 12 10, 11.] Wherefore coming together at Shilo, they there fixed the Tabernacle of the Congregation; p. 28after the whole land was subdued unto them.

[Iosh. 18. 1.] Now Shilo (where the Tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant continued by the space of 328. years) both by the signification of the name, and also by the situation of the place, seemeth to be the same with Salem: for, as foreign signifieth Peace, or Rest, [Gen. 34. 21. Nahum 1. 12.] so also doth foreign [Dan. 4. 1.] where also the Messias is thought to have been called Shilo, [Gen. 49. 10.] because not onelyonly himself was peaceable and quiet: but was also the Authour of eternal rest and peace unto us; being as well as Melchisedech, King of Salem, (i.) the King of peace, [Hebr. 7. 2.] which was Melchisedechs dwelling place, or palace, as Jerom in his 126. Epistle to Enagrius saith, was in his time to be seen in the city of Salem, near the place where John baptized, [Ioh. 3. 23.] which, [Gen. 33. 18.] according to Jerom; own, and the Septuagints exposition, was called Sichem, because seated as Shilo was, [Iosh. 24. 25, 26. Iosh. 18. 1. Gen. 3▪ 5. 4. Iudg. 9. 6. compared with 21. 8, 19.] in the countrey of the Sichemites.

The land which remained, was divided among the other seven Tribes for their inheritance, and a book drawn up containing their several proportions, [Iosh. 18. and 19. chapters] and so after the seven Nations of the Canaanits were destroyed, the distribution of their lands among the Israelites followed, and was compleately finished.

In the year after the Election of the Fathers, much about 450. [Acts 13. 17, 19, 20.] for from the birth of the promised seed Isaac, to this time, are reckoned, 452. yeares: and from the rejection of Ishmael, 447. but between both, we may count, 450. years.

Out of the land, Year of the World d. as well on this, The Julian Period 3270 as on that side Jordan, Year before Christ 1444 were set apart, 48 Cities for the inheritance of the Levites: six whereof were made Cities of Refuge; and Sanctuaries were therein made, unto which those who committed not wholy wilful murder, might flie for protection, [Iosh. 20. and 21.] and so the Israelites now possessed the land promised to their fathers: God giving them rest and peace round about, accordding to all that he had promised to their fathers by an oath, [Iosh. 21. 43, 44.] whereupon the companies of the Rubenites, Gadites, and halfe Tribe of Manasses, which came over Jordan to help their brethren in this atchievement; God having now fully setled them there, took their leave of Joshua, and returned to their possessions, which Moses had given them, on the other side Jordan, [Iosh. 22. 4. with chap. 1. 14, 15. and Numb. 32. 21, 22.]

But when in their return homeward, they were come unto Gilead at the passage of Jordan, in the borders of the land of Canaan, they had there built a great Altar: the other Tribes supposing thereby that they intended a separation, and to revolt from them, they resolved to make war upon them; yet sending Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the High Priest, with ten other Princes of the people, to know the reason of their so doing; and understanding, that the Altar was not built to offer sacrifice thereon, but onelyonly testifie the communion and fellowship which they had with the rest of the Tribes of Israel, they changed their purposes, and laid down their armes, [Iosh. 22.]

Joshua built the city of Timnah-Sera, Year of the World 2561 in mount Ephraim, in which he dwelt many years, after that God had given Rest to Israel; and having lived 110. years (which was the age of Joseph, mentioned in the end of Genesis) he there died, and was buried, [Iosh. 23. 1. Iosh. 24. 29, 30.]

When as in the times of Anarchie or mis-rule, Year of the World 2591. d. which followed after the decease of Joshua and the Elders, The Julian Period 3301 who out-lived him, Year before Christ 1413 and who being young men, when they came out of Egypt, could well observe and remember the wonders which God had wrought for Israel: every man now doing what seemed him good in his own eyes, all those disorders were committed, which are reported in the five last chapters of the book of Judges; to wit, the Idolatry of Micah, and the children of Dan, and the war of the Benjamites, and the cause thereof. And there succeeded a generation of men which forgat God, and mingled themselves with the Canaanites by marriage, and worshipped their Idols. And God hereby provoked to wrath, gave them up into the hands of Cushan, King of Mesopotamia; which first calamity of theirs, held them eight years onelyonly, [Judg. 2. 7. and Judg. 3. 6, 7, 8.]

Othon…el the sonne of Kenaz, Year of the World 2599. d and sonne in law to Joshua, The Julian Period 3309 [Iosh. Year before Christ 1405 15. 17. Iudg. 1. 31.] of the Tribe of Juda, being stirred up by God, as a Judge and avenger of his people, defeated Cushan, and delivered the Israelites out of their bondage; And the land had rest 40 years, after the first, rest, which Joshua procured for them, [Iudg. 3. 9, 10, 11.]

In this year was kept the first Jubilie, Year of the World 2609. a. in the land of Canaan. The Julian Period 3318 Year before Christ 1396

Was kept the second Jubilie. Year of the World 2658 a. The Julian Period 3367 Year before Christ 1347

After the decease of Othoniel, Year of the World 2661. d. the Israelites, The Julian Period 3371 falling again to sin against God, Year before Christ 1343 were again by him given over into the hands of Eglon, King of Moah; who joyning with the Ammonites, p. 29and Amalekites, overthrew the Israelites, and took Jericho, and this second oppression of their continued, for the space of eighteen years, [Judg. 3. 12, 13, 14.]

Then Ehud, Year of the World 2679. b. the son of Gera, The Julian Period 3389 of the tribe of Benjamin (which was but a little before, Year before Christ 1325 almost wholly destroyed) was raised up by God for an avenger of his people: for seigning a message to Eglon, he ran him into the belly with his dagger, and left him dead in his own dineing room, and then getting cunningly away, he gathered all Israel into a body, in Mount Ephram, and slew ten thousand of the most valiant men of Moab, and the land had rest 40 years; after the former rest, and deliverance gotten them by Othoniel, [Judg. 13. 15, 30.]

After him also Shamgar, the son of Anath, slew 600 Philistines with an Ox-goade; and he also avenged Israel, ib. v. ult.

Belus the Assyrian reigned in Babylon, Year of the World 2682 after the Arabians 55 years, The Julian Period 3392 saith Iul. Year before Christ 1322 Africanus.

The Israelites, Year of the World 2699. d. after the death of Ehud, The Julian Period 3409 returning to their old sinne, Year before Christ 1305 were given up by God into the hand of Jabink of Canaan: who reigned in Hazor, and had 900 chariots of Iron: and this third thraldom of their continued 20 years, [Iudg. 4. 1, 2, 3.]

Was the 3 Jubile. Year of the World 2707. a. The Julian Period 3416 Year before Christ 1298

Debora, Year of the World 2719. d. the wife of Lapidoth, The Julian Period 3429 a prophetesse, Year before Christ 1285 who at that time judged Israel, in Mount Ephraim, and Barack of the tribe of Nepthaile, the son of Abinoam, being made Captain of the host of Israel, in a fight at Megiddo, rowted Sisera, Captain of Jabins armie, and he being afterward killed by Jael; the wife of Heber the Kenite, in her own Tent, with a naile struck into the temples of his head, Deborah made a song thereof, for a memorial of that victory, and the land rested 40 years, after the former rest, or peace, restored by Ehud, [Iudg. 4. and 5. 31.]

Ninus the son of Belus founded the Empire of the Assyrians; Year of the World 2737 which continued in Asia by the space of 520 years, The Julian Period 3447 as Herod. Year before Christ 1267 in his first book, cap. 95. affirmeth: whom Appian. Alexandr. in the beginning of his work followeth. But Dionysius Halicarnassus, a most diligent searcher into all such matters, in his first book of Antiquities, saith, that they had a very small part of Asia, under their command; yet Diodoius Siculus in his Bibliotheca, reports that Ninus, confederating with Arieus King of Arabia, possessed all Asia, having India and Bactria, by the space of seventeen years, and that at length, he took in the Bactrians also with their King Zoroastres: of whom Justin also; out of Trogus Pompeius, thus writeth, lib. 1. Ninus, having conquered his next neighbours, joyned their forces to his own, and thereby went on still the stronger to the conquest of the next, and every last victory was a step to another, and by this means, he subdued all the people, of the east. His last was was with Zoroastoes King of Bactria, who is said to have been the first that found out of the art magick, and to have most diligently looked into the nature of the world, and motion of the stars: him Ninus slew; and presently after died himself. Julius Africanus and Eusebius say, that he reigned 52 years.

The Israelites sinning again, Year of the World 2752. d. are delivered into the hands of the Midianites, The Julian Period 3462 which fourth thraldom of theirs, Year before Christ 1252 lasted 7 years, [Iudg. 6. 1.]

Was the 4 Jubile. Year of the World 2759. a. The Julian Period 3465 Year before Christ 1249

The Israelites falling into this fourth thraldom, cryed unto God for help, and were reproved by a prophet. Then was Gideon of Manasses, son of Joash the Abicarite stirred up by an Angel sent from God, to deliver them. And first by command from God, he overturned the Altar of Baal, and burnt his grove: whereupon, when strife arose between him and the people, he was called Ierub-baal. and Ierub-besheth, [2 Sam. 11. 21.] He out of 32 thousand men, which came unto him, chose onelyonly (God so commanding) 300. but with them, and their trumpets, pitchers and torches in them, he so affrighted the Midianites, that he put to flight all their host; whom the Ephramites afterwards pursuing, slew their Princes, Oreb and Zeeb. Gedeon then, having first pacified the Ephramites, who complained that they were not called to the battle at first, passed the river Jordan, and defeated the remainder of the Midianitish armie: he chastised also the men of Succoth and Penuel, who had refused him victual in his journey, and slew two Kings of the Moabites, Zeba and Zalmunna. After which great victories attained, when the Israelites offered to settle the kingdom upon him, and his posterity, he refused it: but receiving their golden earings, he made thereof, an Ephod, whereof they took afterward an occasion to fall into Idolatry, and so the Midanites being vanquished, the land had rest 40 years, after the former rest restored to them by D…bora and Barak] Iudg. 4. 8. 28.]

So soon as Gedeon was dead, Year of the World 2768. d. the Israelites falling back to Idolatrie, The Julian Period 3478 worshipped Baal-Berith for their god, Year before Christ 1236 [Iudg. 58. 33.] and Abimelech the son of Gedeon, (begotten upon a woman of Sichem, his Concubine) purposing to get to himself the kingdom, which his father had refused, slew seventie of his Brothers, all upon one stone, [Iudg. 9. 15, 18, 24. 56.]

p. 30When Abimelech, by the help of the Sichemites had got to be made king, Jotham the youngest son of Gedeon, who onelyonly escaped Abimelech's clutches, Year of the World 2769. a. from the top of the mount Gerizim, expostulated with them in the wrong they had done to his fathers house: and by way of a parable, foretold them of their ruine, that would ensue thereon: which done, he forthwith fled, and dwelt quietly in Beerith, [Iudg. 9.]

When Abimelech had now reigned over the Israelites three years, Year of the World 2771. d Gaal, The Julian Period 3481 a man of Sichem, Year before Christ 1233 made a conspiracy against him; which being discovered to him by Zebul, the city of Sichem was utterly destroyed, and sowed with salt, the inhabitants all put to the sword, and the temple of their god Beerith burnt with fire. And from thence Abimelech, going to besiege Thebez, he was there knockt on the head, with a piece of a milstone, cast upon him by a woman, and then kild out right, by his own Armour-bearer, [Iudg. 9. 50, 54. with 2 Sam. 11. 21.]

After Abimelech, Year of the World 2772. a. Tolah, the son of Puar, of the tribe of Isacar, judged Israel 23 years, [Iudg. 10. 12.]

Argon, Year of the World 2781 the son of Ninus, The Julian Period 3491 after the Aryadans first reigned in Sardis: Year before Christ 1223 whose posterity held the kingdom of Lydia, by the space of 505 years, two and twenty generations; the son ever succeding the father in his throne: down to Candaules the son of Myrsus, Herod. lib. 1. c. 7.

Semiramis, Year of the World 2789 the daughter of Derces, wife, first of Menon, afterward of Ninus, reigned over all Asia, save onley India, and lived sixty two years, whereof she reigned forty two, as Diodorus Siculus reports in the second book of his Bibliothcea: out of Cresias Cnidius: where out of the same Cresias, he setteth out at large, her noble Acts, especially against Strabrobates King of Indea: though Megasthenes, who writes expressely of the Indian affairs, as we find in Strabo, lib. 15. and in Arrianus, in his book, De Indicis saith, that she dyed before she ever came into India. Herod. lib. 1. cap. 184. reporteth, that she cast up huge works round about Babylon; whereas formerly the river (Euphrates) was wont to overflow all the lower parts thereof: and Justin also, speaking of her, lib. 10. out of Trogus Pompeius, speaketh in this wise. This Semiramis, built Babylon, and walled it round with bricks: laying the stones with brimstone, instead of sand; which brimstone riseth naturally out of the earth, every where in those parts. This Queen did many other very memorable acts: for not content to keep what her husband had got, she added also, Ethiopia to her dominions, she also made war upon India; which never any set foot in besides her self; and Alexander the great. Where yet we must note, that besides these two, Dionysius also, al. Bacchus, is reported by all other writers, to have conquered India; as for that tale which goes of her enclosing of Babylon, with a wall of brick, it is indeed generally …o said, when in truth it was the work of Nebucadnezar, and his daughter in law, N…ctoris many ages after. But for that lie of her first building of Babylon, reported by Diodorus and Trogus, as also by Strabo, in his second and sixteenth books of his Geography, it is evidently refuted, not onelyonly by the sacred History of the book of [Gen. c. 11.] but also out of Eupolemus, who in his book, foreign, in Eusebius, lib. 9. Preparat. Evangel. saith, that it was first built by those, which escaped the deluge; and out of Erranius, mentioned by Stephanus Byzantinus, in his book, de Vrbibus, in the word Babylon: and Eustatius in Dionys. Perieg. p. 126. where he notes, that Babylon was built 1002 years before Semyramis was borne; who if he had said 1022 years, (as perhaps he did) had not much varied from the Babylonish Calendar or account, sent from thence by Calisthenes, (which I m…ntioned before) out of Porphyrie, upon the year of the world, 1770. The same Porphyrie also, lib. 4. cont. Christianos, cited by Eusebius. lib. 1. Prepar. Evangel. speaking of one Sancuniathon Berution, a most ancient writer, of the first origin, or beginning of the Phenicians, saith, that he took his argument or matter from Hierombal (which comes very near to the name of Jerubbaal, of whom I spake before, to the year of the world 2759) a Priest of foreign of Jevo, al. Jehova, the God of the Jews, which History of his was dedicated to Abibalus, King of the Berutians, and he sayes further, that this Sancuniathon, lived in the dayes of Semyranis, Queen of the Assyrians; foreign, (i.e.) who is said to have been before the Troian wars, or about that very time: which very well agreeth with my account: which, allowing her to have out-lived the destruction of Troy eleven years, shews, that she was in her prime both before, and at the time of the war at Troy.

Eli, Year of the World 2790. a. the Priest was borne, for he dyed at the age of 98 years, [1 Sam. 14. 15.] in the year of the world, 2888.

When Tola was dead, Year of the World 2795. a. and buried at Shamir, The Julian Period 3504 in mount Ephraim, Year before Christ 1210 there succeeded after him, Jair a Gileadite, of the tribe of Manasses, beyond Jordan, who judged Israel, 22 years, [Iudges 10. 1, 2, 3.] and was descended of that Jair, who having taken the cities of Argob, called them after his own name, Havoth-Jair, [Numb. 32. 41. Deut. 3. 14] after whose example, the thirty sons of this second Jair; (who, to difference him from the former, [1 Sam. 12. 11. and 1 Chron. 7. 17.] seemeth to have been surnamed Bedan; called likewise the 30 cities, which they possessed by the name of Havoth-Jair, [Judg. 10. 4.]

p. 29The Israelites, Year of the World 2799 a. for saking the true God, and falling to worship the gods of several nations, were given up into the hands of the Philistines, and of the Ammonites, which fifth thraldom of theirs, lasted 18 years, [Iudg. 10. 8.] ending with the victory, which was gotten over the Ammonites, in the beginning of Jepthaes ruling over the Israelites.

Was the fifth Jubile. Year of the World 2805 a. The Julian Period 3414 Year before Christ 1200

This year, Year of the World 2816 d. to wit, The Julian Period 3516 on the eighth of their thraldom, Year before Christ 1188 when the enemies had crushed the Isralites, which dwelt beyond Jordan, to pieces, and the Ammonites had passed the river also, to set upon Juda and Benjamin and Ephraim, whom the Philistins had already sorely harrowed, the Israelites calling upon God, were grievously rebuked by him, yet at length shewing their repentance and abandoning their Idols, obteined mercy, [Iudg 10. 8.]

Jair dyed, Year of the World 2817. a. and was buried at Camon, [Iudg. 10. 5.]

The same year, the Ammonites camping in Gilead, and the Israelites in Mispah, which is also in Gilead, [Iudg. 10. 17. and chap. 11. 11.] Jephtha the Gileadite, being called by the men of Gilead, was made Captain of the host of Israel. He, when he had tryed all fair means with the Ammonites, and could do no good with them, made war upon them, and subdued them. But returning from the battle, vowed his daughter unawares to be offered in sacrifice to God, and put to the sword 42000 Ephramites, who had behaved themselves somewhat insolently against him, and judged Israel six years, [Iudg. 11. and 12. 6; 7.]

Troy was destroyed by the Greeks 408 years before the first Olympiade. Year of the World 2820. c. The Julian Period 3530 Year before Christ 1184

When Jephtha was dead, Year of the World 2823. d. and buried in Gilead, The Julian Period 3539 Ibzan, Year before Christ 1175 the Bethleamite, judged Israel seven years, [Iudg. 12. 7, 8, 9.]

Ibzan deceasing and being buried at Bethlehem, Year of the World 2830. a. Elon the Zabulonite succeded him, The Julian Period 3539 who judged Israel 10 years, Year before Christ 1175 [Iudg. 12. 10, 11.]

Semiramis, Year of the World 2831 when she would have lain with her son, was by him slain, having held that kingdom 42 years after Ninus, Justin lib. 1. cap. 2. and although it be a thing scantly credible, that a woman of 62 years of age, should affect such a prodigious act of incest, yet it seemeth that St. Austin, lib. 18. de Civita. Dei, believed it; but of Semiramis her death, you may read more in Diodor. Sicu. lib. 2. Biblio.

Her son and successor in the kingdom, Ninus or Ninyas, resting content with the Empire, which his parents had gotten, laid aside all cares of military affairs, and, as if he had changed sexes with his mother, seldom came in company, or sight of men; spent his age in the company of women and Eunuchs, Iustin. lib. 1. cap. 2. out of Trogus, Diodor. Sic. lib. 2. and Atheneus lib. 12. out of Ctesias, lib. 3. Persicorum.

Elon being dead, Year of the World 2840. a. and buried at Ajalon in the tribe of Zabulon, The Julian Period 3549 Abdon the Ephramite, Year before Christ 1155 the son of Hillel the Pirathonite succeded him, and judged Israel eight years, [Judg. 12. 12, 13, 14.

Abdon deceased, Year of the World 2848. a. a. c. and was buried at Pirathon in mount Ephraim, The Julian Period 3557 [Iudg. Year before Christ 1157 12. 15.] and after him came Eli, the High Priest (in whom the High Priesthood, was translated from the stock of Eleazer to Ithamar) and he judged Israel 40. years, [1 Sam. 4. 18.] But Israel falling to sin again, were delivered up by God into the Philistins hands: which lasted likewise 40 years; The Julian Period 3558 [Iudg. Year before Christ 1156 13. 1.] which terme of their sixth thraldom, as we make to end seven moneths after the death of Eli, when the Ark was brought back again, so in like manner, we make it to have begun seven moneths after he began to judge Israel, to wit, Year of the World d. about the beginning of the third monethmonth, which was, afterward called Sivan.

The Angel appearing to the wife of Manoa, of the tribe of Dan, at Zora, told her, that she hiterto barren, should yet conceive and bear a son, who should be a perpetual Nazarite: and should begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistins, [Iudg. 13. 5.]

Sampson the Nazarite, Year of the World 2849. b. as the Angel had foretold, The Julian Period 3559 was born at Zora, Year before Christ 1155 [Iudg. 13. 24. for since it appeareth, that he was conceived after their fourty years thraldom, by the Philistins begun, [the same chap. v. 1. 5.] and likewise, that he avenged the Israelites twenty years, in the time of the Philistins, as is possitively said, [Iudg. 15. 20.] it is manifest, that the time of his brith, cannot be put off to any further day, unlesse we will imagine, that he began to be an avenger of Israel, before he was 18 years old.

Was the sixth Jubile. Year of the World 2854. a The Julian Period 3563 Year before Christ 1151

Whiles Eli the High Priest executing the office of a judge in civill causes, Year of the World 2867. d. under the Philistins, The Julian Period 3577 Sampson picking a quarrel against him by occasion of a marriage, Year before Christ 1137 which he had contracted with a woman of Timnah, began to play the part of an avenger of the Israelites, being then about 22 years of age, [Iudg. 14. 4.] for when, on the day of his betrothing, he had killed a Lion, having nothing in his hand, and there of made a riddle: at the wedding feast, he propounded it to the guests, with a wager: which when he had lost, because his wife had told them what the meaning of the riddle was, in a rage, he went and slew thirty men of Ascalon, & gave them the suits of raiment, which he had stript off their bodies, in performance of the wager, which he had lost; and so returned home to his father.

p. 32Sampson again in harvest-time, Year of the World 2868. c. went to present his wife with a kid, The Julian Period 3578 at his fathers house; Year before Christ 1136 but found that she was otherwise disposed of, and given away to another man in marriage, whereof he resolved to be revenged: and catching three hundred Foxes, and tying firebrands to their tailes, turned them all going into the Philistines corne-fields, and vineyards, and olive-gardens, and set them all on fire: whereat the Philistines being moved to wrath, took Sampson's wife, and father in law, and consumed them with fire. In revenge whereof, Sampson slew a great multitude of them, and sate down upon the rock of Etam: from whence being taken by three thousand of the Jews, and by them delivered into the hands of the Philistines, he slew of them a thousand men with the jaw-bone of an asse. In which place called Lechi from that jaw-bone, God at the prayer of Sampson, opened a hole in the earth, and made it a Fountain (called Enhaccore, (i.) the Fountain of him which called upon God;) with the water whereof, he refreshed himself when he was thirsty, and ready to saint, [Judg. 15.]

Sampson being betrayed by Dalilah his concubine, Year of the World 2887. c. d. and despoiled of the hair of his Nazariteship, The Julian Period 3597 Year before Christ 1177 is delivered to the Philistines: who plucking out his eyes, carried him away prisoner to Gaza, and put him there in prison, fast bound with chaines of brasse: where his hair growing again, and his strength withal renewing, he pulled down the Temple of Dagon, whiles the Princes of the Philistines, with a great multitude of the people which were therein; being more men killed with the fall thereof, and himself for company, than he had slain in all his life before: and he was buried with his father, between Zoar and Eshtalon, when he had been the Avenger of the Israelites 20 years, [Judg. 16. 30, 31.]

The Israelites (taking courage, Year of the World 2888. a. as it seemeth, by this great losse of the Philistines,) gathered together and pitched near unto Eben-Eser (for so it was called by the Prophet Samuel, when twenty years after this time, the Philistines were by him overthrown in the the very self same place) [1 Sam. 7. 12.] and there the Israelites lost 4000. men. And when they had sent for the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to be brought into the Camp; the Philistines seeing that now all lay at stake, upon that battel; encouraged one another to play the men that day, least (said they) we be forced hereafter to live in thraldom, under the Hebrews, as they hitherto have done under us. And so falling on, they slew in that second battel, 30 thousand of the Israelites. The Ark of God was taken by them, Hophin and Phineas, Priests, the sons of Eli, were there slain; of all which, when tydings came to Eli, with the very fright thereof amazed, he fell off from his chair backward, and brake his neck: his daughter in law also, the wife of his son Phineas, hearing thereof, fell in travel of the child she went with; and being delivered of a son, called Ichabod, gave up the ghost, [1 Sam. 4.] But the Philistines having gotten the Ark into their hands, carried it to Azotus, and placed it in the Temple of their god Dagon.

But when Dagon had been found two several times fallen groveling before it upon the ground, and the inhabitants of the place, partly died of the plague, and partly were struck with the filthy emetauds in their secret parts, [Psal. 78. 66.] they removed it from thence, to the Gittites first, and afterward to the Ekronites: But when the same plagues or judgements followed, where ever it went; after seven moneths space, by the advice of their Priests, the Philistines, they sent home the Ark again with presents, and gifts, into the land of the Israelites; where the men of Beth-Shemish, in the time of wheat-harvest, (which was toward our Whitsontide, and about the beginning of the third monethmonth) who would needs be peeping into the Ark, were striken, and perished, to the number of fifty thousand and seventy souls, [1 Sam. 5. and chap. 6. 1, 13, 19.] From thence therefore the Ark was removed, and carried to the house of Aminadab in Gibeah, al. the Hill of the city of Kirioth-jarin, [1 Sam. 7. 1, 2. 2 Sam. 6. 3, 4.] which standing in the Tribe of Juda, was called also Baala, and Kiriath-Baal, [1 Chron. 13. 6. Iosh. 5. 9. 60.] yet all this while the Tabernacle, and the Worship of God therein used, continued still in Shiloh of the Tribe of Ephraim, [Judg. 18. 31. with 1 Sam. 14. 3.]

Barzillai the Gileadite was born; Year of the World 2894. c. for he was 80 years of age, The Julian Period 3604 when Absalom rebelled against his father, Year of the World 2903. a. [2 Sam. 19. 35.]

Was the seventh Jubilie. The Julian Period 3612 Year before Christ 1102

For twenty years together after the Ark came to Kiriath-Jearim, Year of the World 2908. c. [1 Sam. 7. 2.] the Israelites were grievously oppressed by the Philistines; The Julian Period 3618 but being at length perswaded by Samuel, Year before Christ 1096 they returned to the Lord; and having first abandoned all their Idols, came together at Mispah: where they are said to have drawn water, (i.) to have drawn teares from the bottom of their hearts, and to have poured them out before the Lord, [verse 6.] using withal, perhaps, some external effusion or powring forth of water, to represent and signifie their inward repentance and mourning, for their sins: as may be gathered [2 Sam. 14. 14.] which yet some will rather have to be understood of the Repentants themselves, out of [Gen. 35. 2. and out of Exod. 19. 14.] But upon this conversion of theirs; God by thunder from heaven immediately delivered the people of the Israelites from the invasion of the Philistines, [1 Sam. 7. 10. compared with Iosh. 10. 10, 11.] with which terrible thunder from God, the Philistines being affrighted, quitted all the cities of p. 33the Israelites, which formerly they held, [1 Sam. 7. 14.] leaving certain small garrisons, and that, in some few places onelyonly, [1 Sam. 10. 5.] and came no more to invade their borders; because they saw that the hand of the Lord was against them all the dayes of Samuel, [1 Sam. 7. 12.] to wit, till Saul came to be King: under whom, they returned again, and grievously oppressed Israel, as we shall see anon. Meane while, Samuel, being now grown old, and desirous to take his ease, took for his Assistants, his two sons; that they might judge the people at Beersheba, who yet walked not in their fathers wayes; but for rewards and bribes perverted judgement, [1 Sam. 8. 1, 2, 3.] But, that he put not off the whole office of Judicature to his sons, is manifest out of, [chap. 7. 15, 16, 17.] for there it appears, that he continued his custom of judging the people by himself to the very last.

Now after that, Year of the World 2909. c. when not onelyonly his sons, The Julian Period 3619 but King Saul himself, Year before Christ 1095 also came to the government of things, the Israelites began to make light of the good old man; which troubled him, and offended God, [1 Sam. 8. 6, 8.] grounding their dislike, upon the ill carriage and behaviour of his sons; who at their very first enterance into the government, (at what time Rulers, which are none of the best, yet use commonly to shew a little moderation) brake out into all excesse, which the people greedily laid hold on, and desired a new form of government, and to have a King, as other Nations had [chap. 8. 4, 5.] of which Innovation, there was yet another, and in truth, a more urgent cause: which was, that whereas the Philistines kept still some footing, and garrisons in their land: the fame also went, that Naash, King of the Ammorites made great levies of men, and preparations for war against them; which fear sinking deep into them, they resolved to relie no longer, neither upon Samuels wisdom, nor yet upon the power or providence of God, who yet had hitherto been their King and Avenger, of which they had so late an experiment, in sending the Philistines packing out of their coasts: but cast off both, and desired to have a King, [1 Sam, 12. 12, 17, 19.] whereupon God gave them a King in his wrath, [Hos. 13. 10, 11.] to wit, Saul, the son of Kish, of the Tribe of Benjamin, by the space of fourty years, [Acts 13. 21.] of which age, when his son Ishbosheth who succeeded him in the Kingdom, is said to have been, [2 Sam. 2. 11.] it is manifest, that he was then also born into the World. Saul therefore was first anointed privately, and afterward publickly, and before all the people, made and proclaimed King at Mispa, by Samuel, who from the death of Eli, to this time, had judged Israel one and twenty years, 1 Sam. 10. 1, 24, 25.] And not long after, as appeares, [chap: 12. 12. 16.] to wit, about one monethmonth, (as the Septuagint, and Iosephus, lib. 6. Antiquit. expressely have it) Jabesh Gilead was besieged by Naash King of the Ammonites; and the siege was raised by Saul, who there put the Ammonites to flight: whereupon all the whole Congregation of Israel coming together at Gilgal, Saul was there again made and proclaimed King, [chap. 10. 14, 15.] Samuel meane while protesting of his sincerity in the execution of his place and function, and complaining of the wrong that had been done him, and terrifying the people on the one side with the raine and thunder which fell upon them in the time of wheat-harvest, and recomforting them on the other, with the promises of Gods mercies, [chap. 12. v. 17.] from whence it appeareth, that all this fell out, about our Whitsontide, or feast of Pentecost, and beginning of the third monethmonth; one and twenty years after the bringing again of the Ark out of the country of the Philistines, at the very self same season of the year, [1 Sam. 6. 13.] from all which, as we gather, that full twenty years passed between the bringing back of the Ark, and the subdueing of the Philistines out of the, [seventh chap. v. 2, 13.] so that there passed one whole year, between the ridding of the Philistines out of the land of Israel, and the declaring of Saul to be King, we gather out of those words of the thirteeneth chapter, first verse; Filius anni erat Saul, cum regnaret ipse, & duobus annis regnavit super Israelem (i.) Saul was the son of one year when he reigned; and reigned two years over Israel. Of which word, there can be no fitter sense rendered, than this; that after the Philistines were subdued by Samuel, there had passed one year, when Saul began to reigne: and that then he reigned two year free from the subjection of the Philistines.

For shortly after, Year of the World 2915. c. Saul was put from the Kingdom again by the Philistines, The Julian Period 3621 and the Israelites again grievously enthraled by them: Year before Christ 1093 Which yoke being again shaken off, Saul is said to have gotten the Kingdom: that is, to have recovered it again, out of the Philistines hands, [1 Sam. 14. 47.] Now that this thraldom cotinued many years upon them, appeareth by this: that whereas it began eight years before David was borne, yet before it ended, Samuel prophesied and foretold of his succeeding after Saul in the Kingdom. The Lord hath sought him a man according to his own heart, and God hath commanded him to be Ruler our his people, [1 Sam. 13. 14.] For the Philistines, to put them out of all possibility of any more rebelling against them, for want of armes, had taken from them all kind of smithes: so that when afterward, notwithstanding they did rise and came to fight; none of the people, but onelyonly Saul and Jonathan his son, had either sword or speare to bring into the field against them, [1 Sam. 13. 19, 22.]

p. 34Jessai the Ephrathite in his old age, Year of the World 2919. c. [1 Sam. 17. 12.] had his youngest son David born at Bethlehem; The Julian Period 3629 which was therefore afterward called The City of David, Year before Christ 1085 [1 Sam. 20. 6. and Luke 2. 4.] thirty years before he succeeded Saul in the Kingdom, [2 Sam. 5. 4. with 1 Sam. 16. 1.]

God having now rejected Saul, Year of the World 2941. c. and debarred his race and family from succeeding in the Kingdom, The Julian Period 3651 sent Samuel, Year before Christ 1063 after his long mourning for Saul, to Bethlehem, there to anoint David to be King, fourty years before the rebellion of Absolom, [1 Sam. 16. 1. with 2 Sam. 15. 7.] who being, A lovely keeper of a lovely flock, was called from keeping his fathers sheep, [1 Sam. 16. 13.] and preferred before his elder brethren; and being anointed in their presence, [1 Sam. 16. 13.] incurred their envy, [chap. 17. 28.] no lesse than Joseph did of his brethren: and at last, was set over the Tribe of Judah, at the same age that Ioseph was made Ruler over all Egypt, [Gen. 41. 46.] Meanewhile, from the very day of his anointing, the Spirit of God came upon him; to wit, the spirit of courage and wisdom, [1 Sam. 18. 5, 13. 2 Sam. 5. 2.] In both which respects, even while Saul lived, he was made General over all Israel, [1 Sam. 18▪ 5. 13. and 2 Sam. 5. 2.] and withal grew a great Warriour, to fight the Lords battels, [1 Sam. 25▪ 28.] and besides was a Prophet, and made the sweet Singer of Israel; as one, who by his divine Psalms should teach and instruct the people of God to the end of the worl…, [Acts 2. 30. 2 Sam. 23. 1, 2.]

Mephibosheth, who was also called Meribbaal, [1 Chron. 18. 34. and 9. 40.] the son of Ionathan was borne five years before the death of his father, [2 Sam. 4. 4.]

David fearing he might at last fall into Sauls hands, Year of the World 2944. c. fled to Gath, The Julian Period 3654 (whither he had also formerly retired himself, Year before Christ 1060 1 Sam. 21. 10.) unto King Achish, carrying with him, six hundred men: and having obtained of him the town of Ziglag to dwell in, he continued one year and four moneths in the land of the Philistines: from whence, making often inroads upon the Geshuri…es, and Gersites, and the Amalekites, he put to sword all, both men and women, not leaving one alive to carry news thereof to King Achish, of what he had there done, [1 Sam. 27. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, &c.]

Whiles David was at Z…glag, there repaired to him, of the kindred of Saul, many valiant men of the Tribe of Benjamin, as also of the Tribe of God, sundry principal souldiers, which came over Iordan to him in the first monethmonth, at what time it overflowed all his banks, with divers other Captains and Commanders of the Tribes of Benjamin and suda [1 Chron. 12. 1, 15, 18.]

King Achish purposing with his army of Philistines to invade the Israelites; Year of the World 2949. c. took David along with him in that voyage, [1 Sam. 2…. 1, 2.] and to him whiles he was upon his march with his six hundred men, repaired sundry others of the Tribe of Manasses, and joyned with him, [1 Chron. 1…. 19.] and the Philistines were then encamped at Shunem: but the Israelites, in Gilboa, [1 Sam. 28. 4.]

Saul seeing the Army of the Philistines, fell into a fear, and sought counsell from the Lord: But receiving no answer from him, neither by dream, neither yet by Urim, nor by his Prophets: leaving him, he went to Endor by night, to consult with a Witch there: where by a vision of Samuel raised by her, he received that dreadful doome. God shall deliver Israel, together with thy self, into the hands of the Philistines: and to morrow, thou and thy children shall be with me, [1 Sam. 28. 5, 6, 19. and 1 Chron. 10. 13, 14.]

While David was away upon his march, the Amalekites took Ziglag; plundred it, and burnt it: carrying away with them among the rest, Davids two Wives, Ahinoam of Iezrael, and Abigal, the relict of Nabal, [1 Sam. 30.]

Saul returning the same night from the Witch, the Israelites removed to the Fountain of Iezrael, and the Philistines to Aphek: where the Princes of the Philistines growing jealous of David, he and his company early the next morning, left their army, and returned towards Ziglag; and the Philistines in this interim, marched up to Iezrael, to fight with the Israelites, [1 Sam. 28. 25. and 29. 1, 3, 10, 11.] whence it appear, that Saul and his sons, were not slain the next day after his communication with the apparition of Samuel (for all that day David was in the army of the Philistines) but some while after his departure from them.

When David was upon his return to Ziglag, there came unto him seven Colonels of the Manassi…es, [1 Chron. 12, …0, 2….] where arriving the third day after, and finding the tovvn plundred and c…ns…med vvith fire; he left tvvo hundred of his Company, vvhichwhich vvere tired in the march, at the brook B…zor; and vvith the other four hundred he followed after the Amalekites, and overtaking them, slew them, from the twilight of the first day, to the evening of the next; and having recovered all that was lost, returned home w…h joy, [1 Sam. 30.]

The Host of Israel being wholy routed, the three sons of Saul, Jonathan, Aminidab, and Milch…shu…, were there also slain; Saul, and the Squire of his body fell upon their own swords. The day following, the Philistines having taken off the head of Saul, hung up his armour in the temple of their Ido Ashtaroth; and the bodies of him, and his three sons, upon the walls of Bethshemish: But the men of Jabesh Gilead, remembring p. 35the favour which Saul at the entrance of his reigne had done unto them, stole away their bodies from thence and burnt them; and buried their bones under an oak at Jabesh, and kept a fast for them seven dayes long, [1 Samuel 31. verse 1. 1 Chron. 10.]

Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, who was now slaine, when his nurse, upon the tydings thereof, fled away with him, in a great fright and haste, fell out of her armes, and became lame of his feet ever after, [2 Sam. 4. 4.]

David returning from the slaughter of the Amalekites, three dayes after heard of the defeat of the Army of the Israelites, by a boy of the Amalekites, who was in the fight: and brought Sauls Crown, and the Bracelet of his arme (both which he had taken off from Sauls body,) unto him, [2 Sam, 1. 1.] From which so late tydings, though brought with all speed, coming unto David, it is gathered, that the defeat in Gilboa, happened some number of dayes after Davids leaving the Army of the Philistines. Nor may any man marvel, that the battel was so long after delayed, when we read, that the Syrians also long after that, encamping against the Israelites at the same place of Aphek, sate there seven dayes, and upon the seventh, joyned battel with them, [1 Reg. 20. 26, 29.]

David having put to death the Amalekite who professed that he had slain Saul, lamented the death of Saul and Jonathan, and of the people of God in a funeral Song, [2 Sam. 1.] And when the companies of the Israelites Army came daily flocking to him, [1 Chron. 12. 22.] asking counsel first of God, he went up to Hebron with those which were about him and their families: where being anointed King by the men of his own Tribe, when he was now thirty years of age; he reigned over Judah by the space of seven years and six moneths, [2 Sam. 2. 1, 3, 4, 11. and chap. 5. 4, 5.]

Abner, who was formerly the chief of Sauls gendarmery, carrying Ishbosheth Sauls son to Mahanaem, there made him King over the rest of Israel; who being then fourty years old, is said to have reigned two years over Israel, [2 Sam. 2. 8, 9, 10.] to wit, quietly, and without any quarrel with the house of David: as also his fathers two years reigne is meant of his reigne free and uncumbred by the Philistines; as was said before, [1 Sam. 13. 1.]

David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, thanking them for the kindnesse which they had shewed to their Lord and Master Saul; and to let them know, that the kingdom of Juda was settled upon him, [2 Sam. 2. 5, 6, 7.] wherein the better to strengthen himself, he contracted affinity with Tolmaie, King of Geshur, and married his daughter Maacah: which bare unto him, Absalom and Thamar, [2 Sam. 3. 3. and 13. 1.]

After the two years quiet reigne of Ishbosheth over Israel, Year of the World 2951. c. there grew a long war between his partakers, The Julian Period 3661 and the partakers of David: Year before Christ 1053 Joab the son of Zervia, Davids sisters son, bearing up the one side, and Abner the other: and sundry battels and skirmishes passed between them; yet so, as that Davids party waxed every day stronger and stronger, and the other weaker and weaker, [2 Sam. 2. 26. and chap. 3. 1.]

Was the eighth Jubilie. Year of the World 2952. a.

Abner being used with some disgrace by Ishbosheth, Year of the World 2956. d. revolted from him, The Julian Period 3666 and fell over to David: Year before Christ 1048 and dealt with the chief Men and Heads of Israel, to transfer the whole kingdom unto David, and this, in the hearing of the Benjaminites, [1 Sam 25. 44. 2 Sam. 3. 14, 15.]

Michal Davids wife, whom her father Saul after David was fled, had given in marriage unto Phaltrel; upon Davids demand, was sent back to him by Ishbosheth, [1 Sam. 25. 44. 2 Sam. 3. 14, 15.]

Abner coming with a traine of twenty men unto David, was by him received and feasted; and returning from him in peace, was upon the way treacherously slaine by Joab; and with great mourning and lamentation made over him by David, was buried at Hebron, [2 Sam. 2.]

When all Israel was troubled at the death of Abner, Bahana and Recab, of the Tribe of Benjamin, murdered their Lord and Master Ishbosheth, as he lay resting himself on his bed in the heat of the day: and bringing his head to David, were for their pains by him put to death, [2 Sam. 4.]

The Captains and Elders of all the Tribes coming to Hebron, made David now a third time, an anointed King over all Israel, [1 Chron. 12. from verse 23. to the end of that chapter, with chap. 11. 1, 2, 3. and 2 Sam. 5. 1, 2, 3.]

David with all Israel marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites; Year of the World 2957. a. and there took the Fort of Sion, by the special service of Joab; and from thence, that was called the City of David, no lesse than Bethlehem, where he was borne. And making Jerusalem the seat of his Kingdom, reigned there over all Israel, the terme of 33. years, [2 Sam. 5. 5, 6, 7, 9. 1 Chron. 11. 4, 5, 6, 7.]

The Philistins hearing that David was, The Julian Period 3667 by the general consent of the tribes, Year before Christ 1407 made King p. 36overall Israel, led their army twice against him to the valley of the Raphaeàns: and were twice beaten by him, [2 Sam. 5. 1 Chron. 14.] where when David, in the time of harvest, desired a draught of water, out of the well at Bethlehem; and three most valiant Captains of his arme, to pleasure him, brake through the host of the enemy to fetch it, and brought it to him, he would not drink it, [2 Sam. 23. 13. 1 Chron. 11. 15.]

David built the City of Sion round about, Year of the World 2958. b. as well the fortification, The Julian Period 3668 as the houses within, Year before Christ 1046 and Joab repaired the rest of the City, [2 Sam. 5. 9. 1 Chron. 11. 8.]

Hiram sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and Carpenters and Masons, who built him his house, [2 Sam. 5. 11. 1 Chron. 14. 1.]

The Arke of the Covenant, Year of the World 2059 which in the first Sabbatical year, The Julian Period 3669 was brought from Gilgalto to Siloh, Year before Christ 1045 was this year, being also a sabbatical year, brought from Kiriath-jearim (whither it was removed from Shiloh 70 years before) out of the house of Abinadab, thirty thousand choice men out of all Israel, attending on it, and singing the 68 Psalm, as may probably be collected out of the first verse thereof, because taken out of that forme of praier which was appointed by Moses, to be used and sung at every removal of the Arke, [Numb. 10. 35.] and was carried first to the house Obed-Edom; and after three months, removed into the City of David, or the fort of Sion, David himself rejoycing before it, and singing that of [Psalm, 132. 8.] which Solomon his son in the year of Jubilie next following, when he brought the Arke into the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple, repeated, viz. Arise O Lord into thy resting place, thou and the Arke of thy strength: with the rest there found, concerning the same Ark, [v. 60.] Behold we (i.e. the men of Bethlem dwelling thereby) have heard of it at Ephrata (our own Country) and found it in the fields of Jair, or the wood; i.e. In the hill of Kiriath-jearim, for that signifies a City, bordering upon woods, and again, [v. 13, 14.] The Lord hath chosen Sion, for an habitation for himself; saying, This is my rest for ever here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein: whence it is, that the Arke is said There to have rested, [1 Chron. 6. 31.] being received into the new Tabernacle which David had prepared for it at Jerusalem, [3 Sam. 6. 17. 1 Chron. 16. 1. 2 Chron. 1. 4.]

For the Tabernacle of the Congregation built by Moses, with the brazen altar, whereon was offered the daily sacrifice, remained at Gibeon (which was likewise in the Tribe of Judah, and stayed no longer in Shilo, which was in the tribe of Ephraim) untill the Temple of Solomon was built, [1 Chron. 6. 32, 48. 49. 1 Chron. 16. 39, 40. and 21. 29. 16. 2 Chron. 1. 3, 5, 6. 1 Reg. 3. 2, 4.]

And so the Arke, being removed out of the Tribe of Joseph, of which Ephra…m was a part, into the Tribe of Judah, Shilo from thence forth lay neglected, [Psal. 78. 63, 64. Ier. 7. 12, 14. and Ier. 26. 6.]

David now dwelling in his house of cedar, Year of the World 2960. d. which he had built, The Julian Period 3670 and living in a full and perfect peace, Year before Christ 1044 imparted unto Nathan the Propher, the purpose he had of building a house for God: but was answered from God, that thi… was a work which should be done, not by him, because he was a man of blood, and trained up wholy in warlike affaires, but by his son Solomon a man of peace, which should be borne unto him, [2 Sam. 7. 1, 2, 11, 13. 1 Chr. 17. and c. 22. 8, 9, …0. and c. 24. 3, 6. and 2 Chron. 6. 8, 9. 1 Reg. 8. 18, 19.] Now the time which passed from hence forward, till the birth of Solomon, was all taken up, and spent in wars; wherein David subdued the Philistines, the Edomites, the Amalekites, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Syrians, [2 Sam. 8. 3. 1 Chron. 18.] and the bounds of Israel stretched not only from Shicot in Egypt to Hamath, [1 Chron. 13. 5.] but even from thence to the river Euphrates, and even to the borders of Syria Zobea, [2 Sam. 9. 3.] which was the utmost bound of all that land, which had been formerly promised to the seed of Abraham, [Gen. 15. 18. with Deut. 11. 24. and Ios. 1. 3, 4.] and never possessed by any of them, save only by David, and his son Solomon, [1 Reg. 4. 21, 24. 2 Chron. 9. 28.]

At this time Hadad-ezer, al, Hadar-ezer (for foreign are foreign with the Hebrews easily taken one for the other) the son of Rehob, was King of Syria Zobea, and to him was joyned Rezon the son of Eliod with his forces out of Syria of Damascus when he was ready to fight against David, not far from the river Euphrates. But David having first routed Hadad-ezers army, slew afterward, two and twenty thousand of the Syrians of Damascrs, and put garrisons upon all that countrey: But when Rezon saw that David prevailed, he fell off from Hadad-ezer, and commanded, himself in chief, over such forces as he had newly raised; and marching with them to Damascus, set up there a kingdome for himself, and his own posterity, who, we find, afterward proved very bitter enemies to Solomon, and the rest of the Kings of Israel, [2 Sam. 8. 5, 6. 1 Reg. 11. 23, 24, 25.] of this battel fought by David near unto the river Euphrates, Nicolaus Damascenus, in Josephus, (lib. 7. Antiq. c. 6. al. 5.) maketh mention, where he calleth this Rezon Adad; and addeth, that he left this name to descend to his successors to the tenth generation, as Ptolomy did to his in Egypt.

After Naash King of the Ammonites, Year of the World 2967. a. succeeded Hanun his son: The Julian Period 3676 Year before Christ 1038 who fowly abused such messengers, as David out of kindnesse had sent to comfort him over the death of his Father.

p. 37Against him therefore Joab, The Julian Period 3677 sent by David, Year before Christ 1037 went and overthrew a huge army of the Ammonites, and Syrians, whom the Ammonites had in pay: and so returned with victory to Jerusalem, [2 Sam. 10. 1 Chron. 19]

David passing over Jordan with his army, Year of the World 2968. b. made a vast slaughter of the Syrians, led by Shobach, General of the army of Hadad-ezer, King of Syria Zobea: whereupon followed a peace between David and the petty Kings of Syria; so that they durst no more send aide to the Ammonites: but served him, [2 Sam. 10. 1 Chron. 19.]

At the end of this year, Year of the World 2969. b. what time kings use to go forth to battle, The Julian Period 3679 Joab, Year before Christ 1035 going with the army against the Ammonites, besieged Rabba, the head City of Ammon: whiles David took his ease at Jerusalem, [2 Sam. 11. 1. 1 Chron. 20. 1.] and there defiled, by adultery, Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who was then in the army, and in consequence thereof, procured the husband to be slain by the hand of the Ammonites, [2 Sam. 11.]

When the child so gotten in adultery, Year of the World 2970. b. was born, The Julian Period 3680 David being convinced by Nathan the Prophet of his fault, Year before Christ 1034 repented him of his sin, and composed the 51 Psalm, for a memorial of it: yet the new born babe was taken away by death, [2 Sam. 12.]

Bathsheba, Year of the World 2971. a. being now his wife, The Julian Period 3681 bare David a son, unto whom, as to one who should prove a man of peace, Year before Christ 1033 God gave the name of Solomon, [1 Chron. 22. 9.] and as to one beloved of God, the name of Jedidia, [2 Sam. 12. 25.]

Ammon, Year of the World 2972. c. Davids eldest son, The Julian Period 3682 deflowred his lifter Thamar. Year before Christ 1032 [2 Sam. 13.]

Ammon, Year of the World 2974. c. two years after that incestious rape of his, The Julian Period 3684 was slain by the setting on of his brother Absolom at the time of sheep-shearing, Year before Christ 1030 [2 Sam. 13. 23.] to wit, at the end of the spring, at the second math of grasse, which was wont to be mowed before corne harvest, a little after the middest of the first month: as Codomanus upon this place noteth, out of [Amos 7. 1. compared with Jos. 3. 15. and Jos. 4. 9. and Jos. 5. 10, 11, 12.]

But Absalom having done the deed, fled away to Geshur in Syria: where he continued 3 years with king Tolmay his grandfather by the mothers side, [2 Sam. 13. 37, 38. and 15. 8.]

Absalom, Year of the World 2977. c. after three years exile, The Julian Period 3687 returned to Jerusalem: Year before Christ 1027 his father being then pacified towards him by the speech of the woman of Tekoa, set on work by Joab, [2 Sam. 13. 38. and 14. 1, 23. ib.]

Absalom, Year of the World 2979 having set Joabs barly on fire, The Julian Period 3689 a little before harvest this year (for the year following was a sabbatical year, Year before Christ 1025 wherein there was no harvest in Judea) was by his means admitted to his fathers presence, whom he had not seen in two years after his return from exile, [2 Sam. 14. 28. 30, 33.]

This sabattical year came between the burning of Joabs corn field, Year of the World 2980 and the rebellion of Absalom against his father: The Julian Period 3690 Year before Christ 1024 in which this rebellion, having gotten chariots, and horses, and a guard of ruffians about him, insinuated himself into the favour of the people, and stole away their hearts from his father David, [2 Sam. 13. 1.]

Fourty years after the anointing of David by Samuel, Year of the World 2981. c. Absalom, The Julian Period 3691 following the advise of his chief counselor Architophel, Year before Christ 1023 got himself into possession of his fathers kingdome, between Easter and Whitsontide; as Codomanus gathers out of Barzillaie his furnishing of David (when he fled) with new fruits, and parched corne, [2 Sam. 17. 28]

Against the practises of Absalom, and Architophel, David composed the 3, and 55 Psalmes: Shime… also, of the Tribe of Benjamin, railed upon David, as he fled▪ [2 Sam. 16.]

And Architophel seeing his counsel not followed by Absalom, went and hanged himself, [2 Sam. 17.]

Absalom, having lost twenty thousand men, fled, and a bough of a thick oake, catching hold of his long haire, he there hung between heaven and earth, and was thrust through and slain by Joab, [2 Sam. 18.]

After the victory thus gotten, David, by the men of Judah, and one half of the people of Israel, was brought home again; and the Israelites mutining, because they had not had a chief hand in that work, a new rebellion grew thereon: which yet was soon over, by throwing the head of Sheba the son of Bicri, over the walls to Joab, by the inhabitants of Abel, [2 Sam. 19. 20.]

The harvest of this year failing, Year of the World 2983. c. there began a famine, The Julian Period 3693 which afflicted the land three years, Year before Christ 1021 for the bloud of the Gibionites, shed by Saul and his family, [2 Sam. 21. 1, 2.]

The famine still continuing, Year of the World 2986. c. the G…beonites, The Julian Period 3696 in the beginning of barley harvest, Year before Christ 1018 hung up two sons, and five grand-children of Sauls: whose bodies, Rispa, Sauls concubine, watched, and kept from being devoured by ravenous birds or beasts, till water dropped upon them from heaven, [2 Sam. 21. 8, 9, 10.]

David caused the bone of Saul and Jonathan his son to be removed out of Jabesh Gilead, together with the bones of the seven that were hanged, and to be buried at Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish the father of Saul, [2 Sam. 21. 12, 13, 14.]

Many batteis were fought with the Philistims and their Giants; in one whereof, David being now old, and fainting in the fight, was like to have been slaine by Ishibenod p. 38a Gyant, and hardlie escaped: and this was the last fight that ever David was in, in person, [2 Sam. 21. 1 Chron. 20.]

David, Year of the World 2987. d. what by the testation of Satan, what through his own ambition, would needs have the number of his people to be taken; and thereby kindled the wrath of God against the Israelites: The number therefore throughout all the tribes, (except the tribes of Levi, and Benjamin, [1 Chron. 21. 6. with chap. 27. 24.] of all the men upwards of twenty years old, [1 Chron. 27, 23.] was taken. Which numbring, being finished in nine moneths and twenty dayes, [2 Sam. 24. 8.] the choice, of famine, sword or Pestilence, was put unto him by Gad the prophet, [2 Sam. 2. 48.] which famine was to be of three years continuance, to wit, one after another then immediatly following, as [1 Chron. 21. 12.] or of seven years, as [2 Sam. 24. 13.] to wit, counting the three years of famine preceding, and this present sabbatical year, (which having no sowing, cannot repair the losses of the former years) for a fourth, as it it had been said. Three years of famine, for the slaughter of the Gibeonites, are allready past: after which there was a harvest indeed; but for want of seed, a very poor one, and no wayes able to supply the want of the two years following, which the intervening of the sabbatical year must needs draw with it; so that the famine must needs continue still upon the land, especially upon the poorer sort therein, and now to these by-past years of famine, God proposeth unto thee three years more of famine, to chuse, if thou wilt. And the way or reason of reconciling these two differing places, hath especially moved me in this passage, to refer this history of Davids numbering the people, unto this Sabbathical year.

Now of the three, David chose the plague; whereof there dyed in one day seventy thousand men: and when the Angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, God of his mercy bade him hold his hand; and withall, commanded David to offer whole burnt offerings, and peace-offerings in the threshing-floor of Araunah or Ornan the Jebusite, [2 Sam. 24. 1 Chron. 21.] Year of the World 2988. a.

David fore-seeing, that the house of God should be built in that threshing-floore of Araunah, [1 Chron. 22. 1. with 2 Chron. 3. 1.] began presently to prepare materials necessary for so great a work, exhorting his Sonne Solomon, and all the Heads of Israel, to fall in hand with all their might, and to go thorough with it, The Julian Period 3698 [1 Chron. Year before Christ 1016 22. 1, 2, 3, 17, 18, 19.]

He also taking the number of the Levites, first from thirty, then from twenty years old and upwards, divided them into many ranks, and appointed to every of them their several offices and established a set forme, both of ecclesiastical, and also of civil government, in the fortieth year of his reign, [1 Chron. 23. 2, 27. and 24, 25, 26, 31.] to wit, in the beginning thereof, (i.e.) one year and an half before his death.

Rehoboam was born unto Solomon by Naaman, an Ammonitish woman; as being 40 one years old, when he began to reign, [1 Reg. 14. 21, 1 Chron. 12. 13.] for though Solomon called himself a little childe, [1 Reg. 3. 7.] and David his father said, he was a child, young and tender, [1 Chron. 22. 5. and 29. 1. yet in another place, he termeth him a man of wisdom, [1 Reg. 2. 9.] and this, before that great measure of knowledge and understanding was cast upon him over and above by God: which three things; tender years, a son born, and perfect wisdom, no man may wonder to find attributed to Solomon, at eighteen years of age, when he sees the very same to be spoken afterward of King Josiah, The Julian Period 3699 at his age of sixteen, Year before Christ 1015 [2 Chron. 34. 1, 2, 3. with chap. 36. 5.]

David being now seventy years of age, Year of the World 2986. d. and broken with continual cares and wars, was grown so weak and feeble, that applying of warm cloaths, would hardly keep any heat in him: And therefore was there sought out Abishag, a young maiden, a Shunamite, to keep him warm: Year of the World c. and Adonias, seeing his father thus declining, by the counsaile and advice of Joab, and Abiathar, the High Priest made himself King: whereof, when David was advertized by Bathsheba, and Nathan, he presently caused his son Solomon to be apointed King by Zadock the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benajah, the son of Jehojada, in Gihon; which so soon as Adonias heard, he presently fled, and took sanctuary; and laying there hold on the horns of the altar, was pardoned by the grace and favour of Solomon, and set at liberty, [1 Reg. 1.]

David assembling all the Governours, Captains and Commanders of Israel, together with his sons and servants, exhorted them all to the fear and worship of God, and in special, Solomon his son to go in hand with the building of the temple: giving him in writing, the platform, or model, according to which it was to be coutrived and built, and consigning unto his hands gold and silver, by weight, for the making every vessel and implement for the use of the Temple [1 Chron. 28.] after which, what by his example, what by his exhortation, he prevailed so far, that every man, cast in gold and silver, and brasse, and iron, and stones, all in great abundance towards the building of Gods house. And then, thanks first rendred unto God, the next day after, they offered a thousand young bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with the meat-offerings thereunto belonging: and for a conclusion, made Solomon King the second time apointing him for their Sovereign King, and Zadock, for the High Priest, [1 Chron. 29. 1, 23.]

p. 39David having given instructions to his son Solomon; Year of the World 2990 a. departeth this life, [1 Reg. 2. 1, 10.] after he had reigned in Hebron seven years six moneths, and 33 years in Jerusalem, over all Israel, [2 Sam. 5. 5.] of which the fourty years, which the Scriptures attribute to his reign, we must take for the terme which he reigned, before he made Solomon king in his roome; and that he survived six moneths after: so that the years of Solomons reign, mentioned in the scripture, are to be reckoned from the first monethmonth, a full half year, before the decease of David.

Adonias, Year of the World b. by the means, The Julian Period 3700 and intercession of Bathsheba, Year before Christ 1014 sueth to Solomon; to give him Abishag the Shunamite to wise, and was therefore as one aspiring to the kingdom, put to death. Abiather of the race of Eli, was put from the High Priesthood; and Zadock put in his room, who was descended from Phineas: as it was foretold by God, should come to passe, [1 Sam. 2. 33, 35.] and so the High Priesthood reverted from the family of Ithamar to the family of Eleazar, and there continued; Joab for fear fled to the Tabernacle, where, having hold on the hornes of the taltar, he was slain by Benajah the son of Jehojada, who was forthwith made captain of the host, in his room by the king. But Shimei, who had heretofore railed upon David, was confined onelyonly to his house, yet with this condition, that if at any time, he passed over the brook Kedron, he should die the death, [1 Reg. 2.]

Hadad the Edomite, hearing that Joab was dead, returned out of Egypt into his own country. Him God afterward, when Solomon began to follow after vanities, raised up an enemy unto him, [1 Reg. 11. 14, 21.]

Pharaoh King of Egypt, Year of the World 3991. a. gave his daughter in marriage to Solomon, and gave her Gezer, a city sometime belonging to the tribe of Ephraim, [Jos. 21. 21.] but which he had taken from the Cananites, putting all the inhabitants to the sword, [1 Reg. 9. 16.] and Solomon brought her into Sion, the palace of David, [2 Reg. 3. 1, 2. 2 Chron. 8. 11.]

Salomon offered a thousand whole burnt-offerings at Gibeon, Year of the World c. where the Tabernacle then was, The Julian Period 3701 where, Year before Christ 1013 when God appearing to him in his sleep, and bad him chose, and ask what he would, and it should be given him; he chose, and asked wisdom to be given him: God therefore gave him wisdom from above; casting in all other gifts over and above: And of his wisdom, the first experiment was made, in deciding the controversie between the two women about the child, and that first gave him an opinion and reverence with the people, [1 Reg. 3.]

Solomon being visited by messengers sent from Hyram, Year of the World 2992. a. King of Tyre, desired further of him, to help him with timber, toward the building of the Temple: which Hyram, upon certain conditions, and consideration of paying for it, promised to doe, and did it, Solomon finding the work-men, over whom he had set pay-masters, and other officers to put on the work.