The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 5
The fifth Age of the World.
IN the year 480. Year of the World c. from the coming of the children of Israel out of Egypt, The Julian Period 3702 in the fourth year of the reign of King Solomon, Year before Christ 1012 on the second day of the second monethmonth, which was then called Ziu (of our May 21, being munday) the foundation of the temple was laid, [1 Reg. 6. 1, 37. 2 Chron. 3. 2.]
Shim…i, Year of the World 2993. b. three years after he was commanded to keep him at Jerusalem, The Julian Period 3703 and not to go over the brook Kidron; Year before Christ 1011 returning from Gath, from whence he had fetcht back two run-away servants of his, was put to death by Solomons command, [1 Reg. 2. 39.]
In the eleventh year of Solomons reign, Year of the World 3000. a. in the eighth monethmonth, The Julian Period 3709 which was called Bul. Year before Christ 1005 the building of the temple was finished with all things belonging thereunto: having been seven years and an half in working, [1 Reg. 6. 38.] but the dedication of it was put off till the next year by season of the Jubile.
This was the ninth Jubile, Year of the World 3001. a. opening the fourth Millenary of the world, The Julian Period 3710 wherein Solomon with great magnificence, Year before Christ 1004 celebrated the dedication of the temple. For all Israel being assembled together in the 7th month, called Ethanim, the Ark was brought out of Sion, into the Sanctum Sanctorum, and the Tabernacle and holy vessels, from Gibeon, into the treasury of the Temple; where when God had given a visible and wonderful token of his presence, Solomon being upon a scaffold made of brasse, and kneeling upon his knees, uttered a set prayer unto God, and afterward blessing the people, he offered twenty two thousand oxen, and 120 thousand sheep; and so having celebrated the feast of the dedication of the Altar seven days, (and the feast of Tabernacles other seven dayes, and the celebrity of the eighth day of Tabernacles being finished, at last, upon the three and twenty day of the seventh month, the people were dismissed every man to his home, [1 Reg. 8. 1, 2, 65, 66. 2 Chron. 5. 3, 4, 5. chap. 6. &c. chap. 7. 8, 9, 10.]
The eighth day of the seventh monethmonth, (to wit, 30 of our Octob. being friday, was the first of the seven dayes of the dedication; the tenth day, (with us, Novemb. 1. upon a Saturday) was the fast of expiation or atonement held, whereon (according to the Leviticall law, [chap. 25. 9.) the Jubile was proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet.
The fifteenth day, (our November 6▪ being friday) was the feast of Tabernacles. The 22 (our Novemb. 13. being also friday) was the last of the feast of Tabernacles; which was alwayes very solemnly kept, [2 Chron. 7. 9. with Levit 23. 36. and John 7. 37.] and at the day following, (Novemb. 14. being our Saturday) when the sabbath was ended, the people departed home.
Solomon, Year of the World 3012. c. in the thirteenth year after the temple was built, The Julian Period 3722 made an end also of building his own house, Year before Christ 992 having spent full twenty years upon both of them: whereof seven and a half upon the Temple, and thirteen or twelve and a half upon his own, [1 Reg. 7. 1. and 9. 10. ib▪ and 2 Chron. 8. 1.]
After all which, Solomon offered unto Hiram King of Tyre 20 cities of Galilee, or Cabul, joyning upon the tribe of Asher, (which himself had purchased) in requital of those many good offices which Hiram had done him, toward the building of the temple; which when Hiram refused, he built them all anew himself, and planted colonies of the Israelites in them, [1 Reg. 9. 10. and 2 Chron. 8. 1, 2.]
When Solomon had finished both houses, and the wall of Jerusalem round about, then he removed his wife, the daughter of Phataoh, out of the city and house of David, into a house, which himself had built, and prepared for her, [1 Reg. 3. 1. and chap, 7. 8. and chap. 9. 24. and 2 Chron. 8. 11.] He new built also Gezer, which Pharaoh the father, having taken from the Cananites, had given to Solomon, lying within the precincts of the tribe of Ephraim, [1 Reg. 9. 15, 16, 17.]
Sesack; Year of the World 3026. c. which others cal Sesonchis (according to our Egyptian Chronology) began to reign; The Julian Period 3736 unto whom Jeroboam the son of Nebar fled, Year before Christ 978 and continued with him till after Solomon was dead, [1 Reg. 11. 40. and chap. 12. 2.]
Solomon, Year of the World 3029. c. having forsaken his lusts and vanities, The Julian Period 3739 to which he was too intemperately addicted toward his later dayes, Year before Christ 975 having testified his deep repentance for it, in his book called The Preacher, and having made his peace with God, [2 Chron 11. 17.] at last died; when he had reigned 40 years, [1 Reg. 11. 42. 2 Chron. 9. 30.]
Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when all Israel me… at Sichem to make him King, by a harsh answer made unto them, alienated the hearts of ten tribes from him, who presently sending into Eypt for Jeroboam the son of Nebat, made him King over them, and under his conduct, they fell of both from the house of David (killing Adoram, whom Rehoboam had sent unto them) and also from the true worship of God, [1 Reg. 12.] In memorial of which sad disaster, the Jews afterward, kept a solemn fast yearly, upon the 23 of the third monethmonth, called Sivan.
From this dismal rent made of that kingdom, Rehoboam reigned over Judah and Benjamin seventeen years, [1 Reg. 14. 21. 2 Chron. 12. 1, 2.] and Jeroboam over Israel, (i. e.) over the other ten tribes, by the space of 22 years. [1 Reg. 14. 20.]
Rehoboam returning to Jerusalem, levying men to the number of one hundred, and fourscore thousand men, and purposed to make war upon the ten tribes: but being admonished from God by the prophet Semajah, he gave it off, [1 Reg. 12.] though there followed continual wars between the two kings all their dayes, [1 Reg, 14, 13.
Jeroboam in the beginning of his reign, repaired Sichem, where he was chosen king by the people, and which had been destroyed by King Abimel…ch, 258 years before, and there dwelt, till going afterward over Jordan, he there built Penuel, [1 Reg, 12. 25. and at last, built Tirza, and made that the seat of his kingdom, [ib. chap. 14. 17.] But fearing lest his new-gotten subjects should happly revolt from him again, he diverted their thoughts from looking any more after Jerusalem, by a new devised form and fashion of religion, setting up two golden calves, the one at Bethel, the other at Dan, for the brain-sick people, to run a whoring after them, [1 Reg. 12.]