The Garden of Zion, Part 2
THE GARDEN OF ZION:
The Judges.
1. Othniel: 2. Ehud: 3. Shamgar. 4. Barak. 5. Gideon: 6. Abimelech: 7. Tolah. 8. Jair. 9. Jephte: 10 Ibſan: 11. Elon: 12. Abdon. 13. Samſon: 14. Micah: 15. Eli: 16 Samuel.
1. OTHNIEL The time of God.
WHen divers had afflicted Iſrael,
In a fit time the Lord ſent Othniel:
By him great things in his lifetime were done,
Come of Kenaz good Calebs brother Son:
In Kiriath-ſepher for vent'ring his life.
Caleb him gave his faire Achſah to wife:
King Chuſan Riſhataim he ſuppreſt,
By him Iſrael fourtie yeers had reſt.
The Uſe.
In greateſt troubles and in dangers prime,
The Lord will ſend comfort in fittest time.
2. EHUD. Excellent.
WHen Iſra'l ſin'd, Moab with Amalek
Were raiſ'd by GOD, his people to correct:
But when they mourn'd, and cryed to JOVAH,
He ſent them Ehud firſt Son of Gerah:
This man left handed was of Benjamin,
His ſharp dager he hid his cloathes within
With ſword at ſide, with preſent in his hand
He went to Eglon, King of Moab land;
He ſaid, O King take heed, give ear to me,
I have from God a great meſſage for thee:
When he heard that, he roſe out of his ſeat,
With one ſtroke Ehud ended the debate:
While thus Eglon did wallow in deaths ſhade,
The dirt came out, the fat incloſ'd the blade:
By him the hoſt of Moab was ſuppreſt,
After Iſra'l had fourſcore yeers of reſt.
The Uſe.
Here learne that ſuch a rare and ſingle fact
Is not ſet downe in Scripture for an act,
To teach men thus this Ehud to follow:
Each man to ſtob the Lord doth not allow.
2. SHAMGAR. Throwing downe.
THis Shamgar was a man of great renown,
With an Oxe-gaod ſix hundred he th… down.
The Uſe.
Heere learne that great is our eternall God,
Who can ſave us either by ſling or goad,
4. DEBORAH. A Bee.
BARAK. Lightning
DEare DEBORAH thy name a honey Bee,
Who can expreſſe the praiſe that's du… thee?
A Propheteſſe ſweet thou was in thy life,
A Judge in ISRA'L, though for ſexe a wife.
In her time Jabin ISRA'L had oppreſt
Captaine Siſera, did them ſore moleſt:
Then DEBORAH at God the Lords command
Said to BARAK, JABIN into thine hand
I will deliver by mine arme mighty;
Be ſtout, and doubt not of the victory.
Oh ſaid BARAK, he is a mighty fo,
Go thou with me, if not, I will not go:
I will, ſaid ſhe, now ſurely go with thee,
But unto thee, this no honour ſhall be.
Up, up, now BARAK, ſaid ſtout DEBORAH,
Take courage for with us is great JOVAH;
In that great day the LORD in ISRA'LS ſight
Put Siſerah with all his hoſt to flight:
He fled to Jahel; there hid with a vaile,
She pierc'd his temples with a bloody naile:
According to DEBORAHS prophecie
A wife, not BAKAR, got that victorie:
When the great GOD had wrought out this great thing,
DEBORAH BARAK then began to ſing.
The Song of DEBORAH and BARAK.
PRaiſe ye the LORD for th'avenging,
of his own Iſrael:
When the people offred gladely
themſelves unto Battell.
2 Heare Kings and Princes, I, even I
will ſing unto the Lord;
Ʋnto the Lord God of Iſra'l
I will praiſes afford.
3 Lord, when thou went'ſt from Seir, when thou
did march from Edom land,
The Earth trembled the Heav'ns dropped,
the Clouds they did disband:
4 The Mountaines melted from before
the Lord God Eternall:
Even that Sinai from before thee,
Lord God of Iſrael.
5 In Shangars dayes, Son of Anath,
in the dayes of Jael,
The high wayes were unoccupied,
they went in by wayes all,
6 The indweller of villages
in Iſrael did ceaſe,
Ʋntill that I Deborah roſe
a mother to make peace.
7 They choſe new gods, then in their gates
was warre; was their a ſhield,
Or ſpeare among fourty thouſand
in all Iſraels field?
8 My heart to Iſral's Governours
is, that vvith one accord
Offred themſelves moſt willingly
to Battell, bleſſe the Lord.
9 Speake ye that ride on white aſſes,
In cheefe rulers aray;
And yee that ſit in judgement, and
that travel by the way;
10 And yee the pooreſt of the land,
whoſe tread was ſtill to drawe
Waters, who for fear of Archers
did greatly ſtand in awe:
Yee from this feare delivered
Gods great workes magnifie,
Who hath given juſtice and traffiique
in village and citie.
11 Awake, awake, awake, awake,
Deborah ſing anone,
Ariſe Barak, and lead captive
thou of Ahinoan Son.
12 He that remaines he made to rule
ov'r the Nobilitie
Ov'r the people; the Lord me gave
rule over the mighty.
14 Of Ephraim 'gainſt Amalek
there was a root worthie;
Alſo among this great people
Benjamin after thee;
From Machir of Manaſſe came
governours goodly men,
To this ſervice came Zebulon,
ſcribes that handle the pen:
15 And the moſt mighty Princes of
ſtrong Iſſachar that day
Were with Deborah in the field,
ev'n Iſſachar I ſay;
Alſo Barak to the valley
ſent on foot, did depart,
For the diviſions of Reuben
there were great thoughts of heart:
16 Why would not thou from the ſheep folds
go for to act thy part?
For the diviſions of Reuben
were great ſearching of heart.
17 Beyond Jordan Gilead abode,
and why did Dan remaine
In ſhips? Aſher on the Sea ſhore
in his breaches ſought gaine:
18 Zebulon and Naphtali were
armed with ſpeare and ſhield:
Their lives they jeoparded in the
high places of the field.
19 The Kings of Cana'n came, and fought,
Jabin for to maintaine:
In Tana'ch neere to Megiddo,
but thereby did not gaine.
20 The clouds and wind'gainſt Siſera
did fight from the heav'ns hie:
The Stars in their courſes alſo
fought most couragiouſlie.
21 The river Kiſhon, even Kiſhon
did ſweepe them all away;
O thou my ſoule, thou hast dovvntrode
great ſtrength vvithout delay.
22 Then vvere the ſtrong horſe hoofs broken
in great rage and furie,
By the means of the pranſings, even
pranſings of the mightie.
23 Curſe yee Meros moſt bitterly;
yea curſe, … the Angel:
Becauſe against theſe foes they did
not help the Eternall:
24 The Wife of Heber Jael ſhall
blest above Women be:
She ſhall be bleſt above Women,
in the tent moſt ſurely:
25 He asked vvater and ſhe gave
him milke of ſvvet reliſh,
She alſo vviſely butter brought
foorth in a lordly diſh,
26 She vvith a hammer and a naile
ſmote Siſera indeed;
VVhen ſhe had pierced his temples,
ſhe did ſmite of his head:
27 He bovv'd and fell, and lay dovvne, h…
at her feet hovv'd and fell:
VVhere he bovv'd there he fell downe dead
at the feet of Jahel.
28 Siſera's mother looked out
at vvindovves, and did cry
Through the latteſſe vvith joy of heart,
to theſe that paſſed by,
VVhy is his Charet ſo long d…
coming? VVhat is the let?
VVhy tary thus the moſt ſvvift vvheeles
of his princely Charet?
29 VVhen her vviſe Ladies heard theſe vvords,
they did not long defer,
To give anſwer, yea to her ſelfe
ſhe return'd this anſwer,
30 Have they not well ſped in battell?
have they not all alſo
Parted the prey to every man
a Dam ſell or two?
To Siſera a moſt rich prey,
who did his ſtrong foes foile
A colour d prey of needle work,
for theſe that take the ſpoil;
31 So let thy foes periſh, O Lord,
but who with heart upright
Love him, let them be as the Sun
going foorth in his might.
After theſe forces were by God repreſt,
Gods Iſrael had fourtie yeers of reſt.
The Uſe.
Heere we may learne, how Gods great Majeſtie,
Can by a wife obtaine a victorie.
5. GIDEON. Cutting off.
GReat GIDEON, my verſe now come to th…
A cutting off thy name doth ſignifie:
The great God in mercy ſent thee a man,
To ſave Iſra'l from cruell MIDIAN:
This ſon of JOASH, in Iſra'ls diſtreſſe
Was threſhing Wheat beſides his owne Wi… preſſe:
To him an Angel ſaid, with great favour,
The Lord is with thee, thou man of valour:
Alas, O Lord, (moved with grife) ſaid he,
That God is with us; Oh it cannot be!
Where are the wonders our fathers us told?
By Midian we croſſes manifold
Do ſuffer; oh our miſeries they ſcoff,
The Lord in wrath his people hath cut off.
To him ſaid God, Now go in this thy might,
Againſt theſe men thou ſhalt for Iſra'l fight.
O Lord, ſaid he, what power can I have,
Wherewith I may thy people ISRA'L ſave?
In MANASSEH my familie is poore,
My fathers houſe ſuch paines can not endure.
Goe to, goe to, ſaid God, do what thou can,
I ſhall thee help to ſmite them as one man.
If thou, O Lord, ſaid GIDEON wouldſt me
To fight, a ſigne firſt I deſire to ſee.
According to this godly mans deſire,
God by his ſtaffe from the hard rock a fire
Brought forth, which did conſume incontinent
Both fleſh and broth, and caks GID'ON preſent:
When he thus ſaw, he trembling, ſaid, Alas,
Gods Angel now I have ſeene face to face.
Feare not, ſaid God, let nothing trouble thee,
I give thee peace, thou ſurely ſhalt not die.
Then he an altar did build without ceaſe,
JEHOVAH-SHALOM the Lord God ſend peace.
When this was done, which was his great renowne,
Baals altar with great zeal he threw downe:
Becauſe he fear'd his foes that were of might,
He not by day, but did it in the night.
When this was done, the city all agaſt
Unto JOASH his father quickly paſt;
Bring out thy Son that vile villaine quickly,
Soone bring him out, for he ſhall ſurely die.
Then Joaſh ſaid, Your brags are but ſcorning,
He ſhall be kill'd while it is yet morning:
Who darre for BAAL onelyonly ſpeak a word?
If he be God, now let him plead by ſword:
Therefore JOASH from ſuch pleading did call
His godly ſonne by name JERUBBAAL.
Then MIDIAN with AMALEK in ire
With an great hoſt againſt him did conſpire:
With deaw and drieneſſe the Lord on the fleece
Encouragd him from battell not to ceaſe.
Then JOVAH ſaid, The men that are with th…
Be too many to give you victorie;
Who ſo is fearefull, and of courage bad,
Let him returne now from Mount Gilead:
When Gideon ſtout theſe words proclamed, t…
Returned twentie and two thouſand men:
Then ten thouſand were in Gods hoſt that day,
Yet is the Haoſt too many, God did ſay:
Go to the waters ſee what lapers be
Theſe are the men that I will ſend with thee:
Three hundred men lapped upon the brink,
But all the reſt bow'd downe their heads to d…
This being done, behold one did proclaime
Unto his fellow in the hoſt a dreame:
A barley kake, ſaid one, tumbled our tent;
Another ſaid, this a fearfull rent,
Our mighty army ſhall both faint and fall
Before GIDEON, called JERUBBAAL:
When Gideon heard the telling of the dream…
Hee worſhipped the mighty God of heaven:
Then with all haſt his hoſt he did command
Trumpets pitchers, with lamps to take in ha…
When I the Trumpet blow, then blow each o…
…ry, Sword of the LORD and of GIDEON:
…hey brake pitchers, the lamps in their left hand;
…hey blew Trumpets as GIDEON did command,
…hile Iſra'l did theſe Princely Trumpets blow,
…ery mans Sword was againſt his fellow:
…he Lord himſelfe that great Battell did fight,
…hen all MIDIAN were turned to the flight:
…hile they this armie hotely did purſue,
…hey OREB ZEEB two great Princes ſlew:
…nto his hand likewiſe great JEHOVAH
…eliv'red ZEBAH and ſtout ZALMUNNAH
…he fleſh of SUCCOTH, and PENUEL in feare,
…ter this done with ſharpe thornes did he teare:
…ut he at laſt, forgetting the great God,
…f rich earerings made an idole Ephod:
…f lawfull ſons he had threeſcore and ten,
And ABIMELEH of a concubine.
The Uſe.
Heere for a ſpace men may GODS cauſe defend,
And yet at last with idoll Ephods end:
Bleſt is he vvho ſerves GOD with heart entire,
And like the Sun about Heav'ns Bandeleere
Galopping ſtill, doth not faint in his race,
With Gods children that tread the paths o… grace
6. ABIMELECH. My Father King.
MY Father King, ABIMELECH thy …
Doth ſignifie; a baſtard full of ſhame:
This villaine full of fearfull crueltie,
Upon one ſtone did kill nine and fiftie:
Of his brethren in number like a hive,
OnelyOnly JOTHAM the youngeſt left alive:
He with ſilver vaine men and light did hire,
Againſt his brethren he did thus conſpire:
His mothers friends of SHECHEM he did b…
Who with the houſe of MILLO made him K…
Then JOTHAM went unto Gerizim hill,
And cried down this pricking parable,
The trees went forth on a time to annoint
A king; the Olive firſt they did appoint:
The Olive then ſaid, Nothing I doe lake
For crownes I will not my fatneſſe forſake:
Then with one voice they ſaid to the fig-tree,
Come thou, and now receive the dignitie:
The fig-tree then ſaid, Nothing I do lake
For crowns I will not my ſweetneſſe forſake:
Then all the trees the crowne like a propine
With one conſent offred unto the Vine:
The Vine tree then ſaid, Nothing I do lake,
For crownes I will not my liquour forſake:
Then all the trees did to the Bramble bring
The crowne, who was content for to be King.
Well ſaid the Bramble, well I you allow,
Come now and put your truſt in my ſhadow.
If not, let fire come from the Bramble ſoone,
Of Lebanon the Cedars to conſume.
Well, well, ſaid Jotham, O unthankfulneſſe,
Soone have ye forgot my fathers kindneſſe;
His life for you he did adventure far,
And now of his children ye murdrers are:
Ye Shechem, Millo, lewdly did conſpire;
Yee for ſuch things ſhall be conſum'd with fire.
When Abimelech reigned had yeeres three
The Lord to puniſh his great crueltie,
Sent an ill Sprite betwixt him and Shechem,
Who helped him to murder his brethren:
Then Gaal with other Shechemites ſtout,
Deſir'd that Abimelech ſhould come out:
Then he anone came out moſt furiouſly,
And Gaal chaſde even with all his armie:
The citie Sechem he ſack'd for their fault,
He ſlew their men, and ſowed it with ſalt:
From Zalmon he brought branches in his ire,
With theſe he ſet their ſtrongeſt towre on fire:
In that ſtrong hold of the city Sichem,
He in his rage did burne a thouſand men,
From thence this tyran with a ſpeedy pace
Went and encamped againſt fair Thebez:
The people all, ſore trembling in that houre,
With all their might fled unto their high towre
ABIMELECH (approaching in his ire)
Went neere the doore for to burne it with fire▪
While them to yeeld he thought for to conſtrai…
With a milſtone a woman brake his braine.
Fy, fy, young man, ſaid he, me ſtob and ſtay
Leſt by a woman I die ſhamefully:
While he was thus in a moſt ſhamefull ſmart,
The youth obey'd and thruſt him through th… heart.
The Uſe.
Let all men heere conſider well and ſee,
VVhat is the end of too great crueltie:
What Jotham ſaid it is now come to paſſe;
Vengeance at laſt comes, though vvith a ſlo… pace.
7. TOLAH. Crimſin.
O Worthy Tolah, no war in thy time
Defil'd the land with crueltie or crime:
GOD who the portion to all Princes meaſures,
Made him on ſmooth ſurges of ſeas of pleaſures
To ſaile: He with meekneſſe and mildneſſe rather
Then with rigour did govern as a father.
In the Scriptures we clearly learn this far,
He was come of the tribe of Iſſachar:
A godly Judge, he ruled in GODS fear,
He judged Iſra'l three and twentie year:
On Ephraim Mount they buried Tolah,
Where men had laid the corps of Joſhua.
The Uſe.
Happie is he who dies with a good name,
Though volumes be not written of his fame.
8.. JAIR. Shining, enlightned.
BEhold heer Jair, whoſe vertues divine
Do ſparkle bright, and gloriouſly ſhine;
A Gileadite, he ruled in GODS fear
The holy people twentie and two year.
This worthy man of children had no lack,
For thirtie ſons him follow'd at the back:
He thirtie cities, as GODS word doth ſay,
Had, Havoth-Jair cald unto this day:
At laſt, after his dayes were ſpent and gone,
This worthy Judge was buried in Camon.
The Uſe.
Heer leare how Jovah, in his great merciemercy,
Can bleſſe a man with great poſteritie.
9. JEPHTE. From patach vvhichwhich ſignifieth, to open or dravv a Svvord.
THis Jephte was a mgihty man of war,
Drawing of ſwords in his name he doth be…
Old Gilead this ſtout Jephte begot
Unlawfully, upon a vile harlot.
When Gileads ſons began for to grow ſtout,
They (hating Jephte) anone thruſt him out.
Depart from us, ſaid they, now ſpeedily,
A harlots ſon, no heritage for thee.
Then Jephte from his cruell brethren fled,
And went in haſte into the land of Tob.
In this time Ammon did moleſt Iſra'l,
For this cauſe for ſtout Jephte they did call.
Now Jephte ſaid, Ye ſeek me in diſtreſſe,
While ye ſuffer for your great wickedneſſe.
Behold, ſaid they, We come again to thee,
That 'gainſt Ammon thou may our captain be.
If, ſaid Jephte, ye will make me your head,
Unto battel gladly will I proceed.
So be't, ſaid they, If otherwiſe we meane,
The great JOVAH be witneſſe us betweene.
Then Jephte ſent meſſengers with command,
To tell Ammon not to deſtroy his land:
But after ſpeaches paſt both to and fro,
To battel both parties reſolv'd to go,
Then GODS Sprite came on good Jephte quickly,
Reveng'd on Ammon he reſolv'd to be.
If, GOD, ſaid he, the victory will allow
Againſt Ammon, I make a ſolemn vow,
If to my houſe I ſhall return in peace,
What firſt me meets ſhall be a ſacrifice:
Or if not, I moſt gladly do accord
To conſecrate it wholly to the LORD.
This ſaid, Jephte went foreward in great might
Againſt the children of Ammon to fight:
To him that day the LORD great favour ſhew,
His foes with force he ſtoutly overthrew.
While he returned from the victory,
His daughter dear with timbrels merrily
Came to meet him; to this ſhe was not ſlow.
Alas my daughter, thou haſt brought me low
Said good Jephte, I can not now go back,
I muſt perform the vow which I did make.
My father dear, ſaid ſhe, Now do to me
What thou haſt vow'd perform to the moſt Hie;
Only two moneths ſuffer me alone,
That I may my virginitie bemone.
What ſhe requir'd her father did allow,
When that was done he performed his vow;
Not that he ſlew her (as ſome think falſly,)
But to GODS ſervice her virginitie
Did conſecrate, How can men thus ſurmiſe,
That good Jephte made ſuch a ſacrifice?
Paul in his writs unto the Hebrews ſaith,
He was a man renowned for his faith:
How could he make a ſacrifice divine,
If he at firſt had met a dog or ſwine?
Durſt a man, who was both faithfull and good,
Bring to GOD that which chewed not the cud?
And now at laſt, mens raſhneſſe to arreiſt,
If ſhe was ſlain, tell me, who was the Prieſt?
In Jephte this I chiefly diſallow,
That with Alas he did perform his vow.
After this battel, Ephraim in ire
Againſt Jephte with forces did conſpire;
But Jephte ſtout, with great numbers of men
In great haſte took the paſſage of Jordan:
There Ephraim who did the war denounce,
By Shibboleth, which they could not pronounce,
In the battel their foes were knowne to be,
Sibboleth then made many men to die.
In that battell the cauſe of greefe and woe,
Ephraim there loſt thouſands fourtie two.
Then faithfull Jephte at the laſt deceaſed,
After he had Gods Iſra'l ſix yeares judged,
The Uſe.
Heere vve may learne that baſtards may get grace,
In faiths faire roll this Jephte had a place.
10 IBSAN. The father of a buckler.
AFter Jephte IBSAN of Bethlehem,
Was judge; this man had threeſcore of children.
At laſt he died, as in Scripture appeares,
When he Iſrael had judged ſeven yeares.
The Uſe.
Happie is he who dies with a good name,
Though volumes be not written of his fame.
11 ELON. Strength courag.
THen came ELON from the ZEBULONITS,
Who ten yeers well judged the Iſraelits.
The Uſe.
Happie is he who dies with a good name,
Though volumes be not vvritten of his fame.
12 ABDON. Worke ſervice.
AFter ELON ABDON ſonne of HILLEL,
Eight yeers did judge the tribs of Iſrael,
The Uſe.
Happie is he who dies with a good name,
Though volumes be not written of his fame.
13 SAMSON. Little ſunne.
AFter Iſraels darkneſſe fourty yeers,
In great bondage this little Sunne appeares:
He was ſon of MANOAH a Danite,
A great comfort for the poore Iſralite;
Before his birth his mother was barran,
In griefe without the comfort of children:
At laſt to her an Angel did appeare,
Who ſaid to her, Thou ſhalt conceive and beare
A ſonne, no raſor ſhall come on his head,
For he ſhall be a Nazarite indeed;
A man for GOD, ſet a-part from the womb,
Who Iſra'ls foes ſhall ſend unto their tomb.
Then the woman ſaid to her huſband, See
A man of GOD hath appeared to me:
He ſeem'd to me a man of noble fame,
Moſt angel-like, he told me not his name:
He ſaid unto me when he did appear,
Behold a ſon thou ſhalt conceive and bear;
No raſor ſhall at all come on his head,
For he ſhall be a Nazarite indeed.
LORD, ſaid Manoah, Let the man of GOD
Now come, and tell us what with this young lad
We have to do, for we are ignorant,
That we may follow thy commandement.
The LORD him heard, the Angel came anone,
And told them both all that was to be done.
Then Man'oah ſaid, I pray thee now tary,
Till we in haſte prepare a kid for thee.
I am a ſprite, ſaid he, I eat no bread,
With ſacrifice unto the LORD proceed.
What is thy name? ſaid Manoah, tell me:
It is ſecret, ſaid he, now let it be.
When he heard thus the Angel him forbid,
A meat-offring he offred for a kid
Unto the LORD; as the ſacred ſtory
Tels us, the Angel did moſt wondrouſly:
Behold th'angel who had the ſecret name,
Of the offring aſcended in the flame.
Alas, ſaid he, unto his worthy wife,
We have ſeen GOD, we ſhall both loſſe the life.
No, not, ſaid ſhe, we need not for to fear,
Becauſe GODS Angel to us did appear:
If to kill us this had been his earand,
He had diſdain'd the offring in our hand.
Then young Samſon the Sprite of GOD began
At times to move in the great camp of Dan;
At laſt he did require a Philiſtine
For wife, which he at Timnah had new ſeen:
His parents to this could not well accord,
For they knew not that it was of the LORD;
While he to Timnah went, a beaſt did roar,
As though he would the young Samſon devore;
But he anone him pulling by the beard,
Rent him, as though he would have rent a kid.
The LORD did this who made the ſea and land,
For young Samſon had nothing in his hand.
Returning after to his wife he ſees
In the dead Lion a fair ſwarm of bees;
The honey comb moſt ſweet he took to eat,
For this to him (in miſter) was for meat.
When Philiſtines his feaſt began to taſte,
Then he this riddle did propone in haſte,
Out of the eater, ſaid he, came there meat,
Out of the strong came that which was moſt ſweet.
Seven dayes they had at this riddle to gueſſe,
But the meaning thereof could not expreſſe:
With furie great they were puft up in rage,
Becauſe they ſaw they were to loſſe their pledge
Of thirtie ſhirts, and thirtie garments dear,
Theſe great charges they had not will to bear.
Then ſaid they all unto ſtrong Samſons wife,
If we theſe cloaths loſſe, thou ſhalt loſſe the life:
Entiſe him ſoone, the doubt try by requeſt,
Why ſhould we loſſe ſo much at his fair feaſt?
Then did ſhe preſſe him by day and by night,
Untill he had declar'd his riddle right.
Then ſaid theſe men, in words not to be long,
Sweet is the honey, and the lion ſtrong.
Then ſaid he, With my heifer have ye plow'd,
Who hath unto you my dark riddle ſhew'd
Then GODS good Sprite this ſtrong man came upon,
Who in his ſtrength went down to Askelon;
Thirty Philiſtins he kild in that place,
Whoſe garments pay'd for his riddels diſgrace.
Then his fair wife her father took him fro,
And gave her to his friend who was his fo.
Then he bethinking how he might revenge
This wrong, he did three hundred foxes range,
Knut tail to tail, with a burning fire-brand,
Which did conſume the cornes upon the land.
When all was known, the Philiſtins in ire
Burnt the Timnite, and Samſons wife with fire,
This is no mends, yet aveng'd will I be,
Said Samſon, I will ſmite them hip and thigh.
The Philiſtins (who did like lions ramp)
In JUDAH LEHI ſoon did pitch their camp.
What means this war? to them Judah did ſay;
To binde Samſon with ropes and thongs, ſaid they
Then of Judah went three thouſand anone
To Etams top, where was the ſtrong Samſon:
To him they ſaid, What haſt thou brought to paſſe
We all will ſmart for this thy great treſpaſſe.
To theſe men I have done no wrong, ſaid he,
I did to them as they have done to me.
We will thee binde, ſaid they, with cords and bands:
After, we will put thee into their hands.
Swear to me, ſaid he, by GOD that made all,
That ye your ſelves will not upon me fall.
Truely, ſaid they, thy blood we muſt not ſpill,
Thou needs not fear that Judahs men thee kill:
But unto this we with one voice accord,
To binde thine hands faſt with theſe two new coar…
Then when his foes ſaw him bound at Lehi,
For joy they cry'd, and ſhouted mightily.
Upon him then came a Sprite from the LORD,
With great power hee brake both bands and coards:
When he himſelf did thus ſhake in his ire,
His bands became like flaxe burnt in the fire.
When GOD had this great work thus brought to paſſe,
Strong Samſon found the jaw-bone of an aſſe:
No ſword he had, no other weapons then
With that aſſe-bone he ſlew a thouſand men:
After this battel ſore troubled with thirſt,
Upon his eyes he felt of death the miſt:
Thou haſt me helped greatly, LORD, ſaid he,
Oh ſuffer not me now for thirſt to die:
Then GOD did cleave of the jaw the hollow,
From this bone ſoone great waters out did flow;
Becauſe that bone by GOD was made a Well,
Samſon that place Enhakore did call.
The Word ſignifieth, the Well of him that called or cryed.
SAMSON in Gaza went to an harlot,
His foes it heard, and they in anger hote,
Laid wait for him in their great ſtrength & might,
Reſolv'd they were to kill him in that night:
But he the gates of their Gaza did take,
With the two poſts and barre upon his back:
He thence them cari'd to fair Hebron hill,
Thus the Gazits could not ſtrong Samſon kill.
Againe Samſon in Sorek land did love
Delilah fair, who dayly would him move
With her fair words, decit and flattery,
To tell wherein his greateſt ſtrength did ly;
Firſt withs, then coards, then with the web and …
To her ſuch anſwers thus he did begin;
But at the laſt (for which he ſuffred ſmart)
He unto her revealed all his heart:
A Nazarite, ſaid he, from my youth-head
I have been; no raſor upon mine head
Hath come; If any cut mine hair from me,
Like other men I ſurely weak ſhall be.
When ſhe ſaw that Samſon had thus reveal'd,
That which from her he had ſo long conceal'd,
The Philistins ſhe ſpake, and cald apart;
Come now, ſaid ſhe, for I know all his heart.
Then theſe proud lords came up in a great band
And brought to her much money in their hand.
Then ſhe him made upon her knees to ſleep,
And from his head his ſeven locks ſhe did ſwee…
Up, up, ſaid ſhe, ariſe Samſon quickly,
Behold the ſtrong Philiſtins be on thee.
I will ariſe, ſaid Samſon, and me ſhake
As heretofore, of ſtrength I have no lake.
But, Oh, Samſon this did not underſtand,
That GOD the LORD had left him in their hand.
Then theſe proud men (bitter like angrie bees)
Took poor Samſon, and put out both his eyes;
With hard fetters of braſſe they did him bind
In a priſon, as horſe they made him grind.
Soon after that his hair began to ſpring,
Theſe lords him brought to Dagons houſe their king.
Dagon, ſaid they, the god of ſea and land
Hath now incloſed Samſon in our hand:
Then all the people greatly did rejoice,
And praiſed Dagon with a joyfull voice:
Then all merry and glad they did exhort
To call for Samſon for to make them ſport.
When he was come; Lad, take me by the hand,
Said he, Lead me where the pillar doth ſtand,
Upon the which the houſe is founded ſure,
That I thereon may lean my body poor.
The houſe was full, three thouſand on the roofe,
To ſee Samſon of ſporting give a proofe
Then Samſon pray'd unto the Lord with cryes,
Now grant me, Lord, a revenge for mine eyes:
Twixt the pillars (with his left hand and right)
He pull'd them downe, by great JEHOVAHS might:
Such was the end of his dayes full of ſtrife,
At death he ſlew mo then he ſlew in life.
The Uſe.
Heere wee may learne; yea, clearely wee may ſe…
That cruell men are met with crueltie:
Heere is a leſſon for to guide our life,
Not to reveale great ſecrets to a wife.
14 MICAH. Who is like the Lord.
THe word of God moſt clearely doth reveale
How MICAH did his mothers ſilver ſteele;
Yea, which was worſe, and did merite the rods
Of it he made graven and molten gods:
A Teraphim he had, and an Ephod,
And ſo became Apoſtate from his God,
A wandring Levite he hir'd for his Prieſt,
His houſe for idols he made like a beaſt.
Now I know well that God will do me good,
Said MICAH, who was moſt fooliſh and rude:
The LORD will lodge both in mine houſe and breaſt
Becauſe I have a Levite for my Prieſt:
In theſe dayes (which was a moſt fearefull thing)
…n all Iſra'l was neither judge nor King.
…he DANITS then ſeeking inheritance,
Came to the houſe of this Micah, by chance;
His Levite and his ſilver gods they tooke:
When this was done MICAH began to looke,
To run, and cry aloud after the men,
In number five come from the tribe of DAN.
What aileth thee? ſaid they; What and wherefore?
My gods, ſaid he, are ſtoll'n, what have I more?
Let not thy voice now be heard us among,
Said they, leſt ill fellows upon thee throng;
It may fall out that if we come to ſtrife
Both thou and thine this day may loſſe the life:
Thus fooliſh MICAH, Prieſt, and gods that day
Did loſſe; and ſo the DANITS went their way.
The Uſe.
Let all men learne in Gods excellent ſchools
Who worſhip idols are moſt brutiſh fooles.
Of the Levite and his Concubine.
IN theſe dayes, (which was a moſt feareful thing)
In all Iſra'l was neither Judge nor King:
In theſe ill dayes what man could it endure?
A Levite had a wife that play'd the whoore.
She not fearing the terrours of JOVAH,
Ranne to her Father dwelling in JVDAH:
Foure whole moneths with him ſhe did rema…
Her huſband went to bring her back againe:
There he with his father in law abode
Where chearefully he was moſt welcomed:
From day to day he ſought to turne againe,
But by his father was urg'd to remaine:
At laſt the fift day (after all was done)
Hee went away well neere the afternoone:
Then parted he with his wife and ſervant,
They neere to JEBVS, found the day far ſpen…
The ſervant ſaid, In JEBUS let us lodge,
The Levite ſaid, To do ſuch things I grudge;
We will not turne aſide to that citie,
We will not lodge with theſe that ſtrangers be
We will paſſe over unto GIBEAH,
For there we truſt is the fear of JOVAH.
When unto GI'BAH they were thus n… come
The Sunne in his Horizon was gone downe:
Then he went in, and ſat downe in a ſtreete,
But no man there with kindneſſe did him gree…
At laſt an old man (lifting up his eye)
Come from the field, did there perceive t… three.
Whence come ye? ſaid he, Whether will yee
We goe, ſaid they, the houſe of God unto
From BETHLEHEM; we have both bread … wine,
If thou us lodge, we ſhall take none of thine.
Then ſaid that old man, Peace be now with thee,
Welcome, thy want ſhall all lie upon me:
As they were eating with their hearts merrie,
Behold the vile villaines of that city
Swarm'd in numbers, of moſt vile rogues a rout,
The old mans houſe they compaſſed about:
Bring forth the man that came into thine houſe,
Cry'd they, of him we will make carnall uſe:
This vice ſo vile with words I can not name,
Behold in Iſra'l of SODOM the ſhame.
The old man ſaid unto them moſt gravely,
I pray you ceaſe, oh ceaſe from this folly;
This man is come under my houſe ſhadow,
Such great vileneſſe the Lord cannot allow:
His wife, my daughter, (if ſo be it muſt)
Abuſe, with man abhorre to ſpend your luſt.
But for all this theſe men could not forbeare,
Raging in luſt, ſuch words they would not hear.
When this was done, and all remeed was paſt,
The Levite brought to them his wife at laſt:
Theſe vile villains not trembling at Gods ſight,
In their mad luſt abuſ'd her all the night.
When darkneſſe paſt, the cleare ſpring of the day
Appear'd, then theſe vile villains went away,
Then ſhe whom they had handled like a whoore
In the dawning fell downe dead at the doore:
At laſt the man op'ning the doore, behold
Her fall'n downe dead, her hands on the th…ſhold,
Then to her thus lying her Lord did ſay,
Up up, let us make ready for the way.
While he looked that ſhe ſhould riſe with ſpe…
Behold his wife upon the threſhold dead:
When the man ſaw what then was come to pa…
He tooke the corps and laid it on his aſſe:
When he her brought unto his houſe at home,
He with a knife cut her through fleſh and bon…
That the dead parts the wrong might clearly te…
Twelve parts hee made and ſent through ISRAEL:
They that this ſaw, ſaid, A ſinne of this kinde
We have not ſeene, adviſe and ſpeake your min…
Then all the land (for this great ſin much grieve…
From end to end at MISPEH were conveened
In number clearly (ſet downe by GODS pen)
They there were foure hundred thouſand fo… men:
There the Levite, in anguiſh and diſtreſſe,
At their deſire declard the wickedneſſe.
This heard, they all with one conſent began
To go to work, to ariſe as one man:
Then ſaid they all (kindled with anger hot)
To the battell we will go up by lot
Againſt vile Gib'ah, to fight bitterly,
That they may ſmart for their unheard folly.
Firſt through Benjamin ſpeedy poſts they ſent,
That Gib'ahs men might ſuffer for their rent:
We ſeeke no more but when ye heare us then,
Ye ſend to us theſe vile and wicked men:
But Benjamin in a moſt fooliſh rage,
With mouth awry ſcorned the whole meſſage;
Twentie ſix thouſand they in armour bright
Prepar'd in Battell 'gainſt Iſra'l to fight:
From Gibeah in that armie were then
Expert in war ſeven hundred choſen men;
Left handed ſtrong who to fight would not ſpare
They with their ſling ſtones well could hit an haire:
Againſt all theſe the Iſraelites had then
In readineſſe foure hundred thouſand men:
They went to GOD firſt to ſeeke his counſell,
To know which of them firſt ſhould give Battell,
To them this anſwere came from great JOVAH,
Unto the Battell firſt ſhall go Judah:
Then Iſrael right ſtoutly did begin,
To go to battell againſt Benjamin;
And they againe (all in armour full bright)
Prepar'd them ſelves againſt Iſra'l to fight,
Brave warriours all gliſtring with harneſſe,
Threw downe that day Iſra'l with great diſtreſſe:
Twentie ſix thouſand joined with ſome few
Unto Iſra'l twentie two thouſand ſlew.
To GOD againe they went to ſeek counſell
If they ſhould give to Benjamin battell.
Go up, ſaid GOD, your anger to fulfill
Go up, why not? if ſo it be your will.
The ſecond day came Iſrael to fight
Againſt Benjamin, but were put to flight:
Of that great armie of Iſral's children
Deſtroyed down were eighteene thouſand men.
Then Iſrael perceiving at the laſt
Great numbers nought, they ran to GOD by faſ…
They weeped ſore and powred out their heart,
Then GOD was moved for to take their part:
Up, up, ſaid God to war I you command
To morrow I will put them in your hand.
On the third day Iſrael did begin
A bloody battell againſt Benjamin
At the firſt meeting (which was with furie)
Of Iſral's brave men were then ſlaine thirtie.
Then Benjamin uplifting his proud criſt,
Cri'd they are ſmitten down as at the firſt:
Then Iſrael by GOD himſelf made wiſe,
Said, Let us flie and draw them to high wayes;
At Baal Tamar, they all in good array,
Prepar'd themſelves to fight ſtoutly that day;
Liers in wait came out of hole and bore,
Ten thouſand choſen made the battell ſore;
The LORD Captaine this great hoſt did command,
Therefore Benjamin that day could not ſtand:
Before, behinde Iſrael did them hew,
Twentie five thouſand and five ſcore they ſlew.
The Uſe.
See what is luſt, conſider how therefore
Were ſlaine ſixtie, five thouſand, and five ſcore:
Let men alſo (when they their armies ſend)
Heere learne not on great numbers to depend.