INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE;
OR, AN ACCOUNT OF THE MOST REMARKABLE
PASSAGES IN THE BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS:
Pointing to the Time wherein they happened, and to the Places of Scripture wherein they are recorded.
To Noah, aged 500 years, is born Japheth, and two years after, Shem. Lamech, the ninth from Adam, dieth, aged 777 years. He is the first man whom the Scriptures mention to have died a natural death before his father. Methuselah dieth a little before the flood, in the 969th year of his age. He was the oldest man.
The flood comes upon the earth in the 600th year of Noah's age.
God maketh a covenant with Abram, and in token of a greater blessing coang- eth his name into Abraham. As a seal of this covenant, circumcision is ordained Sarai her name also is changed into Sarah, and she is blessed God promiseth them a son, and commandeth that his name be called Isaac: in him God prom- iseth to establish his covenant.
Abraham entertaineth three angels, who renew the promise to him of having a son. God revealeth to Abraham the destruction of Sodom, with whom Abra- ham intercedes for Lot and his family. See Gen. xix. 29.
Lot is commanded, for the preservation of himself and family, to get out of Sodom, and to flee to the raountain; but by much entreaty he obtaineth leave to go into Zoar Sodom, Gomorrah, and all the cities in the vale of Siadim, with all the inhabitants of them, are for the most horrible sins destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven. The Dead Sea remains a monament thereof unto this day. Lot's wife, for looking back upon Sodom, contrary to God's com- mand, is turned into a pillar of salt; and Lot himself, fearing to continue at Zoar, leaves the plain country, and betakes himself to the mountain, carrying his two daughters with him.
Isaac born in the 100th year of Abraham's age. Not long after, to Lot are born Moab and Ammon, his sons at the same time, and his grandsons Hagar and Ishmael, at Sarah's request, are cast forth.
Jacob, by his mother's instruction, obtaineth the blessing from Isnar bis father, which was designed for Esau. Upon which he is forced to flee into XXVIII. Mesopotamia, to shun his brother's rage. Upon the way are foretold unto him in a vision the blessings of his posterity. At length he cometh to his uncle Laban's house, and covenanteth to serve him seven years for his daughter Rachel, bu: Laban deceiveth him with Leab; the marriage week being com- pleted, Rachel also is given him to wife, upon condition of serving seven years
Jacob, after he had been twenty years in Mesopotamia, sets forward on his journey homewards, without acquainting bis father or his brothers-in-law. Rachel stealeth her father's gods, and is pursued by Lalan. Jacob, by his prudence, is reconciled to his brother Esau. He wrestleth with an angel at Peniel, and is called Israel.
About this time, Dinali, Jacob's daughter, is defloured by Sichem the son of Hamor. Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, revenge their sister's quarrel, by putting all the males of Sichem to the sword; for which thing Jacob reproveth
Rachel is delivered of Berjacain, on the way betwixt Beth-el, or Beth-lehem, and Ephrath, and dies in childbed. Some think that Job lived about this time Judah lieth with Tamar his daughter-in law in disguise.
Joseph is hated by his brethren, and is sold to merchantmen, Ishmaelites and Midianites, who carry him into Egypt, where he is sold to Potiphat, an officer of Pharaoh, and by him made overseer of his house.
Joseph resisteth the temptations of his master's wife; he is falsely accused by her, and cast into prison. He interpreteth the dreams of Pharaoa's butler and baker, which come to pass according to his interpretation.
Isaac dieth, aged 180 years, and is buried by his sons, Jacob and Esau. Joseph interpreteth Pharaoh's two dreams; he giveth Pharaoh counsel, and is made governor of the whole land of Egypt.
Here begin the seven years of plenty in the land of Egypt. About this tim Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph's two sons, are born of Asenath, the daughter o Potipherah, priest of On
Here begin the seven years of famine.
Jacob sendeth his teu sons to buy corn in Egypt; they are imprisoned bj Joseph for spies; but are set at liberty on condition of bringing Benjanin a Simeon is kept as a pledge.
Jacob is with much difficulty persuaded to send Benjamin. Joseph maket himself known to his brethren, and sendeth for his father by cominand fr Phraoh.
Jacob, having offered sacrifice to God for that his son Joseph is yet alivy goes with all his family into Egypt, in the third year of the fame, and 1304 year of his age. He is seated in the land of Goshen.
Joseph geiteth all the money, lands, and cattle of the Egyptians for bread only the lands belonging to the priests he buyeth not.
Jacob adopteth Ephraim and Manasseh, and blesseth them, and all his song prophesicth the descent of the Messiah from Judah, and dieth, aged 147 year seventeen whereof he lived in Egypt. He is with great pomp carried lų Canaan, and buried in the sepulchre of his father.
Joseph on his death-bed prophesieth unto his brethren their return to Cruary takes an oath of them to carry his bones out of Egypt, and độc th, nged 110 yeaž The book of Genesis endeth in the death of Joseph, cont, ining the history ( 2369 years: next to which in order of time the book of Job follows
About this time Nimrod begins to exalt himself, by laying the first founda- tion of the Assyrian monarchy.
Nineveh, the metropolis of Assyria, built.
Mizraim, the grandson of Ham, leads colonies into Egypt, and layeth the foundation of a kingdom, which lasted 1663 years; whence Egypt is called the land of Ham, and the Egyptian Pharaohs boasted themselves to be the sons of ancient kings.
Terab, Abram's father, born.
Peleg, the sixth from Noah, dieth.
Noah dieth, aged 250 years, 350 years after the flood.
Abram born: he was 75 years of age when his father Terah died, aged 205 years; so that Terah begat not Abram in the 70th year of his age, but Nahor and Haran, and in the 130th year of his age begat Abram. See Acts vii. 4. Sarai, Abram's wife, (called also Iscah) Haran, Abram's brother's daughter, born ten years after her husband.
Reu, the seventh from Noah, dieth.
Serug, the eighth from Noah, dieth.
XXXVII. XXXIX. XL. XXXV 28. XLI. 25,
ABRAM, after his father's decease, in the 75th year of his age, is commanded
by God to enter upon the land of Canaan, which God promiseth to give unto his seed, and that in his seed (viz. Christ Jesus our Lord) all the families of the earth should be blessed.
In the year following, a famine in the land of Canaan forceth Abram with his family to go into Egypt. From this first coming into Egypt to the departure of the children of Israel out of it, are reckoned 430 years.
Abram and Lot in this same year return into Canaan; but the land not being sufficient for both their flocks, they part asunder. Lot goeth to Sodom. God reneweth his promise to Abram; he removeth to Hebron, and there buildeth
Bera the king of Sodom, with four other kings, rebel against Chedorlaomer, but are overcome by him in the valley of Siddim. Lot being taken prisoner, Abram rescueth him, slayeth Chedorlaomer and his confederates, and in his return is blessed by Melchisedec king of Salem, and priest of God, to whom Abram gives tithe. The rest of the spoils, his partners having had their portions, he restoreth to the king of Sodom.
Abram complaineth for want of an heir: God promiseth him a son, and a multi- plying of his seed. Canaan is promised again, and confirmed by a sign. Sarai, being barren, giveth Hagar her handmaid to Abram.
Ishmael, Hagar's son, born.
Arphaxad, the third from Noah, dieth.
Exodus
VI. 16.
1. 8. VII. 7.
Before Christ 1619. 1577. 1574.
INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. Levi dieth in Egypt, aged 137 years; he was grandfather to Moses and Aaron. Before Here begins the bondage of the children of Israel, when a king rose up in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
Aaron born three years before his brother Moses, 83 years before the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Pharaoh having in vain commanded the Hebrew midwives to destroy all the males of the Israelites, sets forth an edict, charging that they be all cast into the river.
Moses is born, who, being hid in the fings by the river's side, is found by Pha- raoh's daughter; and becomes her adopted son.
Moses, in the 40th year of his age, having slain an Egyptian, whom he saw contending with a Hebrew, fleeth into Midian, where he marrieth Zipporah the daughter of heuel, or Jethro, a priest, and liveth with him forty years. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, bor..
Whilst Moses keeps his father-in-law's sheep at count Horeb, God appeareth to hir in a burning bush, and sendeth him to deliver Israel.
Moses and Aaron having declared to Pharaoh the message on which they are sent unto him from God, are charged by him as heads of a mutiny, and sent away with many bad words; and more grievous labours are forthwith laid upon the Israelites.
Moses being now 80, and Aaron 83 years of age, urged thereunto by God, return again unto Pharaoh, where the magicians by their sorcery, imitating the Psalm miracles of Aaron's rod turned into a serpent, make Pharaoh more obstinate LXXVIII. than he was before. Wherefore God by the band of Moses lays ten plagues CV. upon the Egyptians.
UPON the fourteenth day of the first month, (which was May the fourth, upon
Monday with us) in the evening, the passover is instituted. Upon the fifteenth of the same month, at midnignt, the first-born of Egypt being all slain, Pharaoh and his servants make baste to send away the Israelites; and they, the self-same day wherein they were let go out of bondage, being the complete term of 430 years from the first pilgrimage of their ancestors, reck- oning from Abraham's departure out of Charran, take their journey, and march Numbers away, being 600,000 men, besides children, and come to Rameses, from whence XXXIII. by several encampings they come to the Red Sea, the Lord conducting them in a pillar of a cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. They carry Jo- seph's bones with them.
At the Red Sea Pharaoh with his host overtakes them; Moses divides the waters with his rod, and the children of Israel pass through on dry ground anto the desert of Etham; whom, when Pharaoh and his army would needs follow, they are all overwhelmed by the waters coming together at the dawning of the day, whereby the Israelites are wholly freed from tue bondage of the Egyptians; whose carcases when they see floating all the sea over, and cast upon the shore, they sing a song of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
Upon the fifteenth of the second month, (our June the 4th, being Thursday) the Israelites come to the wilderness of Zin, which lieth between Elyma and Sinai, where, for want of food, they murmur against God and their leaders; about the even-tide God sends them quails, and the next morning rains upon them manna from heaven; and upon that kind of bread they lived afterward by the space of forty years, even till they came to the borders of the land of promise. An omer of it is preserved for a memorial.
At Rephidim, which was the eleventh place of their encamping, the people murmur for want of water; Moses gives them water by striking the hard rock in Horeb with his rod.
The Amalekites falling upon the rear of the Israelites are discomfited by Joshua, whilst Moses holds up his hands to God in prayer.
God publisheth his Law, contained in the Ten Commandments, with a terrible voice from mount Sinai.
The people being in great fear, God gives them sundry other laws, all which being written in the book of the covenant, Moses proposeth them to the people: which done, rising early in the morning, be builds an altar at the foot of the mountain, and sets up 12 statues, according to the 12 tribes of Israel, and sends 12 young men of the first-born, (whom the Lord hath consecrated to himself as mi- nisters of those holy things, before the Levitical priesthood was ordained) which offer sacrifice, first for sin, and then for thanksgiving, to the Lord: and when Moses had read the book of the covenant, he takes the blood of the calves and goats so offered, and with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, sprinkles the book therewith, and all the people, or those 12 statues representing them; and so performs a solemn covenant between God and his people.
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 men of the elders of Israel, go up into the moant, and there behold the glory of God: the rest returning, Moses with his servant Joshua abides there still, and waits six days, and upon the seventh day God speaks unto him, and there he continues 40 days and 40 nights (reckoning those six days which he waited for the appearance of the Lord) eat- ing no meat all that while, nor drinking water; (Deut. ix. 9.) where he receives God's command touching the frame of the tabernacle, the priests' garments, XXV. &c. their consecration, sacrifices, and other things comprised in this and the six following chapters.
At the end of 40 days God gives Moses the two tables of the Law in stone, made by God's own hand, and written with his own finger; bidding him withal XXXII. quickly to get him down, for that the people had already made to themselves a molten calf to worship. Moses by prayer pacifieth God, and goes down from the mount, and seeing the people keeping a festival in honour of their idol in the camp, he breaks the tables of the law at the foot of the mount: for which the Jews keep a solemn fast unto this day.
Moses, having burnt and defaced the idol, puts 3000 of the idolaters to death by the hands of the Levites.
God commands Moses to frame new tables of stone, and to bring them with him into the mount: Moses brings them the next morning, and while he stands in the cleft of a K, God passeth by, and sheweth him a glimpse of his glory. God renews his covenant with his people, and upon certain conditions gives them his laws again.
In the first six months of this year, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the altar, the table of shew-bread, the priests' garments, the holy ointments, the candlestick, and other utensils and vessels belonging to the sacrifices, are finished in the desert at mount Sinai, and are brought unto Moses.
The tabernacle is set up and anointed with holy oil. Aaron and his sons are consecrated for the priesthood.
Nadab and Abihu, for offering strange fire, are struck dead in the place by fire from heaven.
The princes of the tribes present their offerings toward the dedication of the tabernacle. God speaketh to Moses from the mercy-seat. The second passover is instituted.
Jethro, who is also called Hobab, brings his daughter Zipporah, with her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, which were left with him, to his son-in-law Moses and having congratulated his and the whole people of Israel's deliverance out of bondage, he openly declares his faith and devotion toward the true God. By his advice Moses imparts the government of the people to some others, and ordains magistrates for the deciding of lesser causes.
Moses complains to God of the overgreat burden of his government; God, to ease him of his charge, gives him for assistance the court of 70 elders.
The people lust for flesh. God gives them quails in wrath; and sends withal a mest grievous plague among them
God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron, and maintaineth Moses his right.
From the wilderness of Paran, near Kadesh-barnea, 12 men are sent (among whom are Caleb and Joshua) to discover the land of Canaan. Returning, they bring with them a branch of a vine, with a cluster of grapes upon it; ten of the twelve so sent speak ill of the country, declare it barren, and magnify the cities for their strength, and the giantly stature of the inhabitants.
The people, terrified with this relation, are about to return into Egypt, from
The fourth Age which Caleb and Joshua endeavouring to dissuade them are like to be stoned. At this God is so provoked, that he threatens to destroy them; but is prevailed upon by Moses his prayers to spare them. Nevertheless he denounceth that all who are now 20 years old and upward (except Caleb and Joshua) shall die in the wilderness. The men who raised the evil report are all destroyed by sudden death. Some, endeavouring to enter upon the promised land, contrary to the command of God, are smitten by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
In this place, viz. Kadesh-barnea, the Israelites continue many days; but that in some places they continued many years, appeareth, for that in the space of 37 years there are but 17 encampings mentioned. Numbers To their long continuance in Kadesh, and the encampings from thence, all XXXIII. that we find delivered in the zvtli and four next ensuing chapters of Numbers, XVI. seems to refer; as how Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, for raising a mutiny against Moses and Aaron, were swallowed alive into the earth, and 250 of their asso- ciates; and how the people, murmuring against Moses and Aaron for the ca lamity which had befallen their brethren, were destroyed by God to the num ber of 14,700 men; and how 12 rods being brought by 12 princes, and laid in the sanctuary, Aaron's rod only budded, and brought forth almonds, and was laid up before the ark, for a memorial to those who should afterward be given to
In these 37 years, the Israelites, by 17 encampings, having compassed the hill country of Seir and Edom, they come to the wilderness of Zin in the first month of the 40th year after their departure out of Egypt.
Here Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, diech.
The people again for want of water murmur against Moses and Aaron, whom when God bad commanded to call water out of the rock only by speaking to it, Moses, being moved in his mind through impatience and diffidence of the thing, speaks something, whatever it was, unadvisedly with his lips, and strikes the rock thrice with Aaron's rod, and thereby draws water from it; but for trans- gressing God's command, they are both debarred from entering into the land of Canaan.
In the fifth month of this year Aaron dieth at Mosera, on the top of mount Hor, at the age of 123 years, leaving his son Eleazar his successor in the high priesthood.
The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents, whereof many die, upon their repentance God commands that a brazen serpent be made and lifted up upon a pole, that as many as look on it may live.
About the latter end of this year, all those who at Kadesh-barnea mutinied against God, being wholly extinct and dead, the Israelites pass over Zared, and come to the borders of Moab at Ar, and at length they arrive at Bamoth, a valley in the country of the Moabites, and pitch at mount Pisgah.
Sihon, king of the Amorites, refusing them passage through his country, slain, and the Israelites possess his land.
Og, the king of Bashan, coming out against Israel, is destroyed with all his people, not one left alive, and his country possessed by the Israelites.
After these victories the Israelites set forward, and encamp in the plains of Moab.
Balak, king of Moab, considering what the Israelites had done to the Amor- ites, fears, lest, under pretence of passing through his country, they should pos sess themselves of his whole kingdom, takes counsel with the princes of the Midianites his neighbours, and sends for Balaam a soothsayer out of Mesopota- XXIV. 9. mia to come and curse the Israelites, promising him great rewards for his labour; Numbers purposing afterward to make war upon them.
XXII. 7, 35.
2 Pet. II.
15, 16. Numbers XXIII. Deut.
Balaam, forewarned of God, refuseth at first to come; but being sent for a second time, he importuneth God to let him go, and goes with a purpose indeed to curse Israel; but God, offended thereat, makes the dumb ass of this wizard, on which he rode, speaking in a man's voice, to reprove his folly.
Balaam twice offers sacrifice, and would fain have cursed Israel, to gratify Balak therein; but being forced thereto by the Spirit of God, instead of curs ing, he blesseth them altogether; foretelling what felicity attended them, and XXIII. 5. what calamities should befall their enemies. Joshua
By his advice the women of Moab and Midian are set on work to turn the Israelites away to idolatry. Wherefore God commands Moses first to take all the ringlenders of this disorder, and to hang them up before the sun, and then gives order to the judges to put to death all such as had joined themselves to 1, 2, 3, &c. Baal-peor. Last of all, God sends a plague upon the people, whereof die 23,000 men in one day: which, added to them which were hanged and killed with the sword, amount in all to 24,000.
Psalm
CVI. 28. Rev.
II. 14. 1 Cor. X. & Numbers
XXV.
Psalm
CVI. 30. Numbers XXV.
13, 17. XXVI. XXVII.
1, 2, 12, 23. Deut.
III. 26, 27, 28. Numbers XXXI.
Numbers XXXII. Deut. III.
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, by killing Zimri, the chief of his father's family, and Cozbi the daughter of Zur, a prince of the Midianites, appeaseth the wrath of God, and the plague ceaseth. God therefore settleth the high priesthood for ever upon the house of Phinehas, and commands that war be made upon the Midianites.
Moses and Eleazar, by God's command, in the plain of Moab, near unto Jordan, over against Jericho, number the people from twenty years old and upwards, and find them to be 601,730 men, besides the Levites, whose number, reckoning them from one month old and upwards, comes to 23,000; and then Moses receives command for the parting the land of promise among the Israelites.
The daughters of Zelophehad have their father's land parted among them, for want of issue male; this occasions the law for succession in heritages to he
God signifies to Moses that he shall die, and Joshua is thereupon declared to be his successor; upon whom Moses lays his hands, and gives him instructions. Several laws are made.
Twelve thousand of the Israelites under the command of Phinehas vanquish the Midianites, and put to the sword all the males among them, with their five princes, and among them Zur, the father of Cozbi, and Balaam the wizard; but they save the women alive; at which Moses is wroth, and commands that every male child, and al! the women, except such as be virgins, be killed.
The lands which belonged to Sihon and Og, namely, all from the river Armon Josh.XIII. to mount Hermon, Moses divides and gives to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, 21, 22. and the half-tribe of Manasseh; so that their possessions lay on this side Jor dan; nevertheless, they assist the rest of the tribes in all their wars, till they have subdued the Canaanites, and possessed the promised land. Moses commands the people, that in their passage over Jordan they shall set Josh.XIII. up great stones, and engrave the Ten Commandments on them, with the form of blessing upon mount Gerizim, and of cursing on mount Ebal; exhorting them to observe the law of God, by setting before their eyes the benefits that would
Moses, now drawing near to his end, blesseth every tribe in particular by way of prophecy, save only the tribe of Simeon.
In the 12th month of this year he goes up to mount Nebo, and from thence beholds the land of promise, and there dieth, aged 120 years; the body of Moses God translates out of the place where he died, into a valley of the land of Moab over again t Beth-peor, and there burieth it; nor doth ary man know the place where he laid it unto this day. The Israelites mourn for him S0 days.
2552 years and a half, from the beginning of the world; and the book of Joshua Here ends the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, containing the history of begins with the forty-first year after the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt.
The fourth Age. from the top of mount Gerizim expostulates with them the wrong they had done to his father's house; and by way of a parable foretells their ruin: which done, he lies, and dwells quietly in Beer.
INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. Joshua, being confirmed in his government by God, sends forth spies from Before Shittim to the city of Jericho, who, being harboured by Rahab, are privily sent away, when search is made for them.
Upon the tenth day of the first month, (April 30) to wit, the same day that the Paschal Lamb was to be chosen out of the flock, the Israelites under the con- duct of Joshua, a type of Jesus Christ, go up out of the river Jordan into the promised land of Canaan, a type of a more heavenly country. They pass through the river on dry ground, the waters being for the present divided; for a memo- rial of which miraculous passage, Joshua sets up 12 stones in the very channel of Jordan, and taking 12 other stones out of the midst thereof sets them up at Gilgal, the place where they next encamp.
The day following, Joshua renews the use of circumcision, which had been omitted 40 years.
Upon the 14th day of the same month, in the evening, the Israelites celebrate their first passover in the land of Canaan.
Next day after the passover manna ceaseth.
Our Lord Jesus, Captain of his Father's host, appears to Joshua, the typical Jesus, before Jericho, with a drawn sword in his hand, and promiseth there to defend his people.
Jericho, the ark of the Lord having been carried round about it, is taken the seventh day, the walls thereof falling down at the sound of the priests' trum- pets; all the inhabitants are put to the sword, except Raliab and her family.
The Israelites besicge Ai, and are smitten by their enemies, God having aban- doned them for sc.crilege committed by Achan: Achan's sin being discovered by the casting of lots, and himself found guilty, he is stoned to death, and, to- gether with his children and cattle, burned with fire. God being pacified here- by, Ai is taken by ambushment and utterly destroyed.
On mount Ebal, according to the law made, is an altar erected, and the Ten Commandments engraven on it; the blessings and cursings are repeated on mount Ebal and mount Gerizim, and the book of the law read in the ears of the people.
The kings of Canaan combine against Israel; only the Gibeonites craftily find a way to save their own lives by making a league with them; but are after- wards deputed to the servile offices of the house of God.
Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, with the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, hearing that Gibeon is fallen off from them, join their forces together and besiege it; but Joshua raiseth the siege, pursueth those five kings, and smiteth them as far as Azekah, the Lord in the meanwhile killing more with hailstones from heaven, than the Israelites with their swords. Joshua com- mands the sun to stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, by the space almost of one whole day, until the Israelites are fully avenged of their enemies. The five kings hide themselves in a cave at Makkedah; from whence they are brought forth, scornfully used, and hanged.
From the autumn of this year, wherein, after the failing of manna, they began to till the ground, the rise of the sabbatical years is to be taken.
Joshua, now grown old, is commanded by God to divide all the land on the west of Jordan among the nine tribes remaining, and the other half-tribe of Manasseb. The Lord and his sacrifices are the inheritance of Levi.
The rest of the kings, with whom Joshua had waged war for six years, resolve to set upon him with united forces: but Joshua comes upon them unawares, slays them, and possesseth their countries.
Joshua now roots out those giants, the Anakims, with their cities, out of the hill-countries, out of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and generally out of all the mountains of Judah and all Israel. Andaving gotten the whele land into his hands, he divides it among the children of Israel according to their tribes; and the land rested from war.
The first sabbatical year, or year of rest; from hence the year of Jubilee, or every fifty years' space, is to be reckoned.
The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh, (thought to be the same with Salem,) where it continued 328 years.
The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with a blessing are sent home to their possessions on the other side of Jordan.
Joshua gathers together all Israel, exhorts them to obedience, briefly recites God's benefits to them, reneweth the covenant between thent and God, and dieth 110 years old.
After the decease of Joshua, and the elders who outlived him, and who re- membered the wonders which God had wrought for Israel, there succeeds a generation of men which forget God, and mingle themselves with the Canaan- Ites by marriage, and worship their idols. In this time of anarchy and confu- sion, when every man did that which seemed right in his own eyes, ali 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; the war of the Benjamites, and the cause thereof. God, being highly provoked, gives them up into the hands of Cushan, king of Mesopotamia; which first ca- lamity of theirs holds them but eight years.
Othniel, the son of Kenaz, and son-in-law to Caleb, stirred up by God as a judge and avenger of his people, defeats Cushan, and delivers the Israelites out of bondage; and the land rested forty years after the first rest which Joshua procured for them.
Othniel dying, the Israelites fell again to sin against God, and are given over into the hards of Eglon king of Moab, who, joining with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, overthrows the Israelites, and takes Jericho; and this second oppression continueth 18 years.
Abimelech, having reigned three years over Israel. Gaal a Shechemite con- spires against him; which being discovered to him by Zebul, he utterly destroys the city of Shechein, and puts all the inhabitants to the sword, and burns the temple of their god Berith with fire; from thence he goeth and 1yeth siege to Thebez, where he is knocked on the head with a piece of a millstone, cast upon him by a woman from the walls, and then killed outright by his armour-bearer. Tola the son of Puah, after Abimelech, judgeth Israel 23 years. Jair the Gileadite succeeds Tola, and judgeth Israel 22 years.
The Israelites, forsaking again the true God, fall to worship the gods of several nations, and are given up into the hands of the Philistir.es and Ammon- ites; which fifth thraldom lasteth 18 years. Upon their repentance, and abap- doning their idols, at length they obtain mercy.
Jephthah the Gileadite, being made captain of the host of Israel, subdues the Ammonites; before the battle he vows his daughter unawares to be offered in sacrifice, and afterward performs it. He puts to the sword 42,000 Ephraimites, who had behaved themselves insolently against him, and judgeth Israel 6 years Ibzan the Bethlehemite succeeds Jephthah, and judgeth Israel 7 years. Elon the Zebulonite succeeds Ibzan, and judgeth Israel 10 years. Abdon the Ephraimite succeeds Elon, and judgeth Israel 8 years.
Eli the high priest (in whom the high priesthood was translated from the fan- ily of Eleazar to Ithamar's) succeeds Abdon, and judgeth Israel 40 years. The Israelites again provoke the Lord to anger, and he delivers them into the hands of the Philistines. This sixth thraldom begins sever mouths after Eli's entering upon the government, and lasteth 40 years, even till seven months after his death, when the ark was brought back again.
Samson the Nazarite, as an angel had foretold, is born at Zorah.
Whilst Eli the high priest executeth the office of a judge in civil causes under the Philistines, Samson takes an occasion to quarrel with them, by mar. rying a woman of Timnath; for having on the day of his betrothing propound- ed a riddle to the Philistines, and laid a wager, his wife tells them the meaning of it: enraged hereat, he goes and slays 30 nien of Askelon, and gives them the suits of raiment which he had stripped off their bodies, in performance of the wager which he had lost, and returns home to his father.
Samson again in harvest-time goes to present his wife with a kid at her fath er's house, but finds her given away in marriage to another man; Sainson re solves to be revenged; he catches 500 foxes, and tying fire-brands to their tails, turns them all into the corn-fields of the Philistines, and irto their vineyards, and olive-gardens, and sets them all on fire. The Philistines take Samson's wife and father-in-law, and burn them; Samson in revenge slays a great inulti- tude of them, and sits down upon the rock Etam, from whence being taken by 3000 of the Jews, and by them delivered into the hands of the Philistines, Fe slays of them a thous nd men with the jaw-bone of an ass; in which place he is miraculously refreshed, when thirsty and ready to faint.
Samson is betrayed by Delilah his concubine, bereaved of the hair of his Naz- ariteship, and delivered to the Philistines, who put out his eyes and bind him with chains of brass. The Philistines gather together to offer sacrifice to Dagen their god, and Samson is brought to make them sport; whose hair being grown, and his strength in a great measure restored, he takes hold of the two chief pil lars whereon the house stood, (wherein were the princes of the Philistines, a d a great multitude of people) and pulls down the house, killing more men at his death, than he did in all his life-time. So he died, having judged Israel in the 1 Sam. IV. days of the Philistines 20 years.
VIII. Hosea XIII. 10. 1 Samuel XI. 12.
The Israelites take up arms against the Philistines, but with very ill success, for they lose 4000 men in one battle. Then they send for the ark of the cove nant from Shiloh, and cause it to be brought into the camp. The Philistines, seeing now all lie at stake, encourage one another to behave themselves like men that day; and so falling on, they slay of the Israelites 30,000 men. The ark of God is taken, and Hophni and Phinehas, priests, and sons of Eli, are slain Of all which, when tidings are brought to old Eii, frighted thereat, he falls from his chair and breaks his neck, in the 98th year of his age.
The Philistines, having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house of Dagon their god. But when Dagon bad been found two several times fallen grov elling before it, and broken in pieces, and the inhabitants of the place so viv plagued, they remove it from thence to Gath, and from thence to Ekron. Put the same plagues and judgments following wherever it went, after 7 months, by the advice of their priests, they send home the ark again with presents and gifts into the land of the Israelites, and it is brought to Beth-shemesh, whee 30,070 men are smitten for looking into the ark. From hence it is carried to the house of Abinabad in Kirjath-jearim, who sanctifieth his sot. Eleaz r to keep it. After 20 years tl. Israelites, by Samuel's persuasion, solemnly repent at Viz- peh, and, upon their conversion, God by thunder from heaven delivers them from the invasion of the Philistines, who are subdued, the hand of the Loid being against them all the days of Samuel.
Samuel, being grown old, takes for his assistance in the government h sons; by whose ill management of affairs, the Israelites require a king to be given them: whereupon God gives them a king in his wrath, to wit, Saul the son of Kish, after Samuel had judged Israel 21 years. Saul is privately anointed by Samuel, and afterward publicly proclaimed king at Mizpeh. Aben a month after Jabesh-gilead is besieged by Nahash king of the Aminonites, and the siege raised by Saul; whereupon the whole congregation of Israel, coming XVII. 12 together at Giigal, again proclaim Saul king.
Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth, a prophetess, who at this time judgeth Israel in mount Ephraim, and Barak of the tribe of Naphtali, being made captain of the host of Israel, in sight of Megiddo, overcomes Sisera, captain of Jabin's army, whom Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite afterward kills in her own tent. For a memorial of which victory Deborah composeth a song; and the land resteth 40 years after the former rest obtained by Ehud.
The Israelites sinning again are delivered into the hands of the Midianites; which fourth thraldom lasteth 7 years. Hereupon they cry unto God for help, and are reproved by a prophet. Then Gideon the son of Joash, of Manasseh, is by an angel from God sent to deliver them. He first overturns the altar of Baal and burns his grove, and is called Jerubbaal. He out of 32,000 men, which came unto him, chooseth only (God so commanding) 300: but with them he puts to flight all the host of the Midianites, whom the Ephraimites afterward pursue, and slay their princes Oreb and Zeeb. Gideon having pacified the Ephraimites, who complain that they were not called to the battle at first, passeth the river Jordan, and defeats the remainder of the Midianitish army; he chastiseth also the men of Succoth and Penuel, who had refused him victuals in his journey; and slays the two kings of the Midianites, Zebah and Zalmunna. After which great victories, the Israelites offering to settle the kingdom upon him and his posterity, he refuseth it; but receiving their golden ear-rings, he makes thereof an ephod, which afterward proves an occa- sion of idolatry. The Midianites being thus vanquished, the land enjoys rest 40 years, after the former rest restored to them by Deborah and Barak. Gideon dieth, and the Israelites, falling back again to idolatry, worship Baal- berith for their god.
Abimelech the son of Gideon (begotten upon his concubine) purposing to get to himself the kingdom which his father had refused, slayeth 70 of his brothers all upon one stone; and having by the help of the Shechemites got to be male king, Jotham the youngest son of Gideon, who only escaped Abimelech's fury,
XXVIII. 1 Chron. XII.
1 Samuel XXVIII.
David the son of Jesse the Ephrathite, born at Beth-lebem-judah 30 years before he succeeded Saul in the kingdom. He was his father's youngest son. God rejects Saul, and sends Samuel to Beth-lehem, there to anoint Da.id king, whom Saul ever after extremely persecuteth:
Yet Jonathan, Saul's son, loveth him, and oftentimes rescueth him from Saul's cruelty.
David, having Saul twice in his power, forbears to hurt him.
David, fearing he may sonie time or other fall into the hands of Saul, fics to Gath unto king Achish, carrying with him 600 men, and hang obtained of him the town of Ziklag to dwell in, he continueth one year and four months in the land of the Philistines; from whence he invadeth the countries of the Gesh- urites, Gezrites, and Amalekites, and puts to the sword all, both men and women, not leaving one alive to carry the news thereof to king Achish.
Achish, proposing to make war upon the Israelites, takes David along with him in that expedition, to whom, whilst he is upon his march with his 600 men, repair a great many others of the tribe of Manasseh, and join with him.
Saul, seeing the army of the Philistines, is in great fear, and (Samuel being now dead) goes to En-dor to consult with a witch there; the woman raiseth an apparition of Samuel, and Saul receives from it that dreadful doom, The Lord will deliver Israel, together with thyself, into the hands of the Philistines. The princes of the Philistines growing jealous of David, he and his company early the next morning leave the army, and return to Ziklag.
The armies join battle, and the Israelites are defeated; the three sons of Saul are slain, and he himself falls on his own sword.
Three days after, an Amalekite brings Saul's crown, and the bracelet that was upon his arm, and presents them to David, professing that, findin, s fallen upon his sword, he had killed him outright, and taken the crown from off his head: whereupon David causeth him to be put to death, for stretchin forth his hand to slay the Lord's anointed, and lamenteth the death of Sata Jonathan his son in a funeral song. David, having asked couuse of God, goes up to Hebron with those that are about him, where he is anointed king by the men of Judah, his own tribe, in the 50th year of his age; and there he re,79 seven years and six months.
Abner, who was captain of the host of Saul, carries Ishbosheth, Saul's son, to Mahanaim, and there makes him king over the rest of Israel.
After two years there arise frequent and mortal skirmishes between a party of men on David's side, beaded by Joab, David's nephew, and another party un
1 Kings XIV. 21.
1 Kings I.
III. 1.
2 Chron.
VIII. 11. 1 Kings
III. 5.
INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. Ishbosheth's side, whereof Abner is chief; but the former still grows stronger || Before 1 Kings and stronger.
Abner, affronted by Ishbosheth, revolteth to David, and deals with the chief men of Israel to transfer the whole kingdom unto him, and this in the hearing of the Benjamites.
He comes to David, and is kindly received; returning, he is treacherously murdered by Joab. David much laments his untimely death, and buries him at Hebron.
Baanah and Rechab murder their lord and master Ishbosheth, as he lieth resting himself upon his bed. They bring his head to David, who in detesta- tion of their treason causeth them immediately to be put to death.
The captains and elders of all the tribes coming to Hebrea, anoint David a third time, and make him king over all Israel.
David with all Israel marcheth to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, and taketh the fort of Zion, and calls it the city of David, and making Jerusalem the scat of his kingdom, reigneth there over all Israel 33 years.
The ark of the covenant, which in the first sabbatical year was brought from Gilgal to Shiloh, is this year, being also a sabbatical year, brought from Kir- jath-jearim out of the house of Abinadab, and placed at Zion; 30,000 choice men of Israel attending it, and singing the 68th Psalm.
David now dwelling in his house of cedar, which he had built, and living in a full and perfect peace, imparteth to Nathan the prophet his purpose of building a house for God; but is answered from God, that this was a work which should be done, not by him, because he was a man of blood, and trained up in war; but by his son Solomon, a man of peace, which should be born unto him. The time which passeth from hence till the birth of Solomon is spent in wars; wherein David subdues the Philistines, Edomites, Amalekites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Syrians, and extends his kingdom to the utmost bound of that land which had been promised to the seed of Abraham, and never possessed by any of them, save only by David and his son Solomon.
At the end of this year Joab, going with the army against the Ammonites, besiegeth Rabbah, the metropolis of Ammon, whilst David takes his ease at Je- rusalem, and there commits adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hit tite, who was then in the army, whom he also procures to be slain.
The child so gotten in adultery is born. David is convicted by Nathan the prophet of his sin, and he repents; in testimony whereof be composeth the 51st Psalm. The child dieth.
Bathsheba becomes now David's wife, and beareth him a son, unto whom, as unto one who should prove a man of peace, God gives the name of Solomon; and, as to one beloved of the Lord, the name of Jedidiah.
Amnon, David's eldest son, defloureth his sister Tamar. Absalom avengeth his sister Tamar, and killeth his brother Amnon; for which thing he fleeth to Geshur in Syria, where he continues three years with king Talmai, his grandfather by the mother's side.
After three years exile he returns to Jerusalem, where he continues two years, before the king his father admits him into his presence, and is reconciled to him.
This rebel son, having got chariots and horses, and a guard to attend him, insinuates himself into the favour of the people, and steals away their hearts
The next year following, under pretence of a vow, he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron, where, by Ahithophel's counsel, he breaks out into open rebellion, and forceth his father to fly from Jerusalem.
Ahithophel, because his counsel in all matters is not followed by Absalom, hangs himself.
Absalom, having lost 20,000 men, fleeth, and a hough of an oak catching hold of him, he there hangs, and is run through by Joab.
David, tempted by Satan, commandeth Joab to number the people: God, offended thereat, sends a prophet to put three plagues to his choice, viz. the famine, sword, or pestilence. David chooseth to fall into the hands of a merci- ful God, rather than into the hands of men. So God sends a pestilence, whereof 70,000 men die in one day. The angel being about to destroy Jerusalem, God bids him hold bis hand; for he beholds David repenting in sackcloth, and en- treating him to spare the innocent people, and to turn his hand upon himself, and upon his father's house.
Rehoboam is born unto Solomon by Naamah, an Ammonitish woman. David, being now 70 years of age, and broken with continual cares and wars, grows so weak and feeble, that clothes can no longer preserve heat in hum. Therefore Abishag, a young virgin, is appointed to keep him warm. Adonijab, seeing his father thus declining, by the assistance of Joab and Abiathar, inakes himself king which David understanding, he presently commands Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, with other great men, to anoint Solomon king. Adonijah hearing this, betakes himself to the sanctuary, and is pardoned. David, having given instructions to his son Solomon, dieth; after he had reigned in Hebron seven years and six months, and 33 years in Jerusalem over all Israel.
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gives his daughter in marriage fo Solomon. The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream, and bids him ask what he will, and it shall be given bin. Solomon asketh wisdom; God gives him wisdom from above, and adds thereunto riches and honour. Of this divine wisdom Solomon makes an eminent manifestation in judging between two harlots.
1 Kings
VI. 88.
VIII.
2 Chron.
975. V, VI, VII.
OLOMON layeth the foundation of the temple in the 480th year after the de- parture of the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Solomon's temple finished in the eleventh year of bis reign; having been seven years and a half in building.
Solomon this year (being the 9th Jubilee, and opening the fourth Millenary of the world) with great magnificence celebrates the dedication of the temple. at which time God giveth a visible sign of his favour.
Solomon having, as it is with reason believed, forsaken his lusts and vanities, to which he had been too intemperately addicted, and written, as a testimony of his repentance, his book called, The Preacher, diet. He reigned 40 years. The Israelites assemble at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, Solomon's son, king over all Israel. The people by Jeroboam sue unto him for a removal of some grievances; to whom Rehoboam, by the advice of young men, returning a harsh answer, alienates the hearts of ten tribes from him, who make Jeroboam king over them, and fail at the same time from the house of David, and from the true worship of God.
Jeroboam, in the beginning of his reign, repairs Shechem, destroyed by Abimelech 258 years before, and there dwells; afterward going over Jordan he builds Penuel, and at length makes Tirzah the seat of his kingdom. But fearing lest his new subjects by going to Jerusalem to worship, may be induced to revolt from him, he deviseth a new form of religion, setting up two golden calves, the one at Beth-el, the other at Dan, for the seduced people to bow down unto. From the time of this dismal rent Rehoboam reigneth over Judah and Ben- 2 Chron. jamin 17 years, and Jeroboam over Israel, or the other ten tribes, 22 years. XII. The Priests and Levites, and other Israelites who feared God, stick to Reho- XI. 17. boam, and maintain the kingdom of Judah three years; after which time Reho- hoam falls to idolatry, and waiketh no more in the ways of David and Solomon. Jeroboam sacrificing to his calf at Beth-el, a prophet is sent unto him from God, who foretells the judgment which should one day be executed upon that altar, and the priests (viz. those whom Jeroboam had made of the lowest of the people) that served at it. Which prophecy then and there is confirmed by signs and wonders upon the king himself, and upon the altar.
The fifth Age. Asa in the twentieth year of Jeroboam succeeds his father Abijam, and reign 41 years. Nadab in the second year of Asa succeedeth his father Jeroboam in the king. dom of Israel, and reigneth not full two years.
Nadab at the siege of Gibbethon (a town of the Philistines) is slain by Baasha of the tribe of Issachar in the third year of Asa; and the same year having made himself king over Israel, be utterly destroyeth the whole race of Jerobo an, and reigneth 24 years. At this time lived the prophets Jehu, Hanani, and Azarias.
Asa destroyeth idolatry, and, enjoying ten years of peace, strengthens his kingdom with forts and a standing army.
Zeral the Ethiopian with an innumerable army invadeth Judah: Asa over- comes him, sacrificeth to God of the spoil, and maketh a solemn covenant with God. He also deposeth Maachah his grandmother, a great patroness of idol- atry; bringeth into the temple those things which his father and himself had consecrated unto God, and enjoys a long peace.
Elah the son of Baasha succeeds his father in the kingdom of Israel. In the second year of his reign, and the twenty-seventh of Asa's, Zimri, one of his captains, conspires against him, kills him, and reigneth in his stead. As soon as he sits in the throne, he destroyeth the whole family of Baasha; but the army which then lay before Gibbethon makes Omri their king, who presently besiegeth Tirzah, and taketh it; which Zimri seeing, he sets on fire the king's palace, and perisheth in the flames.
The people of Israel are now divided into two factions; one follows Tibni the son of Ginath, and endeavours to make him king; the other adheres to Omri, but Tibni dying, Omri reigns alone in the 31st year of Asa.
Omri having reigned six years in Tirzah, removes the seat of his kingdom to Samaria, a place which he himself had built.
Ahab succeeds his father in the kingdom of Israel, and reigneth 22 years in Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. Jehoshaphat succeedeth his father Asa in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel, and reigneth 25 years in Jerusalem.
Jehoshaphat being settled in his kingdom, and having demolished the high places and groves, in the third year of his reign he sends Levites with the princes to instruct the people in the law. God in the meantime subdueth his
Ben-hadad king of Syria layeth siege to Samaria, who by the direction of a prophet is beaten off, and a vast number of the Syrians slain.
Ahab, not being able to persuade Naboth to sell him his vineyard, falls sick upon it; Jezebel his wife, suborning false witnesses to accuse him of blasphemy, causeth Naboth to be stoned, and puts the king in possession of the vineyard. Whereupon the prophet Elijah denounceth judgments against Ahab and Jer- ebel; wicked Ahab repenting, God defers the judgment.
Ahab in the seventeenth year of the reign of Jehoshaphat maketh his son Ahaziah his associate in the government of his kingdom.
Jehoshaphat also maketh Jehoram his son copartner with him; whence it is, that Jehoram the son of Ahab, who succeeded his brother Ahaziab in the king. dom of Israel, in the 18th year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, is said to have begun his reign in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat.
Ahab having got Jehoshaphat to assist him in the siege of Ramoth-gilend, before he goes, he asketh counsel of 400 false prophets, who promise him vic tory and success; but by Jehoshaphat's advice Micaiah, a true prophet of God. is consulted, who foretells his overthrow; and according to his word Ahab is slain at Ramoth-gilead, and buried at Samaria.
2 Kings Ahab being dead, the Moabites revolt from Israel, who had continued in sub 1. 1. III. 5.jection ever since king David's days.
Abaziah king of Israel, lying ill of a fall, sends to consult Baal-zebub the god of Ekron concerning his recovery. Elijah the prophet meeteth the messenger 2 Kings I. and telleth him Ahaziah spall surely die; whereupon two captains over fifty men apiece are sent to apprehend him, and bring him before the king; Elijah calleth for fire from heaven, and destroyeth both them and their companies. A third captain with his fifty men being sent, and behaving himself submissively, Elijah goes along with him; the prophet certifies the king that he shall not come down from his bed alive. So Ahaziah dieth having governed (partly by himself, and partly together with his father) two years.
1 Kings XXII.
2 Kings III.1.
II. 11. 2 Chron.
XXI.2, 3.
2 Kings VIII. 16.
2 Chron.
XXI. 4, 5. Genesis XXVII. 40. 2 Chron. XXL 10, 11,
Jehoram succeedeth his brother Ahaziah in the kingdom of Israel in the latter end of the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, and reigneth twelve years. Elijah is taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot.
Jehoshaphat grown old gives to his sons many gifts with fenced cities in Judea; but his eldest son Jehoram he now more absolutely investeth with the throne of the kingdom in the fifth year of Jehoram king of Israel.
Jehoram now, by the death of his father, has the kingdom of Judah to him- self, which he holds four years. He is no sooner settled in his throne, but he puts all his brethren to the sword, with many of the princes of Israel. At this time the Edomites, who ever since king David's time had lived in subjection to Judah, revolt, and (as it was foretold by Isaac) they forever shake off his yoke. Libnah also, a city of the priests in the tribe of Judah, falls off from him about
Jehoram following the counsel of his wicked wife Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab king of Israel, sets up in Judah, and even in Jerusalem itself, the idolatrous worship of Baal, and compels his subjects thereto; a letter which was left for him by Elijah the prophet comes to his hands, which reproves him, and denoun- ces all those calamities and punishments which afterward befell him.
Ahaziah succeeds his father in the kingdom of Judah (having had part of the government bestowed upon him the year before) in the 12th year of Jehoram king of Israel, and reigneth one year in Jerusalem.
Jehoram king of Israel, and Abaziah king of Judah, lead their armies to Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, who had newly succeeded Ben-hadad in the kingdom of Syria; Jehoram is dangerously wounded, and retires himself to Jezreel to be cured. In the meantime Elisha sendeth a young prophet with instructions to anoint Jebu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimishi, at Ra moth-gilead, king over Israel, and to open to him the will of God for the rooting out of the house of Abab; who, being proclaimed king by the soldiers, marcheth straight to Jezreel, killeth Jehoram in the field of Naboth, and causeth Jezebel to be cast out at a window, where she is eaten by dogs. He despatcbeth letters also to Samaria, and causeth seventy of Ahab's children to be beheaded. Then taking with him Jehonadal the son of Rechab, he comes himself to Samaria, and de stroys the whole family of Ahab, and all the priests of Baal. Nevertheless, hav ing put down the worship of Baal, he departs not from the worship of Jer boam's golden calves, but maintains that idolatry all the time of his reign, which was 28 years.
Jehu proceeds farther, and executes the divine vengeance upon the idols- trous house of Judah, he pursues Ahaziah, who fled towards Megiddo, and over- taking him at Gur, causeth him to be killed in his chariot. Going also to Sama- ria, he meeteth with 42 of Ahaziah's kinainen, whom he causeth to be slain. Athaliah the daughter of Ahab, seeing her son Ahaziah dead, usurps the king dom, destroying those that had right to the succession; but Jehosheba the daugh XXII. 10. ter of king Jehoram, and wife to Jehoiada the high priest, takes Jehoash, being then an infant, and sou to her brother Abaziah, and hides him in the temple and so saves him from that massacre which was made of the rest of the blood Jehoiada the high priest brings out Jehoash. now seven years old, and anoints him king; causeth Athaliah to be stain, and restoreth the worship of the true God, destroying the bouse of Baal, and commanding the idolatrous priest Mattan to be killed before his altars. Jehoash, now beginning his reign in the seventh year of Jehu, reigneth 40 years in Jerusalem.
2 Kings XXII. 1.
2 Chron. XXXIV.
INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. Jehonsh, the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, is taken into the consortship of that kingdom by his father in the 27th year of Jehoash king of Judah, and reigneth 16 years.
Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the high priest, for reproving the people et Judah that fall to idolatry after the decease of Jehoiada, is stoned to death in the court of the house of the Lord by the commandment of king Jehoash, who the next year after is murdered by some of his servants, as he lay in his bed; and Amaziah his son succeedeth him.
Jehoalaz dieth, and Jehoash his son succeedeth in the kingdom of Israel. Not long after his father's funeral he visits Elisha the prophet, then lying sick, and with many tears asketh counsel of him, who promiseth him victory over the Syrians. A dead man is brought to life by being laid in Elisha's grave. Jeroboam the second is this year taken into the consortship of the kingdom of Israel by his father Jehoash, going to war against the Syrians. This is gath- ered from Azariah king of Judah's beginning his reign in the 27th year of this Jeroboam.
Amaziah king of Judab, growing proud upon a victory obtained against the Edomites this 14th year of his reign, provoketh Jehoash king of Israel to baule. Jehoash overcomes him, and takes him prisoner, breaks down 400 cubits of the wall of Jerusalem, and having spoiled the temple and the king's house of a vast treasure, returns to Samaria.
Jehoash dies fifteen years before Amaziah, and Jeroboam the second, his son, reigneth in Samaria 41 years.
Amaziah, finding a conspiracy against him at Jerusalem, flies to Lachish. where he is murdered; after whon comes his son Uzziah, or Azariah, in the 27th year of Jeroboam the second, and reigneth 52 years in Jerusalem.
Now is held the 13th Jubilee under the two most flourishing kings; in whose times live sundry great prophets in both kingdoms; Isaiah and Joel in Judah; Jonas, Hosea, and Amos, in Israel.
Jonas of Gathhepher, a town belonging to the tribe of Zebulon in Galilee of the Gentiles, (observe here the biindness of the Pharisees, Jolm vii. 52.) was af- Jonah III. terward sent into Nineveh, the metropolis of Assyria, where both king and peo- pie at his preaching repented.
Matth. XII. 41. 2 Kings XIV. 29.
Jeroboam king of Israel (under whom that kingdom came to its full height of glory) dieth; after his death all things fall into confusion, and the state is reduced to a plain anarchy, which lasteth 11 years and a half; for such an in- terregnum or vacancy the synchronism of Kings requires, that the six months of Zachariah the son of Jerobeam may answer the 38 years and one month of Shallum,who murdered him in the 39th year of Azariah, or Uzziah,king of Judah. Zachariah the son of Jeroboam, the 4th and last of the race of Jehu (as was foretold) begins his reign over Israel in the S6th year of Azariah, or Uzziah, king of Judah, and reigneth 6 months.
Shallum the son of Jabesh, at the end of 6 months, murders bim in the sight of the people, and reigns one month in the 39th year of Uzziah king of Judah. After Zachariah's death follow those direful calamities foretold by Amos the prophet.
Menahem the son of Gadi going from Tirzah to Samaria, killeth Shallum, wasteth Tiphsah and the borders thereof; and because the town would not open to him, he takes it, and rips up all the women with child.
While Menahem in these broils iabours to get the possession of the kingdom, Pul king of Assyria invadeth his country, to whom Menahem giveth 1000 tal- ents of silver, and afterward reigneth quietly 10 years.
Pekahiah succeedeth his father Menahem in the 50th year of Uzziah king of Judah, and reigneth 2 years,
Pekah, one of his captains, kills him in his own palace at Samaria, and reign- eth 20 years.
Jotham succeedeth his father Uzziah in the kingdom of Judah at the age of 25 years, and reigneth 16 years in Jerusalem.
Jo:ham subdues the Ammonites, and makes them tributary for 3 years. Un- der him and his two successors the prophets Micah and Hosea execute their prophetical office. About this time lived the prophet Nahum, and prophesied
the destruction of Nineveh.
Ahaz succeedeth his father Jotham. in the 17th year of Pekah king of Israel, and reigneth 16 years.
This year Rezin king of Syria and Pekah king of Israel are confederate XXVIII. against Judah, which strikes a great terror into that netion; but unto Ahaz, God, by the prophet Isaiah, sends a gracious message, with a promise of deliver- ance; for a sign whereof (when the incredulous king, being bid to ask a sign, refused to do it) God gives him the promise of Immanuel to be born of a virgin. Rezin and Pekah now lay siege to Jerusalem, and therein to Ahaz, but are beat- en off; Ahaz is no sooner delivered for his enemies, but he forsakes God his deliverer, and falls to idolatry. Wherefore God gives him over into the hands of the king of Israel, who slays of the men of Judah 120,000 in one day, with a great inany of the nobility, and carrieth away 200,000 captives; but these, by the advice of the prophet Oded, are released and sent home.
Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, comes up against Hoshea, and makes him to serve him, and pay him tribute.
Hezekiah succeedeth his father Ahaz in the kingdom of Judah: he destroyeth idolatry and prospers: he also celebrates a solemn passover, and reigneth 29 years in Jerusalem; his father had made him in the last year of his reign, his assistant in the government.
Hoshea king of Israel, having consulted with So king of Egypt, refuseth to pay tribute to Shalmaneser; provoked hereby, and jealous of some farther design in that confederacy of Hoshea with the king of Egypt, Shalmaneser layeth siege to Samaria, and toward the latter end of the third year taketh it, and carrieth away the Israelites captive into his own country. This was the end of the king- dom of Israel, when it had stood divided from the kingdom of Judah 251 years. Sennacherib king of Assyria, coming up against Judah, besiegeth their fen- ced cities, and taketh many of them, but is pacified by a tribute.
About this time Hezekiah falls sick, and is told by Isaiah that he shall die; but pouring out his tears and prayers unto God, he recovereth his health, and obtaineth a prolongation of his life and kingdom for 15 years. For a sign a here- of the sun goces ten degrees backward.
2 Kings Sennacherib, not observing the articles of peace, layeth siege to Jerusalem, and XIX. sendeth a blasphemous letter to Hezekiah; which he opening, and spreading Isaiah before the Lord in the temple with many tears, craves assistance from God XXXVII. against the Assyrians. Whereupon the prophet Isaiah assures him that God will deliver him, and defend that city. The self-same night an angel of the Lord slays 125,000 men in the Assyrian army; and the next morning Sennacherib de- parteth, and returns to Nineveh; where not long after, whilst he is worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, he is slain by his own sons.
Manasseh at 12 years of age succeedeth his tather Hezekiah, and reigneth 55 years. Ile setteth up idolatry, and sheddeth much innocent blood. Wherefore God delivers him up into the hands of the Assyrians, who in the 22d year of his reign carry him away captive to Babylon: but upon his repentance God restores him to his liberty and kingdom.
This year Nabuchodonosor king of Assyria, purposing to make himself uni- versal monarch, sends Holofernes his general against Judea, who layeth siege to Bethulia, and there hath his head taken off by Judith, a woman of the tribe of Simeon.
7ne sixth Age. In the 12th year of his reign, he begins a reformation in Judah and Jerusa lem, and carries it on successfully.
This year he giveth order for the repair of the temple. Hilkian the high priest, having found a book of the law, sends it to the king, who hears it read all over to him; and thereupon asketh counsel of Huldah the prophetess, who prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem, but not in his days. Josiah calling to him the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, with the priests and prophets, causeth the book of the law to be read over before all the people, and reneweth the cov- enant between God and his people; he burneth also dead men's bones upon the altar at Beth-el, as was foretold; and keepeth a most solemn passover. At this time a war breaks out between the king of Egypt and the king of As- XXIII. 29. syria. Josiah unadvisedly engageth in this war against Necho king of Egypt, and is slain in the valley of Megidde. The good king being thus taken out of the world, whose life only kept off the Babylonish captivity from that nation, not only the people then living bewailed his death, but even in after time a pub lie mourning for him was kept. The prophet Jereiny also in remembrance thereof composeth his Lamentations; wherein bewailing the calamities which were shortly to befall that people, as present before his eyes, in a most compas- sionate manner he points, as it were with his finger, at the death of Josiah as the source and original of all those ensuing miseries.
2 Chron. XXXIV. 2 Kings Zechar. XIL. 11.
2 Chron. XXXV.
25. Lam. IV. 20.
2 Kings Xu
2 Caron. XXXVI.
After the death of Josiah, the people anoint Shallum, one of his younger sons, to be their king. After three months reign he is deposed by Pharaoh Necho, who makes Eliakim, his elder brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changes his name into Jehoiakim; but Jeboahaz he carries along with him captive into Egypt, where he ends his days.
Jehoiakim, at 25 years of age, begins to reign, and he reigneth 11 years. Uriah and Jeremiah prophesy against Jerusalem; the former is put to death, the latter is acquitted, and set at liberty. About this time Habakkuk also prophesieth.
This year is Nebuchadnezzar the great made by his father Nebopolazzar his associate in the kingdom of Assyria and Baby lon; into whose hands God de- XXXVI. livers up Jehoiakim, who is put in chains to be carried to Babylon; but upon bis submission and promises of obedience is left in his own house, where he lives a servant to Nebuchadnezzar 3 years. Fron: which entering of the king and people of the Jews into the subjection and service of Nebuchadnezzar are XXIX. 10. the 70 years of the captivity of Babylon to be reckoned, which were foretold y the prophet Jeremy.
Daniel 1. 3, 7, Isaiah XXXIX.
Nebuchadnezzar gives order to Ashpenaz, master of the eunuchs, that he shall carry from thence of the children of Israel, both of the blood royal (as was foretold by the prophet Isaiah to Ilezekiab) and also of the nobility the choicest youths both for beauty and wit that he can find; who, being educated 3 years in the language and sciences of the Chaldeans, may afterward he fit to serve the king in his palace; among whom, of the tribe of Judah, are Daniel, called Belteshazzar; Ilananiah, called Shadrach; Mishael, called Meshach; and Az- ariah, called Abed-nego; their names being thus changed by the master of the
Whilst Nebuchadnezzar pursues his victories over the king of Egypt, his father dies; which coming to his knowledge, he gives crder for the bringing Dan. I. 2. away of the captives, and posts with a small company the nearest way to baby- 2 Chron. lon, where he is received as the lawful successor to his father's dominions. XXXVI. causeth to be brought to Babylon what he thinks fit of the vessels and furniture 7.. of the temple, and placeth them in the house of his god, viz. Belus. Jehoiakim, having lived 5 years in subjection to the king of Babylon, falls off. and rebels against him.
2 Kings XXIV. L. Dan. II.
This year (being the second of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, taking it as it began at his father's death,) Daniel recovers Nebuchadnezzar's drean, and interprets it to betoken the four chief monarchies; whereupon he and his companions are highly advanced.
2 Kings Nebuchadnezzar sends an army, consisting of Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, XXIV. 2. and Ammonites, against Jehoiakim; these waste the whole country of Juden, Jerem. and carry away from thence 3023 captives: Jehoiakim also is taken prisoner; XXII. 18. whom they put to death, cause bis carcass to be drawn out at the gate of Jer.. XXXVI. salem (as was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah) and leave it without the walls 50.
2 Kings XXIV. 8.
2 Chron. XXXVI.
Jehoiachin (called also Conias and Jeconias) at 18 years of age succeeds his father Jehoiakim, and reigns 5 months in Jerusalem.
Against him Nebuchadnezzar leads an army, and besiegeth Jerusalem; Jebo- iachin with all his kindred and courtiers come out to meet him. Nebuchadnez- zar makes them all prisoners, enters Jerusalem, and takes all the treasure he cat find in the temple and the king's palace, breaking in pieces all the vess is of XXXIX. gold and furniture which Solomon had made for the temple; be carrieth away captive to Babylon the king, his mother, wives, courtiers, magistrates, and 10,000 able men out of Jerusalem, leaving none behind but the poorer sort of people; and out of the country round about he carried also away 8000 artificers; among the captives are Mordecai, and F.zekiel the priest; Ezekiel therefore in his prophecy reckons the time all along from the beginning of this captivity An epistle, said to be Jeremiah's, is now sent to the captives, admonishing thein to beware of the idolatry which they shall see in Babylon.
Jerem.
XXIV. 1. Ezekiel XVII. 12.
1.2, 3. Baruch VI.
2 Kings XXIV. 17, 2 Chron.
Nebuchadnezzar before his departure from Jerusalem makes Mattaniah, Jeho iachin's father's brother, king, changing his name into Zedekiah.
Zedekiah, beginning his reign at 21 years of age, reigneth 11 years: he, by re belling against Nebuchadnezzar, or rather by continuing in an open rebellion XXXVI. (as his fathers had done) against God, brought upon Jerusalem and the whole nation of the Jews those long-deserved calamities which God had so often fores warned them of by his prophets; for, in the latter end of the 11th year of 7ede- kiah, Jerusalem, after a long siege, is taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and his hal- deans enter it. Zedekiah flees away by night, but, being pursued, is taken, and brought prisoner to Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar's head quarters; there having first seen his children slaughtered before his eyes, he has afterward those eyes put out, and being loaden with chains, is carried away captive to Babylon. Abouta month after the taking of the city, Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, sent by Nebuchadnezzar, makes his entry into it, sets are to the temple, the king's palace, and some uoblemen's houses, and so layeth the whole city in ashes; the walls of Jerusalem being razed to the ground, all that were left in the city, and those that a little before had fallen to the Chaldeans, with what treasure he can find, doth Nebuzar-adan carry with him into Babylon.
2 Kings XXV. Jer. I. 3. XXXIX. LIL
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, proud of his victories over Egypt, and his conquest
of Judea and other countries, and boasting the magnificence of his buildi ings, falls distracted, and is driven from the society of men.
After seven years spent among the beasts of the fiell, his understanding re- turning to him, he humbly acknowledgeth the power of God, and his goodness toward him: and is restored to his kingdom. A few days after he dies, baving reigned about 20 months together with his father, and 43 years by himself. Evil-merodach his son succeeds him in the 37th year of the captivity of Je hoiachin, or Jeconiah, who presently gives order for the enlargement of ho iachin, and two days after changeth his prison-clothes, sets him above all the princes of his court, and causeth him to eat at his own table. Jehoiar hin die about two years after.
Belshazzar, having removed some persons who had murdered his father Fril merodach, and usurped his throne, succeeds in the kingdom of Babylon. In the first year of this king's reign Daniel has the vision of the four beasts, sing the four monarchies of the word, and of God delivering over all power and sovereignty to the Son of man.
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