The fourth Age.

Before
Christ
1571.
1531

1532

1491.

360

Exodus
XII. II,
20, 41.

Numbers
XXXIII.

Exodus
XIV.

XV.
XVI.

XVII. 1,

8, 9, &c.

XX.

XXI.
XXII. &c.
XXIV.

9.18.

U

The fourth Age of the World.

TPON the fourteenth day of the first month, (which was May the fourth,
upon Monday with us,) in the evening, the passover is instituted.
Up the fifteenth of the same month, at midnight, the first-born of Egypt
being all siain, Pharaoh and his servants make haste to send away the Israel-
ites; 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 an-
cestors, reckoning from Abraham's departure out of Charran, take their
journey and march away, being 600,000 men, besides children, and come to
Rameses, from whence 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 Joseph'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 un-
to the desert of Etham; whom, when Pharaoh and his army would needs fol-
low, they are all overwhelmed by the waters coming together at the dawning
of the day, whereby the Israelites are wholly freed from the bondage of the
Egyptians; whose carcasses 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 Thurs-
day,) the Israelites come to the wilderness of Zin, which lieth between Ely-
ma 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, oven 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 ter-
rible 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, he 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 con-
secrated to himself as ministers 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 cove-
nant, 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 twelve statues representing them; and so performs a solemn cove-
nant between God and his people.

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 men of the elders of Israel, go
up into the mount, 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) eating no meat all that while, nor drinking water; (Deus ix. 9.)
where he receives God's command touching the frame of the tabernacle, the
XXV. &c. priests' garments, their consecration, sacrifices, and other things comprised
in this, and the six following chapters.

XXXI. 18.

XXXII.

20, 28.
XXXIV.

10.
XXXIX.

XL.

Lev. X.

Numb. VII.

IX.
X. 29.
Exodus

Numbers
XI.
31.

XIL.
XIII

XIV.

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 hini
withal quickly to get him down, for that the people had already made to them-
selves a molten calf to worship. Moses by prayer pacifiath 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 Jows 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 thom with
him into the mount: Moses brings them the next morning, and while he stands
in the cleft of a rock, God passeth by, and showeth 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 show-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 towards the dedication
of the tabernacle. God speaketh to Moses from the morey-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
ALoses: and having congratulated his and the whole people of Israel's deliver-
ance out of bondage, he openly declares his faith and devotion towards 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 most grievous plague among them.

God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron, and maintains Moses'
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
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 upoz the promised land, or
trary to the command of God, are smitten by the Amalekites and Cana
In this place, viz. Kadesh-barnes, the Israelites continue many days:
that in some places they continued many years, appeareth, for that is a
space of 37 years there are but 17 encampings mentioned.

To their long continuance in Kadesh, and the encampings from there i
that we find delivered in the xvth and four next ensuing chapen.
Numbers, seems to refer; as how Kurah, Dathan, and Abiram, for res
mutiny against Moses and Aaron, were swallowed alive into the earth
250 of their associates; and how the people murmuring against Moss &
Aarou for the calamity which had befallen their brethren, were dearest
God, to the number of 14,700 men; and how twelve rods being brog
twelve princes, and laid in the sanctuary, Aaron's rod only badded, in
brought forth almonds, and was laid up before the ark, for a case
those who should afterward be given to rebellion.

In these 37 years the Israelites by 17 encampings, having companel ty
hill country of Seir and Edom, they come to the wilderness of Zn, th
mouth of the fortieth year after their departure out of Egypt.

Here Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron, dieth.

The people again for want of water murmur against Moses and Ars
whom when God had commanded to call water out of the rock salty
speaking to it, Moses, being moved in his mind through impatience and
fidence of the thing, speaks something, whatever it was, unadvaedy an
his lips, and strikes the rock thrice with Aaron's red, and thereby drain
ter from it; but for transgressing God's command, they are both debam
from entering into the land of Canaan.

In the fifth month of this year Aaron dieth at Mosera, on the top of EQU
Hor, at the age of 123 years, leaving his son Eleazar his succester in the
high priesthood.

The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents, whereof many iz
upon their repentance God commands that a brazen serpent be made at
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-barnes matiner
against God, being wholly extinct and dead, the Israelites pass over Zars.
and come to the borders of Moab at Ar, and at length they arrive at East,
a valley in the country of the Moabites, and pitch at mount Pisgah.
Silon, king of the Amorites, refusing them passage through his country
is slain, and the Israelites possess his land.

Og, the king of Bashan, coming out against Israel, is destroyed with al
his people, not one left alive, and his couiary possessed by the laraciites
After these victories the Israelites set forward, and encamp in the pho
of Moab.

Balak, king of Moab, considering what the Israelites had done to the Azer
ites, fears, lest under pretence of passing through his country, they shecid
possess themselves of his whole kingdom; takes counsel with the princes of
the Midianites his neighbours, and sends for Balaam a soothsayer out of Jie-
sopotamia to come and curse the Israelites, promising him great rewards fir
his labour; purposing afterward to make war upon them.

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 purp
indeed to curse Israel; but God, offended thereat, makes the dumb ass of da
wizard, on which he rode, speaking in a man's voice, to reprove his fol.
Balaam twice offers sacrifice, and would fain have cursed Israel, te gry
Balak therein; but being forced thereto by the Spirit of God, instead e
cursing, he blesseth them altogether; foretelling what felicity attende
them, and what calamities should befall their enemics.

By his advice the women of Moab and Midian are set on work to turn the b
raelites away to idolatry. Wherefore God commands Moses first to take al
the ringleaders of this disorder, and to hang them up before the sun, and the
gives order to the judges to put to death all such as had joined themselves a
Baal-peor. Last of all, God sends a plague upon the people, where it
1, 2, 3, &c. 23,000 men in one day: which added to them which were hanged and billed
Deut. IV. 3. with the sword, amount in all to 24,000.

Moses and Eleazar, by God's command, in the plain of Moab, near to
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 No
ses receives command for the parting the land of promise among the Israelius
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 in

be made.

1, 2. God signifies to Moses that he shall die, and Joshua is thereupon declared
12, 23.
to be his successor; upon whom Moses lays his hands, and gives him instruc
Deut. III. 26. tions. Several laws are made.
27, 28.
Numbers
XXXI.

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 f
princes, and among them Zur, the father of Cozbi, and Balasm the wizar
Josh. XIIL but they save the women alive; at which Moses is wreth, and commands th
21, 22.
every male child, and all the women, except such as be virgins, be killed.
Numbers The lands which belonged to Sihon and Og, namely, all from the rrer
XXXII. Arnon to mount Hermon, Moses divides and gives to the tribes of Recen
Deut. III. and Gad, and the half tribe of Manassch; so that their possessions lay on this
Josh. XIII. side Jordan; nevertheless, they assist the rest of the tribes in all their wars
& XXII. till they have subdued the Canaanites, and possessed the promised land.
Deut. Moses commands the people, that in their passage over Jordan they shall
XXVII. set up great stones, and engrave the Ten Commandments on them, with the
XXVIII. form of blessing upon mount Gerizim, and of cursing on mount Ebal, ex
horting them to observe the law of God, by setting before their eyes the
benefits that would ensue thereon.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.
XXXII.

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

Josh. II.

He also renews the covenant made by God with them and their children
on mount Horeb, and again persuades them to keep that covenant by all the
blessings and curses which would undoubtedly follow the keepers or break
ers of it; yet with a promise of pardon and deliverance, if at any time, har
ing broken it, they shall repent them of their sin; and tells them farther,
that God had therefore thus declared his will unto them, to the end that none
hereafter offending shall pretend ignorance.

Moses, having written this law, delivers it to the priests the sons of Levi,
and the elders of the people, to be kept; the same day also he writes his
excellent song, and teaches the same to the children of Israel to be sung
and having finished the book of the law, he takes order to have it laid up in
the side of the ark.

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 thesce
beholds the land of promise, and there dieth, aged 120 years; the body d
Moses God translates out of the place where he died, into a valley of the
land of Moab, over against Beth-peor, and there burieth it; nor doth any man
know the place of it unto this day. The Israelites mourn for him 30 days.
Here ends the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, containing the history
of 2552 years and a half, from the beginning of the world; and the book of
Joshua begins with the forty-first year after the departure of the children of
Israel out of Egypt.

Joshua being confirmed in his government by God, sends forth spies from
Shittim to the city of Jericho, who, being harboured by Rahab, are gr
sont away, when search is made for them.

Tive fifth Age

.

Abner, auronted 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 inmediately to be put to death.

The captains and ulders of all the tribes coming to Hebron, auoint 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 seat 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
Kirjath-jearun out of the house of Abinadab, and placed at Zion; 30,000
choice men of Israel attending it, and singing the 6th 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 kis 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 Solo-
mon 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 Abra-
hain, 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 case at
Jerusalem, and there commits adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah
the Hittite, 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 he composeth
the 51st Psalm. The child dieth.

XI. 17.

1 Kings
XII. 32.
XIII. 2.

XIV. 25.
2 Chron.
XII.
1 Kings
XV.
2 Chron.
XIII.
1 Kings
XV. 8,
25,

XII.

1033.

2.5.

1 Chron.

XXII. 9.

1032.

2 Sam.

1030.

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 Solo-
mon; 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.

XIII.
1, 23.

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 recon-
ciled 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
from his father David.

The next year following, under pretence of a vow, he obtaineth leave to
go to Hebron, where, by Alithophel's counsel, he breaks out into open re-
bellion, 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, deeth, and a bough 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
merciful God, rather than into the hands of men. So God sends a pesti-
lence; whereof 70,000 men die in one day. The angel being about to de-
troy Jerusalem, God bids him hold his hand; for he beholds David repeut-
ing in sackcloth, and entreating him to spare the innocent people, and to
tura 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
him. Therefore Abishag, a young virgin, is appointed to keep him warm.
Adouijah, seeing his father thus declining, by the assistance of Joab and
Abiathar, makes 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, botakes himself to the
sanctuary, and is pardoned.

David, raving given instructions to his son Solomon, dieth; after he had
reigned in Hebro seven yours and six months, and 33 years in Jerusalem
over all Israci

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gives his daughter in marriage to Solomon.
The Lord appears to Solomon in a dream, and bids him ask what he will,
and it shall be given him. Solomon asketh wisdom; God gives him wisdom
from above, and adds thereunto riches and honour. Or this divine wisdom
Solomon makes an eminent manifestation in judging between two harlots.

The fifth Age of the World:

OLOMON layet'i the foundation of the temple in the 480th year after the
departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Solomon's temple finished in the eleventh year of his 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 magniscence celebrates the dedication of the tem-
ple: at which time God giveth a visible sign of his favour.

Solomon having, as it is with reason believe, forsuken his lusts and vani-
ties, to which he had been too intemperately addicted, and written, as a tes-
timony of his repentance, his book called the Preacher, dieth. He reigned

10 years.

The Israelites assemble at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, Solomon's son,
king over all Israel. The people by Jer«boam sue unto him for a removal
of some grievances; to whom Rehoboam, by the advice of young men, re-
turning a harsh auswer, alienates the hearts of teu tribes from him, who
make Jerobo um king over them, and full 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 25 years before, and there dwells; afterward going over Jor-
dan 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 ever Judah and
Benjamin 17 years, and Jeroboam over Israel, or the other ten tribes, 2
years.

The fifth Age

The Priests and Levites, and other Israelites who feared God, stick to Bu
boboam, and maintain the kingdom of Judah three years; after wla risa
Rehoboam falls to idolatry, and walketh no more in the way of Dar ná di
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 execuvat eja ta
altar, and the Priests (viz. those whom Jeroboam had made of the bes
the people) that served at it. Which prophecy then and there is chat vot
by signs and wonders upon the king himself, and upon the alta

Shishak king of Egypt spoileth Jerusalem and the temple; but the *-*
and the princes repenting at the preaching of Shemaiah the propos, fee
gives them not over to utter destruction.

Abijam the son of Rehoboam succeeds his father in the king £ Janak
and reigns three years.

He obtains a great victory over Jeroboam, killeth 500,06 stk — e
battle, and taketh Beth-el.

Asa in the twentieth year of Jeroboam succeeds his father Alugu -
reigns 41 years.

Nadab in the second year of Asa succeedeth his father Jeroboa
kingdom of Israel, and reigneth not full two years.

Nadab at the siege of Gibbethou (a town of the Philistines) to san ly
Bansha of the tribe of Issachar in the third year of Asa; and the sage yea
having made himself king over Israel, be utterly destroyeth the whole rare
of Jeroboam, and reigueth 24 years. At this time lived the proplacts drink
Hanani, and Azarias.

Asa destroyeth idolatry, and, enjoying ten years of peace, strengthens he
kingdom with forts and a standing army.

Zerah the Ethiopian with an innumerable army invadeth Judas AST
overcomes him, sacrificeth to God of the spoil, and maketh a solmmt erven di
with God. He also deposeth Maachah his grandmother, a great jūrusiem
of idolatry; bringeth into the temple those things which his father d
himself had consecrated unto God, and enjoys a long peace.

Elah the son of Baasha succeeds his father in the kingdom of Terael
In the second year of his reign, and the twenty-seventh of Axix. Zının
one of his captains, conspires against him, kills him, and reigneth ..
stead. As soon as he sits in the throne, he destroyeth the whole fasty Á
Bansha; but the army which then lay before Gibbethou makes Ouri iba
king, who presently besiegeth Tirzah, and taketh it; which Zimri sociaġ
he sets on fire the king's palace, and perisheth in the flames.

The people of Israel are now divided into two factions; one fulles
Tibni the son of Gineth, and endeavours to make him king; the other ad
heres to Omri; but Tibni dying, Omri reigns alone in the 31-1 year of Asa.
Ori having reigned six years in Tirzah, removes the seat of his king th
to Samaria, a place which he himself had built.

Ahab succeeds his father in the kingdom of Israel, and reigneth 2 years r
Samaria. He did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were befire ke
Jehoshaphat succeedeth his father Asa in the fourth year of Ahabhi gaf
Israel, and reigneth 25 years in Jerusalem.

Jehoshaphat being settled in his kingdom, and having demolished the h zá
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 suisberta'r
enemics under him.

Ben-hadad king of Syria layeth siege to Samaria, who by the direction al
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, fello
sick upon it; Jezebel his wife, suborning false witnesses to accuse him
blasphemy, causeth Naboth to be stoned, and puts the king in posmena al
the vineyard. Whereupon the prophet Elijah denounceth judgierts maina
Ahab and Jezebel; 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; wheɛre a
is, that Jehoram the son of Ahab, who succeeded his brother Altazish 26 La
kingdom of Israel, in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, p
said to have begun his reign in the second year of Jehoram the son of ke
hoshaphat.

Ahab having got Jehoshaphat to assist him in the singe of Ramotheri? -ad
before he goes, he asketh counsel of 400 false prophets, who promoe le
victory and success; but by Jehoshaphat's advice Micaiah, a true pro, bet i
God, is consulted, who foretells his overthrow; and according to his #un
Ahab is slain at Ramoth-gilead, and buried at Samaria.

Ahab being dead, the Moabites revolt from Israel, who had continued a
subjection ever since king David's days.

Ahaziah king of Israel, lying ill of a fall, sends to consult Baalze'', the
god of Ekron concerning his recovery. Elijah the prophet weeteth the
messenger, and telleth him Ahaziah shall surely die; whereupon two €1542. ##
over fifty men apiece are sent to apprehend him, and bring him before the
king; Elijah enlleth for fire from heaven, and destroyeth both the a wad the
companies. A third captain with his fifty men being sent, and behaving
himself submissively, Elijah goes along with him; the prophet eertues të
king that he shall not come down from his bed alive. So Alazila dreta
having governed (partly by himself, and partly together with his father) tw

years.

Jehoram succeedeth fais 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 wiấ
the throne of the ingdom in the fifth year of Jehoram king of Israel.
Jehoram now, by the death of his father, has the king lon of Julah to
himolf, which he holds four years. He is no sooner settled in his throne,
but he puts J his brethren to the sword, with many of the princes of I-raci
At this time the Edomites, who ever since king David's time had lived a
subjection to Judah, revolt, and (as it was foretole by Isaac) they for evet
shake off his yoke; Libuah also, a city of the prie: 's in the tribe of Jucab
falls off from him about this time.

Jehoram following the counsel of his wicked wife Athaliah, the dangutET
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 maică
was left for him by Elijah the prophet comes to his ands, which reproves
him, and denounces all those calamities and punishants which afterward
befell him.

Ahaziah sneeeeds his father in the kingdom of Juda! (having had part of
the government bestowed upon him the year before) n the 1th year of
Jehoram king of Israel, and reigneth one year in Jerusan.

Jehoram king of Israel, and Ahaziah king of Judah, led their ares to
Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, who had newly succeeded. Beu-hubs!n the
kingdom of Syria: Jehoram is dangerously wounded, and tires himself to
Jezreel to be cured. In the meantime Elisha sendeth a you ₫ připart with
instructions to anoint Jehu the son of Jchhaphat, the soy of Ninushi, at
Ramoth-gilead, king over Israel, and to open to him the will - God for the
rooting out of the house of Ahab; who, being proclaimed ing by the
soldiers, marcheth straight to Jezreel, killeth Jehoram in the fi.4 of Naboth
and causeth Jezebel to be cast out at a window, where she is est by dogs
He despatcheth letters also to Samaria, and causeth seventy of Ahat
children to be beheaded. Then taking with him Jehonadab the son of Ka
chab, he comes himself to Samaria, and destroys the whole family of Abak
and all the priests of Baal. Nevertheless, having put down the war. hip of
Baal, he departs not from the worship of Jeroboam's golden calves ba
Lapalataine that idolatry all the time of his reign. waich was 28 years.

The sixth Age.

The sixth Age

In the second year on king Darius Hystaspes (the same with Aha
Zerubbabel and Jeshua, insited by the prophets Haggai and Zecharia =
forward the building of the temple.

N

The sixth Age of the World.
VEBUCHADNEZZAR, proud of his victories over Egypt, and his con-
quest of Judea and other countries, and boasting the magnificence of
his buildings, falls distracted, aud is driven from the society of men.
After seven years spent among the beasts of the field, his understanding
returning to him, he humbly acknowledgeth the power of God, and his good.
ness towards him: and is restored to his kingdom. A few days after he
dies, having reigned about 20 months together with his father, and 43 years
by himself.

Evil-merodach bis son succeeds him in the 37th year of the captivity of
Jehoiachin, or Jeconiah, who presently gives order for the enlargement of
Jehoiachin, 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. Jehoia-
chin dies about two years after.

Belshazzar, having removed some persons who had murdered his father
Evil-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,
signifying the four great monarchies of the world, and of God delivering
over all power and sovereignty to the Son of Man.

In the third year of Belshazzar, Daniel receives the vision of the ram and
the he-goat, betokening the destruction of the Persian monarchy, and the
great misery which Antiochus should bring upon the people of God.

This year Belshazzar inakes a great feast for all the nobles, and causeth
to be brought forth all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchad-
nezzar his grandfather had brought away from Jerusalem, to the glory of
his idols, and dishonour of the true God. In the midst of all this jollity a
hand appears writing on the wall of the room in which the king and his nu-
merous guests sit drinking. The king, greatly torrified hereat, sends for his
Chaldean astrologers and wizards, and commands them to read the writing,
and give him the interpretation of it; but they not being able to do either,
Daniel is sent for, who reads the writing, and gives the king the interpreta-
tion of it: whereapon Daniel is publicly proclaimed the third man in the
kingdom. The saine night Belshazzar is slain, Babylon is taken by Cyrus,
and the empire translated to the Medes and l'ersians, as had been sundry
times foretold by the prophets.

Cyr is having given the kingdom of Babylon to Darius the Mede, reserving
some palaces in the city for hiiuself, he returns through Media into Persia.
Daniel's greatness raising envy in some principal courtiers and officers,
these contrive his ruin: but finding nothing in his management of affairs
whereof to accuse him, they resolve to order matters so, that Daniel's piety
towards God shall become an offence worthy of death. They move the hing
to make a decree, that for 30 days no petition shall be made to any god or
man, but to himself only. Which decree Daniel breaks by making supplica-
tion to his God, and is for so doing cast into a den of lions; but being found
have received no hurt there, Darius commands the conspirators to be cast
into the same den, who are presently devoured; and the king publisheth a
decree, that all persons throughout his dominions shall reverence and fear
the God of Daniel.

Towards the end of the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, to be
reckoned from the subversion of the Baby louish empire, begins the 70th year
of the captivity of the Jews, which, by Joremiah's prophecy, was to be the
last year of their calamity. Upon consideration of which time so near at
hand, Daniel pours out his most fervent prayers to God for the remission of
his own sins, and those of his people; and for that promised deliverance out
of their captivity. To whom the angel Gabriel brings an answer not only
of this, but also of the spiritual deliverance of the church by the death of the
Messiah; uttering that memorable prophecy of the seventy weeks.

Cyrus, his father Cambyses and his father-in-law Cyaxares both dying,
Persia falls to him by inheritance, and Media by contract of marriage: and so
he is possessed of the whole eastern empire; from which time both Xenophon
(Inst. lib. 8.) reckons the 7 years of his reign, and the Holy Scripture out of
the records of the Medes and Persians, reckons this his first year; for it
teacheth us, that in this year came forth that renowned edict of his, Thus
saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of Heaven hath given me all the
kingdoms of the earth, and hath charged me to build him a house at Jerusa-
lem which is in Judah, &c. At which time the 70 years of the Babylonish
captivity being expired, (as was foretold by Isaiah and Jeremiah, the former
making mention of Cyrus by name,) he gives leave to all the Jews, dwelling
in all parts of his dominions, to return into their own country, and commands
them immediately to fall in hand with rebuilding of the temple.

V. 1.

Christ
520.

Hag. II.
1, 9.

519

518.

Zech. I.
1, 6.
Est. I. II.

515.

Ezra VI.

510.

Est. III.

Deut.
XXV. 19

Est. IV.

VI.

Ezra I.

5, 6.
11.
Nehem.
VII.

Acts

XXVI. 7.
Lam. I. 1
Luke II.
36.

Ezra III
8, 13.

IV. 5,

6.

323.

320.

277.

177.

XIII.

Malachi
IV. 4.

Luke I. 17.

Matth.
XI. 14,
XVII. 12.

Jos. Ant.

Haggai prophesieth that the glory of this second temple shall be
than that of the former; not as being a more magnificent structure, in d
regard the blessed Messiah shall one day honour it with his presencio &
from thence propagate peace to all nations.

About this time Zechariah the prophet exhorteth the Jews to repentan
Ahasuerus puts away queen Vashti his wife, and not long after e
Esther, the niece of Mordecai the Jew.

In the sixth year of Darius, or Ahasuerus, the temple is finished; the ins
cation whereof is celebrated with great joy and abundance of serien a
priests and Levites, every one in his place, attending on the ministry da
temple. The passover also is celebrated.

Haman an Agagite, of the race of the Amalekites, a great favourde of la
Ahasuerus, offended at Mordecai, because he falls not down and adorns in
as others do, resolves to be revenged of the whole nation of the Jews, wara
was ever averse to his,) and to root it out; for the executing of whin an
pose, that he may find a successful time, lie causeth Pur, that is the int
be cast before him, for to know the day and month wherein the derind
be destroyed, and the lot falls on the 12th month Adar.

Haman obtains an edict from the king, that all Jews, without respects
sex or age, upon the thirteenth day of the month Adar, be put to death in vi
the provinces of the king's dominions. Hereupon Mordecai, Esthe..., and al
the Jews, humble themselves before the Lord by fasting and prayer.
Ahasuerus, hearing it read in the chronicles that a consperary bad tem
discovered to him by Mordecai, commandeth that he be publicly hasound
and that by Haman himself, his deadly enemy.

Esther, entertaining the king and laman at a banquet, maketh wit fr
her own life, and her people's, and accuseth Haman. The king, understand
ing that Haman had provided a gallows for Mordecai, causeth him to w
hanged thereon. In memory of this great deliverance the two days of Furia
are made festival.

Ezra the priest, a man skilled in the law of Moses, obtains a large can
mission from king Artaxerxes, to settle the Jewish commo wealth, and a
reform the church at Jerusalem.

In the seventh year of Artaxerxes, Ezra, with a great mu itude of Jens
sets out from Babylon.

Ezra obligeth those who had taken strangers to wife to end. hem back
In the twentieth year of king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah a Jew.
cup-bearers, being made governor of Judea, obtains leave to build devia
of Jerusalem, and finish that great work. Here begin Daniel's 70 weeks to
be fulfilled before the passion of our Saviour.

Nehemiah having governed Judea 12 years, returns to the king of Perrin
This year is the 21st Jubilee, the last that ever the prophets of the Oni
Testament saw; for that place in Nehemiah, chap. xii. 2, is not to be
derstood of the last Darius, but of Darius Nothus, who now reigns in Perta
the full history of Nehemiah ending with the time of Artaxerxes Longma
father of this Darius Nothus.

Hitherto (saith Eusebius in his chronicle, to the 324 year of Artanerne
the Divine Scriptures of the Hebrews contain the annals of the tima. But
those things which were done among them afterward we must deliver out i
the books of the Maccabees, and out of the writings of Josephus, who batt
delivered a general history of the Jewish affairs from thence down to the
times of the Romans.

That Malachi, the last of the prophets, was contemporary with Nehemiah,
appears from hence, that he nowhere exhorts the people to the baile d
the temple, as Haggai and Zachary did; but the temple being non buit, be
reproves those disorders, which Nehemiah at his second return with a Lew
commission from Babylon saith he found in his absence to have credi
among the Jews; as marriage with strange women, withhohling of th
and abuses in the worship of God. And because a succession of proporti
was not to be expected, as before, he exhorteth the people constantly to ad
here to the law of Moses, till Christ the chief prophet should appear, whoa
forerunner John the Baptist should come in the spirit and power of Elisa, a
turn the hearts of the fathers unto their children, and the disobedient to us
wisdom of the just. See 1 Mac. iv. 46, and ix. 17.

1. 11. c. 8. ALEXANDER the Great, king of Macedonia, passeth out of Europe i

Id. ibid.

Jos. Ant.
1. 11. c. 8.

Daniel
VIII. 7.
XI. 13.

Jos. Ant.
I. 12. c. 1.
1 Mac. I

Jos. Ant.
I. 12. c 1.

I. 12. c. 2.

2 Mac. III.

Asia, and begins to lay waste the Persian empire.

Manasses, brother to Jadius the high priest, refusing to put away th
strange wife, is driven from the sacrifice. Sanaballath his father->\#
governor of Samaria, revoiteth from Darius, obtains leave of Alexander
build a temple on mount Gerizim, and makes Manasses high priest Uberesi,
to which resort all such as are entangled in unlawful marriage, with almi
offenders as think themselves not safe at Jerusalem. This was the ri-e si
that schismatical conventicle of the Samaritans. See John iv. 20.

Alexander marcheth toward Jerusalem, intending to besiege it. Jadda
the high priest, hearing of it, putteth on his priestly ornaments, and atres
panied with the people all in white, goeth out to meet him. Alexanderss
ing his habit, falls prostrate before him, saying that, whilst be was in Mace-
donia, a man appeared unto him in the very same habit, who invited him to
come into Asia, and promised to deliver the Persian empire into Ladspis
After this he goes to the temple, and offers sacrifice according to the bit
priest's direction. They show him the prophecy of Daniel, That a Greci
should come and destroy the Persians; whereby he is mightily confirmed in
his persuasion that he himself is the man. Lasily he bestoweth on the Jews
whatever favours they desire, and departeth.

The Persians are overcome, Darius slain, and Alexander remains universal
monarch of the eastern world.

Alexander having reigned six years and ten months dieth; his army and
dominions are divided among his captains. Antigonus makes hunself go
vernor of Asia, Seleucus of Babylon and the bordering nations; Lysimachu
hath the Hellespont; Cassander, Macedon; and Ptolemeus, the son of Lagas
gets Egypt.

Ptolemeus, surnamed Soter, makes himself master of Jerusalem by a
stratagem; for he enters the city on a sabbath-day under pretence of offer•
ing sacrifice; and whilst the Jews suspect nothing, but spend the day in e
and idleness, he surpriseth the city without resistance, and maketh the odi
zens captives. He sendeth several colonies of Jews into Egypt, and pois
great confidence in them.

Ptolemeus Philadelphus, son of Ptolemeus Soter, being a great favourer of
learning, builds a most magnificent library at Alexandria. Demetrius P. >
lerius, to whom he had committed the care of procuring all sorts of bor
and out of all countries, persuades him to employ 72 Jews in translating te
Holy Scriptures out of the original Hebrew into the Greek-tongue, wh
was done in the seventh year of his reign. The king also dismisstheLy
captive Jews, and dedicates many presents to the temple of God at Jerusnirk
One Simon, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, governor of the templa, ful
ing out with Onias the high priest, goes to Apollonius the governor of CC»
syria, and informs him that there is a vast treure in the temple: Apoliura
acquaints king Seleucus his master with it, who presently sends his tenure
Heliodorus to Jerusalem, to bring this money away. Heliodorus enterug
the temple, is by angels struck down in the very place, and carried foa
thence half dead; but by the prayers of Ouias he is soon after resteren to
his health. Returning to Seleucus that sent him, he magnifies the homesa
of the temple, and the power of God dwelling in it.

Antiochus Epiphanes succeeds Seleucus in the kingdom of Syrin, and
reigneth 11 years and some months.

175. 18 Mae. IV. 7. Jason, by corrupting king Antiochus obtainoth the efkes of high priest.