royal office was retained still by Jehoshaphat, who governed absolutely by himself, not communicating the rule with his son. But in the fifth year of Jehoram king of Israel, which was the two and twentieth of Jehoshaphat, the old king took unto him, as partner in the government, this his eldest son, who was at that time thirty-two years old, his father being fifty-seven. Now, forasmuch as Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years, it is evident that his son did not reign alone till the eighth of Jehoram king of Israel. The like regard is to be had in accounting the times of other kings of Judah and Israel, who did not always reign precisely so long as the bare letter of the text may seem at first to affirm; but their years were sometimes complete, sometimes only current, sometimes confounded with the years of their successors or foregoers, and must therefore be found by comparing their times with the years of those others, with whom they did begin and end.

It were perhaps a thing less needful than curious, to enquire into the reasons moving Jehoshaphat either to assume unto him his son as partner in the kingdom, whilst he was able himself to command both in peace and in war, the like having never been done by any of his progenitors, or having once, (in the seventeenth of his reign,) vouchsafed unto him that honour, to resume it unto himself, or at least-wise to defer the confirmation of it, until four or five years were passed. Yet forasmuch as to enter into the examination of these passages, may be a means to find some light, whereby we may more clearly discover the causes of much extraordinary business ensuing, I hold it not amiss to make such conjecture, as the circumstances of the story, briefly handled in the scriptures, may seem to approve.

We are therefore to consider, that this king Jehoshaphat was the first of Rehoboam's issue that ever entered into any strait league with the kings 4 2 Kings, vii. 16. 5 1 Kings xxii. 42.

VOL. III.

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of the ten tribes. All that reigned in Judah before him, had, with much labour and long war, tired themselves in vain, making small profit of the greatest advantages that could be wished. Wherefore Jehoshaphat thought it the wisest way to make a league offensive and defensive between Israel and Judah, whereby each might enjoy their own in quiet.

This confederacy, made by a religious king, with one that did hate the Lord", could not long prosper, as not issuing from the true root and fountain of all wisdom: yet as a piece of sound policy, doubtless it wanted not fair pretences of much common good thereby likely to arise, with mutual fortifications of both those kingdoms, against the uncircumcised nations, their ancient enemies. This apparent benefit being so inestimable a jewel that it might not easily be lost, but continue as hereditary from father to son, it was thought a very good course to have it confirmed by some sure bond of affinity; and thereupon was Athaliah the daughter of Omri, and sister of Ahab king of Israel, given in marriage to Jehoram, who was son and heir-apparent to the king of Judah. This lady was of a masculine spirit, and learned so much of queen Jezebel her brother's wife, that she durst undertake, and could thoroughly perform, a great deal more in Jerusalem, than the other knew how to compass in Samaria. She was indeed a fire-brand, ordained by God to consume a great part of the noblest houses in Judah, and perhaps of those men or their children, whose worldly wisdom, regardless of God's pleasure, had brought her in.

The first fruits of this great league, was the Syrian war at Ramoth-Gilead, wherein Judah and Israel did adventure equally, but the profit of the victory should have redounded wholly to Ahab; as godly princes very seldom thrive by matching with idolators, but rather serve the turns of those false

6 2 Chron. xix. 2, and 3.

friends, who being ill affected to God himself, cannot be well affected to his servants. Before their setting forth, Ahab designed as king his son Ahaziah; not so much perhaps in regard of the uncertain events of war, (for none of his predecessors had ever done the like upon the like occasions,) nor as fearing the threatenings of the prophet Michaiah, (for he despised them,) as inviting Jehoshaphat, by his own example, to take the same course, wherein he prevailed.

SECT. II.

Probable conjectures of the motives inducing the old king Jehoshaphat to change his purpose often, in making his son Jehoram king.

MANY arguments do very strongly prove Jehoram to have been wholly over-ruled by his wife; especially for his forsaking the religion of his godly ancestors, and following the abominable superstitions of the house of Ahab.

That she was a woman of intolerable pride, and abhorring to live a private life, the whole course of her actions witnesseth at large. Much vain matter she was able to produce, whereby to make her hus band think that his brethren and kindred were but mean and unworthy persons in comparison of him and his children, which were begotten upon the daughter and sister of two great kings, not upon base women and mere subjects. The court of Ahab, and his famous victories obtained against the Syrian Benhadad, were matter sufficient to make an insolent man think highly of himself, as being allied so honourably; who could otherwise have found in his heart well enough, to despise all his brethren, as being the eldest, and heir apparent to the crown, whereof already he had in a manner the possession.

How soon his vices broke out, or how long he dis◄ sembled them and his idolatrous religion, it cannot

certainly be known. Like enough it is, that some smoke out of the hidden fire, did very soon make his father's eyes to water; who thereupon caused the young man to know himself better, by making him fall back into rank among his younger brethren.

And surely the doings of Jehoshaphat, about the same time, argue no small distemper of the whole country, through the misgovernment of his ungodly son. For the good old king was fain to make his progress round about the land, reclaiming the people unto the service of God, and appointing judges throughout all the strong cities of Judah, city by 'city'. This had been a needless labour, if the religion taught, and strongly maintained by Asa, and by himself, had not suffered alteration, and the course of justice been perverted by the power of such as had borne authority. But the necessity that then was of reformation, appears by the charge which the king did give to the judges; and by his commission given to one of the priests in spiritual causes, and to the steward of his house in temporal matters, to be general overseers.

This was not till after the death of Ahaziah the son of Ahab; but how long after, it is uncertain. For Jehoram the brother of Ahaziah began his reign, (as hath been already noted,) in the eighteenth of Jehoshaphat, which was then accounted the second of Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son; though afterwards this Jehoram of Judah had another first and second year, even in his father's time, before he reigned alone, as the best chronologers and expositors of the holy text agree. So he continued in private estate, until the two and twentieth of his father's reign, at which time, though the occasions inducing his restitution to former dignity are not set down, yet we may not think, that motives thereto appearing substantial were wanting. Jehoram of Israel held the same correspondence with Jehoshaphat that his father had done,

1 2 Chron. xix. 4, 5, &c.

and made use of it. He drew the Judæan into the war of Moab, at which time it might well be that the young prince of Judah was again ordained king by his father, as in the Syrian expedition he had been: Or if we ought rather to think, that the preparations for the enterprize against Moab did not occupy so much time, as from the eighteenth of Jehoshaphat, in which year that nation rebelled against Israel, unto his two and twentieth; yet the daily negociations between the two kings of Judah and Israel, and the affinity between them contracted in the person of Jehoram, might offer some good occasions thereunto. Neither is it certain how the behaviour of the youngest sons, in their elder brother's disgrace, might cause their father to put him in possession, for fear of tumult after his death; or the deep dissimulation of Jehoram himself, might win the good opinion both of his father and brethren; it being a thing usual in mischievous fell natures, to be as abject and servile in time of adversity, as insolent and bloody upon advantage. This is manifest, that being repossessed of his former estate, he demeaned himself in such wise towards his brethren, as caused their father to enable them, not only with store of 'silver and of gold, and of precious things', (which kind of liberality other kings doubtless had used unto their younger sons,) but with the custody of ⚫ strong cities in Judah,' to assure them, if it might have been, by unwonted means, against unwonted perils.

SECT. III.

Of the doings of Jehoram when he reigned alone; and the rebellion of Edom and Libna.

BUT all this providence availed nothing; for an higher providence had otherwise determined of the sequel. When once the good old man, their father,

2 2 Chron. xxi. 3.