2 Chronicles, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

The book called 2 Chronicles in Protestant Bibles and the Second Book of Paralipomenon in the Douay: Solomon and the kings of Juda to the captivity. This is 2 Chronicles as it stands in the first tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives the edition’s Argument of the book, every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes and the edition’s essay on the continuance of the Church and religion through the ages of the world.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON.

AS the former booke sheweth, how after manie generations from the [Margin: 1. Par. 1.] [Margin: The connexion of this booke with the former.] beginning of the world, God ſelecting one ſpecial nation for his peculiar people, and the ſame being afterwardes made a kingdome, the Scepter therof, both by Gods and the peoples election, came to Dauid, and his ſonne Salomon: [Margin: 11. 28.] See this booke declareth that firſt Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom. in the nine firſt chapters. Then, in the other twentie [Margin: The contentes diuided into two partes.] ſeuen chapters, relateth how the ſame kingdom was diuided, tenne tribes being taken away (the hiſtorie wherof is but here briefly touched) and two only, with the title of the kingdom of Iuda, were poſſeſſed, by ſucceſſion of ninetenne kinges, al of Dauids and Salomons iſſue, in royal eſtate til the captiuitie in Babylon.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON. IN HEBREW, DIBRE HAIAMIM.

Chapter 1

CHAP. I. Salomon eſtabli⟨illegible⟩hed in the throne, offereth a thouſand hoſtes of ſacrifice, 7. asking wiſdome, 12. it is geuen him; with richeſſe, and temporal glorie, which he asked not. 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horſemen.

1 SALOMON therfore the ſonne of Dauid was ſtrengthened in his kingdom, and our Lord was with him, and magnified him on high.

2 And Salomon commanded al Iſrael, the tribunes, and the centurious, and the dukes, and iudges of al Iſrael, and the princes of the families:

3 and he went with al the multitude into the Excelſe of Gabaon, where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord, which Moyſes the ſeruant of God made, in the wilderneſſe.

4 For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from Cariathiarim into the place, which he had prepared for it, and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it, that is, in Ieruſalem.

5 The altar alſo of braſſe, which Beſeleel the ſonne of Vri the ſonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord: which alſo Salomon ſought, and al the aſſemblie.

6 And Salomon went vp to the altar of braſſe, before the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord, and offered on it a thouſand hoſtes

7 And behold in that verie night God appeared to him, ſaying: Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee.

8 And Salomon ſayd to God: Thou haſt done great mercie with my father Dauid: and haſt made me king for him.

9 Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled, which thou haſt promiſed to Dauid my father: for thou haſt made me king ouer thy people great in number, which is ſo innumerable as the duſt of the earth.

10 Geue me wiſdom and intelligence, that I may come in & goe out before thy people: for who can worthely iudge this thy people, which is ſo great?

11 And God ſayd to Salomon: Becauſe this rather hath pleaſed thy hart, and thou haſt not asked riches, and ſubſtance, and glorie, nor their liues that hate thee, no nor manie dayes of life: but haſt deſired wiſdom and knowledge, that thou mayſt be able to iudge my people, ouer which I haue made thee king.

12 Wiſdom and knowledge are geuen thee: and riches, and ſubſtance and glorie I wil geue thee, ſoe that none among the kinges neither before thee, nor after thee ſhal be like thee.

13 Salomon therfore came from the Excelſe of Gabaon into Ieruſalem before the tabernacle of couenant, & reigned ouer Iſrael.

14 And he gathered to him chariotes and horſemen, and there amounted to him a thouſand foure hundred chariotes, and twelue thouſand horſemen: and he cauſed them to be in the cities of the chariotes, and with the king in Ieruſalem.

15 And the king gaue ſiluer and gold in Ieruſalem [::] as ſtones, & cedartrees as ſycomores, which grow in the champayne in great multitude.

16 And there were horſes brought him from Aegypt, and from Coa by the kinges merchantes, which went, and brought by a price,

17 a chariote of foure horſes for ſix hundred peces of ſiluer, and an horſe for an hundred fiftie: in like maner of al the kingdomes of Hetheites, and of the kinges of Syria market was made.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 1 The firſt part. Salomons reigne in the whole kingdome.
• 4 1. Pala⟨illegible⟩. 13.
• 15 [::] It is the maner of holie ſcripture to expreſſe thinges exceding vulgar capacitie by the figure Hyperbole.

Chapter 2

CHAP. II. Other workemen being prouided to build the Temple, 7. Salomon procureth a cunning artificer from the king of Tyre, and ſpecial timber, 16. to be cutte, and ſent from thence.

1 AND Salomon determined to build a houſe to the name of our Lord, and a palace for himſelf.

2 And he numbred ſeuentie thouſand men that caried on their ſhoulders, and eightie thouſand that ſhould hew ſtones in the mountaynes, and ouerſeers of them three thouſand ſix hundred.

3 He ſent alſo to Hiram the king of Tyre, ſaying: As thou didſt with Dauid my father, and didſt ſend him cedar trees, to build him a houſe, wherin alſo he dwelt:

4 ſo doe with me that I may build a houſe to the name of our Lord my God, that I may conſecrate it to burne incenſe before him, and to perfume with aromatical ſpices, and to the euerlaſting propoſition of loaues, and for holocauſtes, morning and euening, on the ſabbathes alſo, and the newmoones, and the ſolemnities of our Lord God for euer, which are commanded Iſrael.

5 For the houſe which I deſire to build, is great: for our God is great aboue al goddes.

6 Who then can be able, to build him a worthie houſe? if heauen, and the heauens of heauens can not conteyne him: how great am I, that I may build him a houſe? but to this end only, that incenſe may be burnt before him.

7 Send me therfore a cunning man, that hath skil to worke in gold, and ſiluer, braſſe, and yron, purple, ſcarlet, and hyacinth, and that knoweth to make engraued workes with theſe artificers, which I haue with me in Iewrie, and Ieruſalem, whom Dauid my father prepared.

8 But ſend me alſo cedar trees, firretrees, and pintrees from Libanus: for I know that thy ſeruantes haue skil to hew the timber of Libanus, and my ſeruantes ſhal be with thy ſeruantes,

9 that manie trees may be prepared for me. For the houſe which I deſire to build, is exceding great, and glorious.

10 Moreouer to the workemen, that ſhal hew the trees, thy ſeruantes, I wil geue for victuals of wheat twentie thouſand cores, and of barley as manie cores, and of wine twentie thouſand, oyle alſo twentie thouſand ſates

11 And Hiram the king of Tyre by letters, which he ſent to Salomon, ſayd: Becauſe the Lord loued his people, therfore hath he made thee to reigne ouer it.

12 And he added, ſaying: Bleſſed be the Lord the God of Iſrael, that made heauen and earth, who hath geuen to Dauid the king a ſonne wiſe and learned, and of vnderſtanding, and prudent, to build a houſe to the Lord, and a palace for himſelf.

13 I therfore haue ſent thee a man wiſe and moſt skilful Hiram, [::] my father,

14 the ſonne of a woman of the daughters of Dan, whoſe father was a Tyrian, who knoweth to worke in gold, and ſiluer, braſſe, and yron, and marble, and in timber, in purple alſo, and hiacinth, and ſilke and ſcarlet: and that knoweth to graue al engrauing, and to deuiſe wiſely whatſoeuer in the worke is neceſſarie with thy artificers, and with the artificers of my lord Dauid thy father.

15 The wheate therfore, and barley, and oile, and wine, which thou my lord haſt promiſed, ſend to thy ſeruantes.

16 And we wil cut downe the trees out of Libanus, as manie as shal be neceſſarie for thee, and wil conuey them in boates by the ſea vnto Ioppe: and it ſhal be thy part to tranſport them into Ieruſalem.

17 Salomon therfore numbred al the men, that were proſelytes in the land of Iſrael, after the numbering which Dauid his father numbered, and they were found an hundred fiftie three thouſand and ſix hundred.

18 And he made of them ſeuentie thouſand, that ſhould carie burdens on their ſhoulders, and eightie thouſand, that ſhould cut ſtones out of the mountaynes: and three thouſand and ſix hundred ouerſeers of the worke of the people.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 2 ⟨illegible⟩. Reg. 5.
• 13 [::] It is probable, that this man had inſtructed the king of Tyre in true religion of one God whom he confeſſeth. v. 11. 12. and that therfore the king called him his father.

Chapter 3

CHAP. III. The Temple is begunne to be built in mount Moria, the fourth yeare of Salomons reigne. 3. the forme wherof is deſcribed, and the precious matter, 8. eſpecially of Sancta ſanctorum. 14. with a coſtlie veile, 15. and two excellent pillers before the gate.

1 AND Salomon began to build the houſe of our Lord in Ieruſalem, in mount [::] Moria, which had bene ſhewed to Dauid his father, in the place, which [::] Dauid had prepared in the floore of Ornan the Iebuſeite.

2 And he began to build in the ſecond moneth, in the fourth yeare of his kingdom.

3 And theſe be the fundations, which Salomon layd, to build the houſe of God, of length in the firſt meaſure ſixtie cubites, of bredth twentie cubites.

4 But the porch before the front, which was extended in length according to the meaſure of the bredth of the houſe, of twentie cubites: moreouer the height was of an hundred twentie cubites: and he did guilt it on the inſide with moſt pure gold.

5 Alſo the greater houſe he couered with wodden bordes of firretree, and he faſtened on plates of fine gold throughout: and he graued in it palme trees, and as it were litle chaines embracing one an other.

6 He paued alſo the floore of the Temple with moſt precious marble, in much beautie.

7 Moreouer it was moſt tried gold, of the plates wherof he couered the houſe, and the beames therof, and the poſtes, and the walles, and the doores: and he graued cherubs in the walles.

8 He made alſo the houſe of Sanctum ſanctorum: the length according to the bredth of the houſe, of twentie cubites: and the bredth likewiſe of it twentie cubites: and he couered it with plates of gold, as it were ſix hundred talentes.

9 Yea and he made nailes of gold, ſo that euerie naile weighed fiftie ſicles a peece: the vpper chambers alſo he couered with gold.

10 He made alſo in the houſe of Sanctum ſanctorum two Cherubs of ſtatuarie worke: and he couered them with gold.

11 The winges of the cherubs were extended twentie cubites, ſo that one wing had fiue cubites, and touched the wal of the houſe: and the other hauing fiue cubites, touched the wing of the other cherub.

12 In like maner the wing of the other cherub, had fiue cubites, and touched the wal: and his other wing of fiue cubites, touched the wing of the other Cherub.

13 Therfore the winges of both the cherubs were ſpred forth, and were extended twentie cubites: and they ſtoode vpright on their feete, and their faces were turned to the vtter houſe.

14 He made alſo a vele of hyacinth, purple, ſcarlet, and ſilke: & woue in it cherubs.

15 Before the doores alſo of the temple two pillers, which had fiue and thirtie cubites in height: moreouer their heades, of fiue cubites.

16 Moreouer alſo as it were litle chaynes in the oracle, & he put them to the heades of the pillers: pomegranates alſo an hundred, which he put betwen the litle chaynes.

17 The pillers alſo them ſelues he put in the entrance of the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left: that, which was on the right hand, he called Iachin: and that on the left hand, Boz.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• 1 [::] This mount Moria, ſignifying viſion, was ſo named by Abraham, who was there readie to ſacrifice his ſonne Iſaac Gen. 22.
• 1 [::] And Dauid, by the appointment of an Angel, offered there ſacrifice. ⟨illegible⟩. Reg. 24. ⟨illegible⟩. Par. 21.
• 1 2 Reg. 24 3. Reg. 6.
• 17 3. Reg. 7.

Chapter 4

CHAP. IIII. The formes of the braſen altar, 2. of the lauatorie (or Sea) with figures of twelue oxen, 6. of other tenne ſmal lauatories, 7. tenne candleſtickes, 8. tenne tables, and an hundred baſſens, a great hal for the Prieſtes, 10. and other veſſel, and ornamentes of the Temple are deſcribed.

1 HE made alſo an altar of braſſe [::] of twentie cubites in length, and of twentie cubites in bredth, and of ten cubites in height.

2 [::] A Sea alſo caſt, ten cubites from brimme to brimme, round in compaſſe: it had fiue cubites in height, and a corde of thirtie cubires did compaſſe it round about.

3 There was alſo vnder it the ſimilitude of oxen, and certaine engrauinges of ten cubites on the outſide compaſſed the bealie of the Sea, as it were with two rewes.

4 And the oxen were caſt: and the Sea it ſelf was ſette vpon the twelue oxen, of the which three looked toward the North, and other three to the Weſt: moreouer other three to the South, and the three that remayned, to the Eaſt, hauing the Sea put vpon them: and the hinder partes of the oxen were inward vnder the ſea.

5 Moreouer the thickneſſe therof had the meaſure of a palme, and the brimme therof was as it were the brimme of a chalice, or of a criſped lilie: and it held three thouſand metretes.

6 He made alſo ten lauatories: and ſet fiue on the right hand, and fiue on the left, that they might waſh in them al thinges, that they would offer for holocauſt: moreouer in the Sea the prieſtes were washed.

7 And he made alſo [::] ten golden candleſtickes, according to the fashion which they were commanded to be made by: and he ſet them in the temple, fiue on the right hand, & fiue on the left.

8 Moreouer alſo ten tables: and he ſet them in the temple, fiue on the right hand, and fiue on the left. Phials alſo of gold an hundred.

9 He made alſo the court of the prieſtes, and a great hal: and doores in the hal, which he couered with braſſe.

10 Moreouer he ſet the Sea on the right ſide agaynſt the Eaſt toward the South.

11 And Hiram made cauldrons, and flesh hookes, and phials: and accomplished al the kinges worke in the houſe of God:

12 that is to ſay, two pillers, and the [*] chapiters, and the heades, and asit were certayne litle nettes, which should couer the heades ouer the chapiters.

13 Pomegranates alſo foure hundred, and two litle nettes, ſoe that two rewes of the pomegranates were ioyned to ech litle nette, which couered the pommels, and the heades of the pillers.

14 He made feete alſo, and lauatories, which he put vpon the feete:

15 one ſea, alſo twelue oxen vnder the ſea.

16 And the cauldrons, and flesh hookes, and phials. Al the veſſels did Hiram his father make for Salomon in the houſe of our Lord of moſt pure braſſe.

17 In the countrie of Iordan did the king caſt them, in a clay ground bewen Socot and Saredatha.

18 And the multitude of veſſels was innumerable, ſo that the weight of the braſſe was not knowen.

19 And Salomon made al the veſſels of the houſe of God, and the golden altar, and the tables, & vpon them the loaues of propoſition,

20 the candleſtickes alſo with their lampes to giue light before the oracle, according to the rite, of moſt pure gold:

21 and certayne florishing thinges, and lampes, and golden tonges al were made of moſt fine gold.

22 The veſſels alſo of perſume and cenſars, and phials, and litle mortars, of moſt pure gold. And he graued the doores of the inner temple, that is, in Sancta ſanctorum: and the doores of the temple without of gold. And ſo al the worke was finishd which Salomon made in the houſe of our Lord.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• 1 [::] As wel the Temple as the Altars, and other appertinances were made after the forme of Moyſes Tabernacle altares of ſacrifice & incenſe, and the reſt: but greater in quantitie, of more precious matter, and more excellent workmanſhip.
• 2 [::] A great braſen veſſel, and ſome other thinges that were not before.
• 2 3. Reg. 7.
• 7 [::] Alſo a greatter number of candleſtickes, and other the like.
• 12 [*] or pommels.

Chapter 5

CHAP. V. Manie giftes are offered. 4. The Arke is brought with great ſolennitie into the Temple. 6. Innumerable hoſtes are offered, 11. with excellent muſick, & the Temple is replenished with the glorie of God.

1 SALOMON therfore brought in al the thinges, that Dauid his father had vowed, the ſiluer, and gold, and al the veſſels he put in the treaſures of the houſe of God.

2 After which thinges he gathered together al the ancientes of Iſrael, and al the princes of the tribes, and the heades of families, of the children of Iſrael into Ieruſalem, to bring [::] the Arke of the couenant of our Lord from the Citie of Dauid, which is Sion.

3 There came therfore vnto the king al the men of Iſrael in the ſolemne day of the ſeuenth moneth.

4 And when al the ancientes of Iſrael were come, the Leuites caried the Arke,

5 and brought it in, and al the furniture of the tabernacle. Moreouer the Prieſtes, with the Leuites did carrie the veſſels of the Sanctuarie, which were in the tabernacle.

6 And king Salomon, and al the aſſemblie of Iſrael, and al that were gathered before the Arke, immolated rammes, and oxen without anie number: for ſo great was the multitude of victimes.

7 And the prieſtes brought in the Arke of the couenant of our Lord into his place, that is, to the oracle of the temple, into Sancta ſanctorum vnder the winges of the cherubs:

8 ſo that the cherubs ſpred their winges ouer the place, wherin the Arke was ſet, and couered the Arke it ſelfe with his barres.

9 And the heades of the barres, wherwith the Arke was caried, becauſe they were a litle longer, appeared before the oracle: but if a man had beene a litle outward, he could not ſee them. The Arke therfore was there vntil this preſent day.

10 And there was nothing in the Arke, but the two tables, which Moyſes had put in Horeb, when our Lord gaue the law to the children of Iſrael coming out of Aegypt.

11 And the Prieſtes being gone out of the Sanctuarie (for al the prieſtes that could be found there, were ſanctified, neither as yet at that time were the courſes, and the order of the miniſteries deuided among them)▪

12 as wel the Leuites as the ſinging men, that is, both they which were vnder Aſaph, and they which were vnder Heman, and they which were vnder Idithun, their ſonnes, & brethren reueſted with finne linnen clothes, ſounded on cymbals, and pſalteries, and harpes, ſtanding at the Eaſt ſide of the Altar, and with them Prieſtes an hundred twentie, founding with trumpettes.

13 Therfore al ſounding together, both with trumpettes, and voyce, and cymbals, and organes, and with diuerſe kind of muſical inſtrumentes, and lifteng vp their voice on high: the ſound was heard far of, ſo that when they began to prayſe our Lord, and to ſay: Confeſſe to our Lord becauſe he is good, becauſe his mercie is for euer: the houſe of God was filled with a cloud,

14 that the Prieſtes could not ſtand and miniſter for the darkeneſſe. For the glorie of our Lord had filled the houſe of God.

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 2 3. Reg. 7.
• 2 [::] An other Arke was not made, becauſe that was moſt holie & moſt excellent, which Moyſes made. Likewiſe other holie thinges of the tabernacle were brought into the Temple with great ſolemnitie.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI. Salomon bleſſeth the people. 4. prayeth to God, geuing thankes for benefites receiued, 16. and requeſting continual protection, and that God wil heare the prayers of the people, 32. yea alſo of ſtrangers that pray in the Temple.

1 THEN Salomon ſayd: Our Lord promiſed that he would dwel [::] in darkeneſſe:

2 and I haue built a houſe to his name, that he might dwel there for euer.

3 And the king turned his face, and bleſſed al the multitude of Iſrael (for al the multitude ſtood attent) and ſayd:

4 Bleſſed be our Lord the God of Iſrael, who in worke hath accompliſhed that, which he ſpake to Dauid my father, ſaying:

5 From the day, that I brought my people out of the Land of Aegypt, I choſe not a citie of al the tribes of Iſrael, that a houſe might be built in it to my name: neither did I chooſe anie other man, to be Duke in my people Iſrael.

6 but I choſe Ieruſalem, that my, name may be in it: and I choſe Dauid, that I might appoynt him ouer my people Iſrael.

7 And wheras Dauid my father had meant to build a houſe to the name of our Lord the God of Iſrael,

8 our Lord ſayd to him: Becauſe thy wil was this, that thou wouldeſt build a houſe to my name, thou haſt done wel certes to haue ſuch a wil:

9 howbeit thou ſhalt not build the houſe, but thy ſonne, which ſhal come out of thy loynes, he ſhal build a houſe to my name.

10 Our Lord therfore hath accompliſhed his word, which he ſpake: and I am riſen for Dauid my father, and ſit vpon the throne of Iſrael, as our Lord hath ſpoken: and haue built a houſe to the name of our Lord the God of Iſrael.

11 And I haue put in it the Arke, wherin is the couenant of our Lord, which he made with the children of Iſrael:

12 He therfore ſtoode before the Altar of our Lord, ouer agaynſt al the multitude of Iſrael, and ſtretched forth his handes.

13 For Salomon had made an eminent place of braſſe, and had put it in the middes of the [*] Temple, hauing fiue cubites of length, & bredth, & three of height: & he ſtoode vpon it: & afterward [::] kn̄eeling ouer agaynſt al the multitude of Iſrael, and [::] his handes lifted vp toward heauen,

14 he ſayd: Lord God of Iſrael, there is not the like God to thee in heauen and in earth: which keepeſt couenant and mercie with thy ſeruantes, that walke before thee in al their hart:

15 which haſt performed to thy ſeruant Dauid my father what thinges ſoeuer thou hadſt ſpoken to him: and the thinges that by mouth thou hadſt promiſed, in worke thou haſt accompliſhed, as alſo the preſent time proueth.

16 Now therfore Lord God of Iſrael, fulfil to thy ſeruant my father Dauid, what ſoeuer thou didſt ſpeake to him, ſaying: There ſhal not fayle of thee a man before me, to ſitte vpon the throne of Iſrael: yet ſo if thy children keepe their waies, and walke in my law, as thou alſo haſt walked before me.

17 And now Lord God of Iſrael, be thy word confirmed, which thou haſt ſpoken to thy ſeruant Dauid.

18 Is it credible then that God ſhould dwel with men vpon the earth? If heauen and the heauens of heauens doe not take thee, how much more this houſe, which I haue built?

19 But to this end only it is made, that thou ſhouldeſt reſpect the prayer of thy ſeruant, and his ſupplication Lord my God: and mayſt heare the prayers, which thy ſeruant powreth out before thee:

20 that thou open thine eies vpon this houſe daies & nightes, vpon the place, wherein thou haſt promiſed that thy name ſhould be inuocated,

21 and wouldeſt heare the prayer, which thy ſeruant prayeth in it: and mayſt heare the prayers of thy ſeruant, and of thy people Iſrael. Whoſoeuer ſhal pray in this place, heare out of thy habitation, that is from the heauens, and be propitious.

22 If anie man ſhal ſinne agaynſt his neighbour, and come readie to ſweare agaynſt him, and binde himſelf with a curſe before the altar in this houſe:

23 thou ſhalt heare from heauen, and ſhalt doe the iudgement of thy ſeruantes, ſo that thou render to the vniuſt his way vpon his owne head, and reuenge the iuſt, rewarding him according to his iuſtice.

24 If thy people Iſrael ſhal be ouercome of their enemies, (for they wil ſinne to thee) and conuerted ſhal doe penance, and beſech thy name, and pray in this place,

25 thou ſhalt heare from heauen, and be thou propetious to the ſinne of thy people Iſrael, and reduce them into the land, which thou gaueſt them, and their fathers.

26 If the heauen being ſhut, there fal no rayne for the ſinnes of the people, and they ſhal beſech thee in this place, and ſhal confeſſe to thy name, and ſhal be conuerted from their ſinnes, when thou ſhalt afflict them,

27 heare from heauen ô Lord, and forgeue the ſinnes of thy ſeruantes and of thy people Iſrael, and teach them the good way, by the which they may goe: and geue rayne to thy land, which thou haſt geuen thy people to poſſeſſe.

28 If famine ſhal ariſe in the land, and peſtilence, ruſt, and blaſt, and locuſt, and bruche, and the enemies, waſting the countries, ſhal beſiege the gates of the citie, and al plague and infirmitie ſhal preſſe them:

29 if any of thy people Iſrael ſhal pray; knowing their plague and infirmitie, and ſhal ſpred forth their handes in [::] this houſe,

30 thou ſhalt heare from heauen, to wit, out of thy high habitation, and be thou propitious, and render to euerie one according to his wayes, which thou knoweſt him to haue in his hart: (for thou onlie knoweſt the hartes of the children of men:)

31 that they may feare thee, and walke in thy waies al the daies, that they liue vpon the face of the land, which thou haſt geuen to our fathers.

32 The Forener alſo, which is not of thy people Iſrael, if he come from a far countrie, for thy ſtrong hand, & thy ſtreched out arme, and adore in this place:

33 thou ſhalt heare from heauen thy moſt firme habitation, & shalt do al thinges, for the which that pilgrime shal inuocate thee: that al the peoples of the earth may know thy name, and may feare thee, as thy people Iſrael, and may know, that thy name is inuocated vpon this houſe, which I haue built.

34 If thy people ſhal goe forth to warre agaynſt their aduerſaries, by the way, that thou ſhalt ſend them, ſhal adore thee agaynſt the way, wherein is this citie, which thou haſt choſen, and the houſe, which I haue built to thy name:

35 thou ſhalt from heauen heare their prayers, and petition, and doe thou reuenge.

36 And if they ſhal ſinne to thee (for there is no man that ſinneth not) and thou be angrie with them, and deliuer them to the enemies, and they leade them captiue into a farre countrie, or which is neere at the leaſt,

37 and being conuerted in their hart in the land, to the which they were led captiue, ſhal doe penance, and ſhal beſech thee in the land of their captiuitie, ſayng: We haue ſinned, we haue done wickedly, we haue delt vniuſtly:

38 and ſhal returne to thee in al their hart, and in al their ſoule, in the land of their captiuitie, to the which they were led, shal adore thee agaynſt the way of their land, which thou gaueſt their fathers, and of the citie, which thou haſt choſen, and of the houſe, which I haue built to thy name:

39 thou shalt heare from heauen, that is, from thy firme habitation their prayers, and doe thou iudgement, and forgeue thy people, although ſinneful:

40 for thou art my God: let thine eies, I beſech thee, be opened, and let thine eares be attent, to the prayer, that is made in this place.

41 Now therfore ariſe Lord God in thy reſt, thou and the Arke of thy ſtrength: Let thy Prieſtes Lord God put on ſaluation, & thy Saintes reioyſe in good thinges.

42 Lord God turne not away from the face of my Chriſt: remember the mercies of Dauid thy ſeruant.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 1 [::] God ſhewed his preſence by the darke cloud which repleniſhed the Temple.
• 13 [*] Baſilicae.
• 13 [::] Kneeling,
• 13 [::] Lifting vp handes, ſtretching forth armes, and the like external geſtures do much helpe internal attention in prayer, and alſo ſturre vp others to godlie imitation▪ and therfore hath bene much practiſed by deuout perſons both in the old and new Teſtament.
• 29 [::] In this chapter and often els where it is euident, that places dedicated to Gods ſeruice are more acceptable to him, then other places.

Chapter 7

CHAP. VII. Fire from heauen deuoureth the holocauſtes, and glorie replenisheth the Temple. 5. More ſacrifices are offered, 8. and the Temple is dedicated, with ſeven daies ſolemnitie, the eight day collection is made. 12. God ſignifieth that he hath heard Salomons prayer. 17. conditionally (as it was made) if they ſerue him, 19. otherwiſe he wil punish them.

1 AND when Salomon had finished to poure out his prayers, fyre deſcended from heauen, and deuoured the holocauſtes and victimes: and the maieſtie of our Lord filled the houſe.

2 Neither could the Prieſtes enter into the Temple of our Lord, becauſe the maieſtie of our Lord had filled the temple of our Lord.

3 Yea and al the children of Iſrael ſawe the fyre deſcending, and the glorie of our Lord vpon the houſe: and falling flat on the earth vpon the pauement paued with ſtone, they adored, and prayſed our Lord: Becauſe he is good, becauſe his mercie is for euer.

4 And the king and al the people immolated victimes before our Lord.

5 . King Salomon therfore killed hoſtes, of oxen twentie two thouſand, of rammes an hundred twentie thouſand: and the king and al the people dedicated the houſe of God.

6 And the Prieſtes ſtood in their offices: and the Leuites with the inſtrumentes of the ſongues of our Lord, which Dauid the king made to prayſe our Lord: Becauſe his mercie is for euer, ſinging [::] the hymnes of Dauid by their handes: moreouer the Prieſtes ſounded with trumpettes before them, and al Iſrael ſtood.

7 Salomon alſo ſanctified the middes of the court before the temple of our Lord: for he had offered there the holocauſtes, and the fatte of the pacifiques: becauſe the braſen altar, which he had made, could not ſuſteyne the holocauſtes and the ſacrifices and the fatte.

8 Salomon therfore made a ſolemnitie at that time ſeuen daies, and al Iſrael with him, an aſſemblie verie great, from the entrance of Emath to the Torrent of Aegypt.

9 And he made in the eight day an aſſemblie, becauſe he had dedicated the altar ſeuen daies, and had celebrated the ſolemnitie ſeuen daies.

10 Therfore in the three and twenteth day of the ſeuenth moneth, he diſmiſt the people to their tabernacles, reioyſing and being glad for the good, that our Lord had done to Dauid, and Salomon, and Iſrael his people.

11 And Salomon accomplished the houſe of our Lord, and the houſe of the king, and al that he had diſpoſed in his hart to do, in the houſe of our Lord, and in his owne houſe, and he proſpered.

12 And our Lord appeared to him by night, and ſayd: I haue heard thy prayer, and haue choſen this place to me for a houſe of ſacrifice.

13 If I ſhal shut heauen, and rayne fal not, and shal bid and command the locuſt to deuoure the land, and ſhal ſend peſtilence into my people:

14 and my people being conuerted, vpon whom my name is inuocated, ſhal beſech me, and ſeeke out my face, and shal doe penance from their moſt wicked waies: I alſo wil heare from heauen, and wil be propitious to their ſinnes, and wil ſaue their land.

15 Mine eies alſo shal be opened, and mine eares erected to his prayer, that shal pray in this place.

16 For I haue choſen, and haue ſanctified this place, that my name may be there for euer, and mine eies and my hart may remaine there al daies.

17 Thou alſo if thou walke before me, as Dauid thy father walked, and shalt doe according to al thinges, which I haue commanded thee, and shalt keepe my iuſtices and iudgementes:

18 I wil rayſe vp the throne of thy kingdom, as I promiſed to Dauid thy father, ſaying: There shal not be taken away of thy ſtocke a man, that shal be prince in Iſrael.

19 But if you shal be turned away, and shal forſake my iuſtices, and my preceptes, which I haue propoſed to you, and going shal ſerue ſtrange goddes, and adore them,

20 I wil plucke you out of my land, which I haue geuen you: and this houſe, which I haue ſanctified to my name, I wil caſt away from my face, and wil deliuer it for a parable, and an exemple to al peoples.

21 And this houſe shal be for a prouerbe to al paſſengers, and they shal ſay being aſtonyshed: Why hath the Lord done ſo to this land, and to this houſe?

22 And they shal anſwer: Becauſe they forſooke the Lord the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the Land of Aegypt, and tooke hold of ſtrange goddes, and adored them, and worshipped them: therfore are al theſe euils come vpon them.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 6 [::] As the Temple was the ſpecial place of prayer, choſen by God: v. 12 ſo ſpecial Hymm⟨illegible⟩s Pſalmes and other ſet formes of bleſſing are more gratful to God, and more effectual to his ſeruantes.

Chapter 8

CHAP. VIII. Salomon buildeth diuers cities, 7. maketh the reſidue of the Chananites tributarie. 12. offereth the ordinarie hoſtes of ſacrifices in the ſolemne feaſtes. 14. diſpoſeth the Prieſtes and Leuites in their offices, as Dauid had ordained: 17. and ſendeth shippes to fetch gold from Ophir.

1 AND twentie yeares being complete after that Salomon built the houſe of our Lord and his owne houſe:

2 he built the cities, which Hiram had geuen to Salomon, and made the children of Iſrael dwel there.

3 He went alſo into Emath Suba, and obteyned it.

4 And he built Palmira in the deſert, and he built other cities very wel fenſed in Emath.

5 And he built Beth horon the vpper, and Beth horon the nether, walled cities hauing gates and barrigates and lockes.

6 Balaath alſo and al the ſtrongeſt cities that were Salomons, and al the cities of the chariotes, and the cities of the horſemen. Al thinges whatſoeuer Salomon would, & diſpoſed, he built in Ieruſalem and in Libanus, and in al the land of his dominion.

7 Al the people that was leaft of the Hetheites, and Amorrheites, and Pherezeites, and Heueites, and Iebuſeites, which were not of the ſtocke of Iſrael,

8 of their children: and of the poſteritie, which the children of Iſrael had not ſlaine, Salomon ſubdewed to be tributaries, vntil this day.

9 Moreouer of the children of Iſrael he ſette not to ſerue the kinges workes: for they were men of warre, and the chiefe captaines, and princes of his chariotes and horſemen.

10 And al the princes of king Salomons armie were two hundred fiftie, which taught the people.

11 But the daughter of Pharao he remoued from the citie of Dauid, into the houſe, which he had built for her. For the king ſayd: My wife shal not dwel in the houſe of Dauid the king of Iſrael, [::] becauſe it is ſanctified: becauſe the Arke of our Lord is entered into it.

12 Then Salomon offered holocauſtes to our Lord vpon the altar of our Lord, which he had built before the porch,

13 that euerie day there might be offering on it▪ according to the precept of Moyſes, in the Sabbathes, and in the Calendes, and in the feſtiual daies thriſe a yere, that is to ſay, in the Solemnitie of Azymes, and in the Solemnitie of weekes, and in the Solemnitie of tabernacles.

14 And he appoynted according to the diſpoſition of Dauid his father the offices of the Prieſtes in their miniſteries: & the Leuites in their order that they should prayſe, and miniſter before the Prieſtes according to the rite of euerie day: & the porters in their diuiſions by gate and gate: (for ſo Dauid the man of God had commanded.

15 Neither did they trangreſſe of the kinges commandementes as wel the Prieſtes as the Leuites, touching al thinges, that he had commanded, and in the cuſtodies of the treaſures.

16 Salomon had al expenſes prepared, from the day that he founded the houſe of our Lord, vntil the day wherein he perfitted it.

17 Then went Salomon into Aſiongaber, and into Ailath to the coaſt of the Red ſea, which is in the Land of Edom.

18 And Hiram ſent vnto him by the handes of his ſeruantes, shippes, and cunning mariners, and they went with Salomons ſeruantes into Ophir, and they tooke from thence foure hundred fiftie talentes of gold, and brought it to king Salomon.

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 11 [::] Salomon was yet ſo farre from communicating with Infidels, that he ſuffered not his wife (an infidel) to be preſent where the Arke of God had bene placed. 1. Par. 15.

Chapter 9

CHAP. IX. The Queene of Saba admireth Salomons wiſdom, 9. giueth, and receiueth preſents. 13. Of the great ſtore of treaſure which is yearely brought in, 13. king Salomon maketh pretious armour, 17. a throne, 20. and plate. 24. Other kinges ſend him giftes, ſo he abundeth in glorie, and riches. 29. After fourtie yeares reigne he dieth, and his ſonne Roboam ſuccedeth.

1 THE queene of Saba alſo, when ſhe had heard the fame of Salomon, came to proue him in hard propoſitions in Ieruſalem, with great riches, and camels, which caried ſpices, and very much gold, and pretious ſtones. And when ſhe was come to Salomon, ſhe ſpake to him what thinges ſoeuer were in her hart.

2 And Salomon expounded to her al thinges that ſhe propounded: neither was there anie thing, that he made not playne vnto her.

3 Who after she ſaw, to witte, the wiſedom of Salomon, and the houſe which he had built,

4 moreouer alſo the meates of his table, and the habitations of his ſeruantes, and the offices of his miniſters, and their garmentes, the cupbearers alſo, and their garmentes, and the victimes, which he immolated in the houſe of our Lord: there was no ſpirit in her anie longer, she was ſoe aſtonied.

5 And she ſayd to the king: The word is true, which I heard in my countrie of thy vertues and wiſdom.

6 I did not beleue them that told it, vntil my ſelf was come, and mine eies had ſeene, and I had proued ſcarce the half part of thy wiſedom to haue beene told me: thou haſt paſſed the fame with thy vertues.

7 Bleſſed are thy men, and bleſſed are thy ſeruantes, which aſſiſt before thee at al time, and heare thy wiſedom.

8 Be the Lord thy God bleſſed, who would ordayne thee ouer his throne, king[::] of the Lord thy God. Becauſe God loueth Iſrael, and wil preſerue it for euer: therfore hath he ſette thee king ouer it, to doe iudgementes and iuſtice.

9 And she gaue to the king an hundred twentie talentes of gold, and ſpices exceding much, and moſt pretious ſtones: there were not ſuch ſpices, as theſe, which the Queene of Saba gaue to King Salomon.

10 But the ſeruantes of Hiram alſo with the ſeruantes of Salomon brought gold from Ophir, and Thymtrees, and moſt pretious ſtones:

11 wherof the king made, to witte, of the Thymtrees, ſtayers in the houſe of our Lord, and in the kinges houſe, harpes alſo and pſalteries for the ſinging men: neuer were there ſeene ſuch trees in the Land of Iuda.

12 And king Salomon gaue to the Queene of Saba al thinges that ſhe would, and that she asked, and manie moe thinges then she brought to him: who returning, went into her countrie with her ſeruantes.

13 And the weight of the gold, that was brought to Salomon euerie yeare was ſix hundred ſixtie ſix talentes of gold:

14 beſide that ſumme, which the legates of diuers nations, and the merchantes were accuſtomed to bring, and al the kinges of Arabia, and the Dukes of the landes, which brought gold and ſiluer to Salomon.

15 King Salomon therfore made two hundred golden ſpeares, of the ſumme of ſix hundred peces of gold, which were ſpent in euerie ſpeare:

16 alſo three hundred golden ſhieldes of three hundred peces of gold, with which euerie shield was couered: and the king put them in the armarie, which was beſette with a wood.

17 The king alſo made a great throne of i⟨illegible⟩orie, and couered it with moſt fyne gold.

18 Six ſteppes alſo, wherwith the going vp was to the throne, and a foote ſtoole of gold, and two litle armes on either ſide, and two lions ſtanding by the litle armes,

19 yea and other twelue litle lions ſtanding vpon the ſteppes on both ſides: there was not ſuch a throne in al kingdomes.

20 Al the veſſels alſo of the kinges table were of gold, and the veſſels of the houſe of the foreſt of Libanus of moſt pure gold. For ſiluer in thoſe daies was reputed for nothing.

21 For the kinges shippes went into Tharſis with the ſeruantes of H⟨illegible⟩ram, once in three yeares: and they brought from thence gold and ſiluer, and yuorie, and apes, and pecockes.

22 Salomon therfore was magnified aboue al the kinges of the earth for riches and glorie.

23 And al the kinges of the earth deſired to ſee Salomons face, that they might heare the wiſedom, which God had geuen in his hart.

24 And they brought him giftes, veſſels of ſiluer, and gold, and garmentes, and armour, and ſpices, horſes, and mules, euerie yeare.

25 Salomon alſo had fourtie thouſand horſes in the ſtables, and of chariotes, and horſemen twelue thouſand, and he placed them in the cities of the chariotes, and where the king was in Ieruſalem.

26 He exerciſed alſo authoritie ouer al the kinges from the riuer Euphrates vnto the land of the Philiſthines, and vnto the borders of Aegypt.

27 And he made ſo great plentie of ſiluer in Ieruſalem as it were of ſtones: and of cedres ſo great a multitude as of ſicomores, which grow in the champayne.

28 And horſes were brought him out of Aegypt, and al countries.

29 But the reſt of of the workes of Salomon the firſt and the laſt are writen in the wordes of Nathan the Prophet, and in the bookes of Ahias the Silonite, in the Viſion alſo of Addo the Seer, agayaſt Ieroboam the ſonne of Nabat.

30 And Salomon reigned in Ieruſalem ouer al Iſrael fourtie yeares.

31 And he [::] ſlept with his fathers: and they buried him in the citie of Dauid: and Roboam his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 9

• 1 3. ⟨illegible⟩. 10
• 8 [::] They are called kinges, of God▪ which reigne by his grace and according to his wil. VVherevpon they vſe this ſtile By the grace of God, K. of England Ieruſalem. &c.
• 31 [::] His fall to luxurie and idolatrie is recorded. 3. Reg. 11.

Chapter 10

CHAP. X. Roboam requested by Ieroboam and the people to lighten their yoke of ſeruice, 6. leauing the counſel of the ancient, and folowing young counſellers, threatneth to preſse the people. 16. Wherupen manie reuolt from him.

1 AND Roboam went forth into Sichem: for thither al Iſrael was aſſembled, to make him king.

2 Which when Ieraboam the ſonne of Nabat had heard, who was in Aegypt (for he was fled thither from Salomon) forthwith he returned.

3 And they called him, & he came with al Iſrael & ſpake to Roboam, ſaying:

4 Thy father preſſed vs with a moſt hard yoke, do thou command lighter thinges then thy father, who layd vpon vs a heauie ſeruitude, and eaſe thou a litle of the burden, that we may ſerue thee.

5 Who ſayd: After three daies returne ye to me. And when the people was gone,

6 he tooke counſel with the Ancientes, which ſtoode before his father Salomon, whiles he yet liued, ſaying: What counſel geue you, that I may anſwer the people?

7 Who ſayd to him: If thou wilt pleaſe this people, and pacific them with wordes of clemencie, they wil ſerue thee at al times.

8 But he forſooke the counſel of the Ancientes, and began to treat with yongmen, that had beene brought vp with him, and were in his trayne.

9 And he ſayd to them: What ſemeth to you? or what ſhal I anſwer this people, which hath ſayd to me: Eaſe the yoke which thy father layd vpon vs?

10 But they anſwered as yongmen, and brought vp with him in delicaneſſe, and ſayd: Thus ſhalt thou ſpeake to the people, that ſayd to thee: Thy father aggrauated our yoke, doe thou eaſe it: and thus ſhalt thou anſwer them: My leaſt finger is thicker then the loynes of my father.

11 My father layd vpon yow an heauie yoke, and I wil adde a greater weight: my father bette you with ſcourges, but I wil beate you with ſcorpions.

12 Ieroboam therfore came, and al the people to Roboam the third day, as he had commanded them.

13 And the king anſwered rough wordes, leauing the counſel of the Ancientes:

14 and he ſpake according to the yongmens wil: My father layd vpon you a heauie yoke, which I wil make heauier: my father bette you with ſcourges, but I wil beate you with ſcorpions.

15 And he condeſcended not to the peoples requeſtes: for it was the wil of God, that his word ſhould be accompliſhed, which he had ſpoken by the hand of Ahias the Silonite to Ieroboam the ſonne of Nabat.

16 And al the people when the king ſpake rough wordes, ſayd thus vnto him: We haue no part in Dauid, nor inheritance in the ſonne of Iſai. Returne into thy tabernacles ô Iſrael, and do thou feede thy houſe Dauid. And Iſrael went into their tabernacles.

17 But ouer the children of Iſrael▪ that dwelt in the cities of Iuda, Roboam reigned.

18 And king Roboam ſent Aduram, who was ouer the tributes, and the children of Iſrael ſtoned him, and he died: moreouer king Roboam made haſt to get vp into his chariote, and fled into Ieruſalem.

19 And Iſrael reuolted from the houſe of Dauid vntil this day.

Marginal notes to Chapter 10

• 1 3. Reg. 12.
• 1 The ſecond part. Diuiſion of the kingdom. Dauids iſſue reigning only in two tribes, which alſo are caried captiue into Babylon.

Chapter 11

CHAP. XI. Roboam intending by force to reduce ⟨illegible⟩l Iſrael to his ſubiection, is Warned by a Prophet to ceaſe from that enterpriſe. 5. He maketh Walles about diuers cities, 11. ⟨illegible⟩urnisheth them With Victuals, and munition, 13. Prieſtes, Leuites, and manie others repaire to Ieruſalem, becauſe Ieroboam maketh a new religion, and new prieſtes 18. Roboam taket⟨illegible⟩ manie Wiues, and concubines. 22. preferreth A⟨illegible⟩ias aboue al his other ſonnes.

1 AND Roboam came into Ieruſalem, and called together al the houſe of Iuda and Beniamin, an hundred foureſcore thouſand choſen men and warriers, to fight agaynſt Iſrael, and to conuert his kingdom vnto him.

2 And the word of our Lord came to Semeias the man of God, ſaying:

3 Speake to Roboam the ſonne of Salomon the king of Iuda, and to al Iſrael, that is in Iuda and Beniamin:

4 Thus ſayth our Lord: You ſhal not goe vp, neither ſhal you fight agaynſt your brethren: let euerie man returne into his houſe, becauſe this thing is done by my wil. Who when they had heard the word of our Lord, returned, neither went they forward agaynſt Ieroboam.

5 And Roboam dwelt in Ieruſalem, and built walled cities in Iuda.

6 And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue, † Bethſur alſo, and Socho, & Odollam,

7 moreouer alſo Geth, and Mareſa, and Ziph,

8 yea and Aduram, and Lachis, and Azeca,

9 Saraa alſo, and Aialon, and Hebron, which were in Iuda and Beniamin, moſt fenſed cities.

10–11 And when he had incloſed them with walles, he put in them princes, and ſtore houſes of victuals, that is, of oile and wine.

12 Yea and in euerie citie he made armories of ſhieldes and ſpeares, and he ſtrengthened them with great diligence, and reigned ouer Iuda and Beniamin.

13 And the Prieſtes and Leuites, that were in al Iſrael, came to him out of al their ſeates,

14 [::] leauing their ſuburbes, and their poſſeſſious, and paſſing to Iuda, and Ieruſalem, becauſe Ieroboam had caſt them of, and their poſteritie: that they should not execute the prieſthood of our Lord.

15 Who made vnto him ſelfe prieſtes of the excelſes, and of diuels, and of the calues which he had made.

16 Yea and of al the tribes of Iſrael, whoſoeuer had geuen their hart to ſeeke our Lord the God of Iſrael, came into Ieruſalem to immolate their victims before our Lord the God of their fathers.

17 And they ſtrenghened the kingdom of Iuda, and eſtablished Roboam the ſonne of Salomon for three yeares: for they walked in the waies of Dauid and Salomon, onlie three yeares.

18 And Roboam tooke to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ierimoth the ſonne of Dauid: Abi⟨illegible⟩ail alſo the daughter of Eliab the ſonne of Iſai,

19 who bare him ſonnes Iehus, and Somorias, and Zoom.

20 After this woman alſo he tooke Maacha the daughter of Abſalom, who bare him Abia, and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith.

21 And Roboam loued Maacha the daughter of Abſalom aboue al his wiues, and concubines: for he had maried eightene wiues, and threeſcore concubines: and he begat eight and twentie ſonnes, and threeſcore daughters.

22 But he appoynted for head Abias the ſonne of Maacha duke ouer al his brethren: for he meant to make him king,

23 becauſe he was wiſer, and mightier aboue al his ſonnes, and in al the coſtes of Iuda, and of Beniamin, and in al the walled cities: and he gaue them much meate, and he diſired manie wiues.

Marginal notes to Chapter 11

• 14 [::] A worthie example to ſuffer temporal damage rather then to conforme them ſelues to the practiſe of falſe religion.

Chapter 12

CHAP. XII. For the ſinnes of Roboam, and the people manie ſtrong cities, alſo Ieruſalem; are taken and ſpoyled by the king of Aegypt. 8. They repent, and the Aegyptians depart, 9. but carie away the treaſures. 13. Roboam dieth, and his ſonne Abias reigneth.

1 AND when the kingdom of Roboam was ſtrengthened and fortified, he forſooke the law of our Lord, and al Iſrael with him.

2 And in the fifth yeare of the kingdom of Roboam, came vp Seſac the king of Aegypt into Ieruſalem (becauſe they had ſinned to our Lord)

3 with a thouſand two hundred chariotes, and threeſcore thouſand horſemen: neither was anie number of the common people, that came with him out of Aegypt, to witte, Lybians, and Troglodytes, and Aethiopians.

4 And he tooke the moſt fenſed cities in Iuda, and came ouer vnto Ieruſalem.

5 And Semeias the prophete went to Roboam, and to the princes of Iuda, that were gathered togetherin Ieruſalem, fleing from Saſac, and he ſayd to them: Thus ſayth our Lord: You haue leaft me, and I haue leaft you in the hand of Seſac.

6 And the princes of Iſrael, and the king, being aſtonied, ſayd: Our Lord is iuſt.

7 And when our Lord had ſeene that they were humbled, the word of our Lord came to Semeias, ſaying: Becauſe they are humbled, I wil not deſtroy them, and I wil geue them a litle ayde, and my furie shal not droppe vpon Ieruſalem by the hand of Seſac.

8 But yet they shal ſerue him, that they may know the diſtance of my ſeruice, and of the ſeruice of the kingdom of the earth.

9 Therfore Seſac the king of Aepypt retyred from Ieruſalem, taking away the treaſures of the houſe of our Lord, and of the kinges houſe, and he tooke al thinges with him, and the golden shieldes that Salomon had made,

10 for the which the king made braſen ones, and deliuered them to the princes of the shieldbearers, which kept the entrance of the palace.

11 And when the king entred into the houſe of our Lord, the shieldbearers came, and tooke them, & brought them backe agayne to their armorie.

12 But yet becauſe they were humbled, the wrath of our Lord was turned away from them, neither were they vtterly deſtroyed: for in Iuda there were found good workes.

13 King Roboam therfore was ſtrengthened in Ieruſalem, & reigned: one and fourtie yeares old was he when he beganne to reigne, and he reigned ſeuentene yeares in Ieruſalem, the citie, which our Lord choſe, to confirme his name there, out of al the tribes of Iſrael: and the name of his mother was Naama an Ammonite.

14 And he did euil, and prepared not his hart to ſeke our Lord.

15 But the workes of Roboam the firſt and the laſt are writen in the Bookes of Semeias the Prophete, and of Addo the Seer, and diligently expounded: and Roboam and Ietoboam fought one agaynſt the other al their daies.

16 And Roboam ſlept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid. And Abias his ſonne reigned for him.

Chapter 13

CHAP. XIII. Abias maketh warre agaynſt Ieroboam. 4. exhorteth the people of Iſrael for iuſtice, and religions ſake to returne to him. 13. In the meane time Ieroboam inuironeth him with forces, but by Gods aſsiſtance Abias preuaileth. 21. and reigneth ſecurely.

1 IN the eightenth yeare of king Ieroboam, reigned Abias ouer Iuda.

2 Three yeares reigned he in Ieruſalem, and his mothers name was Michaia, the daughter of Vriel of Gabaa: there was warre betwen Abias and Ieroboam.

3 And when Abias had begun battel, and had moſt warlike men, & of choſen ones four hundreth thouſand: Ieroboam put his armie in aray on the contrarie ſide, eight hundreth thouſand men, who them ſelues alſo were choſen men, and moſt valiant to battels.

4 Abias therfore ſtood vpon mount Semeron, which was in Ephraim, and ſayd: Heare Ieroboam, and al Iſrael:

5 Are you ignorant that our Lord the God of Iſrael gaue the kingdom to Dauid ouer Iſrael for euer, to him and his children as a [::] couenant of ſalt?

6 And there roſe vp Ieroboam the ſonne of Nabat, the ſeruant of Salomon the ſonne of Dauid: and rebelled agaynſt his lord.

7 And there were gathered to him al the moſt vayne men, and the children of Belial: and they preuayled agaynſt Roboam the ſonne of Salomon: moreouer Roboam was rude, and of a fearful hart, and could not reſiſt them.

8 Now therfore you ſay that you are able to reſiſt the kingdom of our Lord, which he poſſeſſeth by the children of Dauid, and you haue a great multitude of people, and golden calues, which Ieroboam hath made you for goddes.

9 And you haue caſt out the Prieſtes of of our Lord, the children of Aaron, and the Leuites: and you haue made you prieſtes, as al the peoples of the earth: who ſoeuer ſhal come & conſecrate his hand in a bullock of oxen, and in ſeuen rammes, is made the prieſt of them that are not goddes,

10 But our Lord is God, whom we forſake not, and the Prieſtes do miniſter to our Lord of the children of Aaron, and the Leuites are in their order.

11 Holocauſtes alſo they do offer to our Lord, euerie day morning and euening, and incenſe made according to the preceptes of the law, and the loaues are ſet forth on a moſt cleane table, and there is with vs the golden condleſticke, and the lampes therof, that they may be lighted alwaies at euening: for we keepe the preceptes of the Lord our God, whom you haue forſaken.

12 Therfore in our hoſt God is the prince, and his Prieſtes, which ſound with trumpettes, and reſound agaynſt you: children of Iſrael ſight not agaynſt our Lord the God of your fathers, becauſe it is not expedient for you.

13 He ſpeaking theſe thinges, Ieroboam endeuoured to entrappe him behind. And when he ſtood ouer agaynſt the enemies, he compaſſed Iuda vnwitting with his armie.

14 And Iudas looking backe, ſaw the battel at hand before and behind, and cryed to our Lord: and the Prieſtes begane to ſound with trumpettes.

15 And al the men of Iuda made a ſhout: and behold they crying, God terrified Ieroboam, and al Iſrael that ſtood agaynſt Abias and Iuda.

16 And the children of Iſrael ſled from Iuda, and our Lord deliuered them into their hand.

17 Abias therfore and his people ſtroke them with a great ſlaughter, and there fel wounded of Iſrael fiue hundreth thouſand valiant men.

18 And the children of Iſrael were humbled, at that time, and the children of Iuda excedingly encouraged becauſe they had truſted in our Lord the God of their fathers.

19 And Abias purſewed Ieroboam ⟨illegible⟩ieing, and he tooke his cities, Bethel and her daughters, and Ieſana with her daughters, Ephron alſo and her daughters.

20 Neither was Ieroboam able to reſiſt anie more, in the daies of Abias: whom our Lord ſtroke, and he died.

21 Therfore Abias, his empite being ſtrengthened, tooke fourtene wiues: and he begat two and twentie ſonnes, and ſixtene daughters.

22 But the reſt of the wordes of Abias, and of his waies and wordes, are writen diligently in the Booke of Addo the Prophete.

Marginal notes to Chapter 13

• 1 3. Reg. 15
• 5 [::] A firme and perpetual couenant. Num. 18. v. 19.

Chapter 14

CHAP. XIIII. Abias dieth, and his ſonne Aſa reigneth, deſtroyeth idolataie, 6. for ⟨illegible⟩i⟨illegible⟩eth his cities, 9. and ouercometh, by Gods ſpecial helpe, the Aethtopians armie of a million of men.

1 AND Abias ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid: and Aſa his ſonne reigned for him, in whoſe daies the land was quiet tenne yeares.

2 And Aſa did that which was good and pleaſing in the ſight of his God, and he ouerthrew the altars of [::] ſtrange ſeruice, and the excelſes,

3 and brake the ſtatues, and cut downe the groues.

4 And he commanded Iuda that they ſhould ſeeke our Lord the God of their fathers, and ſhould doe the law, and al the commandementes.

5 And he tooke away out of al the cities of Iuda the altars, and temples, & reigned in peace.

6 He built alſo fenſed cities in Iuda, becauſe he was quiet, and there had no battels riſen in his time, our Lord geuing peace.

7 And he ſayd to Iuda: Let vs build theſe cities, and compaſſe them with walles, and ſtrengthen them with towers, and gates, and lockes, whiles thinges are quiet from battels, becauſe we haue ſought out Lord the God of our fathers, and he hath geuen vs peace round about. They therfore did build, and there was no impediment in building.

8 And Aſa had in his armie of them that caried ſhieldes and ſpeares, of Iuda three hundred thouſand: and of Beniamin ſhieldbearers and archers, two hundred eightie thouſand, al theſe were moſt valiant men.

9 And Zara the Ethiopian with his armie iſlued forth agaynſt them, tenne hundred thouſand, and with three hundred chariotes: and he came as far as Mareſa.

10 Moreouer Aſa went on to meete him, and ſet his armie in aray to battel in the vale Sephata, which is neere Mareſa.

11 And he inuocated our Lord God, and ſayd: Lord there is no difference with thee, whether thou helpe in few, or in manie: helpe vs ô Lord our God: for hauing confidence in thee, and in thy name we are come agaynſt this multitude. Lord, thou art our God, let not man preuaile agaynſt thee.

12 Our Lord therfore terrified the Aethiopians before Aſa and Iuda: and the Aethiopians fled.

13 And Aſa purſewed them, and the people that was with him, vnto Gerara: and the Aethiopians fel to vtter deſtruction, becauſe our Lord killing them, and his armie fighting they were deſtroyed. They tooke therfore manie ſpoiles,

14 and they ſtroke al the cities round about Gerara: for great terrour had inuaded al men: and they ſpoyled the cities, and caried away much praye.

15 Yea and deſtroying the ſheepecotes of ſheepe, they tooke an infinite multitude of cattel, and of camels: and returned into Ieruſalem.

Marginal notes to Chapter 14

• 2 [::] It perteyned properly to the king to deſtroy the exterior practiſe of idolatrie, but to the Prieſtes, & prophetes to informe the interior mind, & conſciences of euerie one.

Chapter 15

CHAP. XV. Azarias prophecieth that Iſrael shal lack the true God, Prieſtes, and the law, a long time. 8. which king Aſa hearing moſt ſerioufly deſtroyeth idolatrie. 12. maketh couenant and oath to ſerue God. 16. And depoſeth his mother for offering ſacrifice to Priapus.

1 AND Azarias the ſonne of Oded, the Spirit of God coming vpon him,

2 went out to meete Aſa, and ſayd to him: Heare ye me Aſa, and al Iuda and Beniamin: Our Lord is with you, [::] becauſe you haue beene with him. If you wil ſeeke him, you ſhal finde: but if you forſake him, he wil forſake you.

3 And manie daies ſhal paſſe in Iſrael without the true God, and without Prieſt a teacher, and without the Law.

4 And when they ſhal returne in their diſtreſſe to our Lord the God of Ifrael, and ſhal ſeeke him, they ſhal finde him.

5 At that time there ſhal not be peace to him that goeth out and cometh in, but terrours on euerie ſide in the inhabiters of the earth.

6 for nation ſhal fight agaynſt nation, and citie agaynſt citie, becauſe our Lord wil truble them with al diſtreſſe.

7 You therfore take courage, and let not your handes be diſſolued: for there ſhal be reward to your worke.

8 Which when Aſa had heard, to witte, the wordes, and the prophecie of Azarias the ſonne of Oded the prophete, he tooke courage, and tooke away the Idols out of al the land of Iuda, and out of Beniamin, and out of the cities, which he had taken, of mount Ephraim, and he dedicated the altar of our Lord, which was before the porche of our Lord.

9 And he gathered together al Iuda and Beniamin, and the ſtrangers with them of Ephraim, and of Manaſſes, and of Simeon: for manie were fled to him of Iſrael, ſeing that our Lord his God was with him.

10 And when they were come into Ieruſalem the third moneth, in the fiftenth yeare of the reigne of Aſa,

11 they immolated to our Lord in that day of the ſpoiles, & the praie, that they had brought, oxen ſeuen hundred, and rammes ſeuen thouſand.

12 And he went in after the maner to eſtabliſh the couenant, that they ſhould ſeeke our Lord the God of their fathers in al their hart, and in al their ſoul.

13 And if anie man, quoth he, ſhal not ſeeke our Lord the God of Iſrael, let him die, from the leaſt to the greateſt, from man vnto woman.

14 And they ſware to our Lord with a lowd voyce in iubilation, and in noyſe of trumpet, and ſound of ſhaulmes,

15 al that were in Iuda with execration: for in al their hart did they ſweare, and with al their wil did they ſeeke him, and found him, & our Lord gaue them reſt round about,

16 Yea and Maacha the mother of king Aſa he depoſed from the royal empyre, becauſe ſhe had made in a groue the idol of Priapus: which he wholy deſtroyed, and breaking into peeces, burnt it in the Torrent cedron.

17 But the [::] Excelſes were leaft in Iſrael: neuertheleſſe the hart of Aſa was perfect al his daies.

18 And thoſe thinges which his father had vowed, and him ſelf, he brought into the houſe of our Lord, gold and ſiluer, and of veſſels diuers furniture.

19 And there was no warre vnto the fiue and thirteth yeare of the reigne of Aſa.

Marginal notes to Chapter 15

• 2 [::] Cooperation with Gods grace meri⟨illegible⟩eth increaſe of grace.
• 17 [::] King Aſa deſtroyed the places where Idoles were ſerued, chap. 14. v. 2. but tollerated the places where ſome offered ſacrifice to God beſide the proper altar in Ieruſalem, becauſe this was diſpenſable and not the other.

Chapter 16

CHAP. XVI. Agaynſt the king of Iſrael, king Aſa procureth helpe of the Aſſyrians, 7. which a prophet reprouing is put in fetters. 11. Aſa dieth, with diſeaſe of his feete, and is buried with pompe.

1 AND in the ſix and thirteth yeare of his reigne, came vp Baaſa the king of Iſrael into Iuda, and with a wall compaſſed Rama, that none could ſafely goe out and come in of the kingdom of Aſa.

2 Aſa therfore brought forth ſiluer and gold, out of the treaſures houſe of our Lord, and of the kinges treaſures, and he ſent to Benadad the king of Syria, who dwelt in Damaſcus, ſaying:

3 There is league betwen me & thee, my father alſo and thy father had concord, wherfore I haue ſent thee ſiluer and gold, that breaking the league, which thou haſt with Baaſa the king of Iſrael, thou make him retire from me.

4 Which being knowen, Benadad ſent the princes of his hoſtes to the cities of Iſrael: who ſtroke Ahion, and Dan, and Ablemaim, and al the walled cities of Nephthali.

5 which when Baaſa had heard, he ceaſed to build Rama, and intermitted his worke.

6 Moreouer Aſa the king tooke al Iuda, and caried away the ſtones out of Rama, and the timber that Baaſa had prepared for the building: and he built of them Gabaa, & Maſpha.

7 At that time came Hanani the prophete to Aſa the king of Iuda, and ſayd to him: Becauſe thou haſt had confidence in the king of Syria, and not in our Lord thy God, therfore hath the armie of the king of Syria eſcaped out of thy hand.

8 Were not the Aethiopians, and Libyians manie moe in chariotes, and horſemen, and a multitude exceding great: whom, when thou didſt beleue in our Lord, he deliuered into thy hand?

9 For the eies of our Lord behold al the earth, and geue ſtrength to them, that with perfect hart beleue in him. Thou therfore haſt done foolyshly, & for this cauſe from this preſent time ſhal battels ariſe agaynſt thee.

10 And Aſa being angrie agaynſt the Seer, commanded him to be caſt into fetters: for he tooke indignation excedingly vpon this thing: and he ſlewe of the people at that time verie manie.

11 But the workes of Aſa the firſt & the laſl are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael.

12 Aſa alſo fel ſicke in the nine and thirteth yeare of his reigne, of a moſt vehement payne of his feete, and neither in his infirmitie did he ſeeke our Lord, but rather truſted in the arte of Phiſitians.

13 And he ſlept with his fathers: and he died the one and fou⟨illegible⟩teth yeare of his reigne.

14 And they buried him in his ſepulchre, which he had digged for himſelſ in the Citie of Dauid: and they layd him vpon his bed ful of ſpices and odori⟨illegible⟩erous oyntementes, which were made by the arte of apothecaries, and they burnt it ouer him with exceding ambition.

Marginal notes to Chapter 16

• 1 3. Reg. 15.
• 8 :: Iuſt puniſhment with paine of his feete, for iniuriouſly putting Gods prophet in fetters v. 10. So God puniſhed him temporally, for that and other paſſionate ſinnes: and he died in good ſtate, for. his hart was perfect al his dayes, (Chap 15. v, 17.) that is, moſt part of his life, eſpecially in his laſt dayes.

Chapter 17

CHAP. XVII. Ioſaphat ſucceding in the kingdom preuaileth in battel agaynſt the king of Iſrael. 6. deſtroyeth Idolaters, and ſendeth Prieſtes and Leuites to inſtruct the people. 11. The Philiſtians and Arabians ſend preſentes to king Ioſaphat. 13. the leaders of the armie and ſouldiars are numbred.

1 AND Ioſaphat his ſonne reigned for him, & grew ſtrong agaynſt Iſrael.

2 And he appoynted numbers of ſouldiars in al the cities of Iuda, that were compaſſed with walles. And he placed garriſons in the land of Iuda, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Aſa his father had taken.

3 And our Lord was with Ioſaphat, becauſe he walked in the firſt waies of Dauid his father: and he truſted not in Baalim,

4 but in the God of his father, and went forward in his preceptes, and not according to the ſinnes of Iſrael.

5 And our Lord confirmed the kingdom in his hand, and al Iuda gaue giftes to Ioſaphat: and there grew to him infinite riches, and much glorie.

6 And when his hart had taken courage [::] for the waies of our Lord, he tooke away alſo the Excelſes and groues out of Iuda.

7 And in the third yeare of his kingdom, he ſent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, that they ſhould teach in the cities of Iuda:

8 and with them Leuites, Semeias, and Nathanias, and Zabadias, Aſael alſo, and Semiramoth, and Ionathan, and Adonias and Tobias, and Thobadonias Leuites, and with them Eliſama, and Ioram Prieſtes.

9 And they taught the people in Iuda, hauing the booke of the law of our Lord: and they went about al the cities of Iuda, and inſtructed the people.

10 Therfore the dread of our Lord came vpon al the kingdomes of the landes, that were round about Iuda, neither durſt they make battel agaynſt Ioſaphat.

11 Yea and the Philiſtians brought giftes to Ioſaphat, and tribute of ſiluer, the Arabians alſo brought cattel, of rammes ſeuen thouſand ſeuen hundred, and buckegoates as manie.

12 Ioſaphat therfore grewe, and was magnified on high: and he built in Iuda houſes like to toures, and walled cities.

13 And he prepared manie workes in the cities of Iuda: there were alſo men of warre, and valiant in Ieruſalem,

14 of whom this is the number by the houſes and families of euerie one: In Iuda princes of the armie, Ednas duke, and with him moſt valiant men three hundred thouſand.

15 After him Iohanan the prince, and with him two hundred eightie thouſand.

16 After him alſo Amaſias the ſonne of Zechri, conſecrated to our Lord, and with him two hundred thouſand of valiant men.

17 Him followed Eliada valiant to battels, and with him of them that held bow & ſhield two hundred thouſand.

18 After this man alſo Iozabad, and with him an hundred eightie thouſand readie ſouldiars.

19 Al theſe were at the hand of the king, beſide others, whom he had put in walled cities, in al Iuda.

Marginal notes to Chapter 17

• 6 [::] Good, workes approued by new benefices from God, as a reward, ther of do geue more hope & confidence to procede from vertue to vertue. 5. Tho. li. deregimin⟨illegible⟩ Reg⟨illegible⟩m⟨illegible⟩i.

Chapter 18

CHAP. XVIII. Ioſaphat ioyned in affiniti⟨illegible⟩ with wicked Achab king of Iſrael, goeth with him againſt Ramoth Galaad, four hundred falſe prophetes promiſing victorie. 14. Micheas prophecying the contrarie, 25. is put in priſon. 28. Achab (notwithſtanding he changeth his attire, and leaueth Ioſaphat in danger) 33. is ſlaine.

1 IOSAPHAT therfore was rich and verie glorious, and was ioyned in affinitie to Achab.

2 And he went downe to him after certaine yeares into Samaria: at whoſe coming Achab killed muttons, and oxen very manie for him and the people that came with him: and he perſwaded him to goe vp into Ramoth Galaad.

3 And Achab the king of Iſrael ſayd to Ioſaphat the king of Iuda: Come with me into Ramoth Galaad. To whom he anſwered: As I am thou alſo: as thy people; ſo my people alſo: and [::] we wil be with thee in battel.

4 Ioſaphat ſayd to the king of Iſrael: Conſult I beſech thee preſently the word of our Lord.

5 Therfore the king of Iſrael gathered together of the prophetes four hundred men, and ſayd to them: Shal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight, or ſitte ſtil? But they ſayd: Goe vp, ſay they, and God wil deliuer it into thy hand.

6 And Ioſaphat ſayd: Is there not here a prophete of our Lord, that we may enquire alſo of him?

7 And the king of Iſrael ſayd to Ioſaphat: There is one man, of whom we may aske wil of our Lord: but I hate him, becauſe he doth not prophecie me good, but euil at al times: and it is Micheas the ſonne of Iemla. And Ioſaphat ſayd: Speake not in this maner ô king.

8 The king of Iſrael therfore called one of the Eunuches, and ſayd to him: Cal quickly Micheas the ſonne of Iemla.

9 Moreouer the king of Iſrael, and Ioſaphat the king of Iuda, ſate in their thrones, clothed with kinglie attyre, and they ſate in the court beſide the gate of Samaria, and al the prophetes before them.

10 But Sedecias the ſonne of Chanaana made him hornes of yron, and ſayd: Thus ſayth our Lord: With theſe ſhal⟨illegible⟩ thou ſtrike Syria, til thou deſtroy it.

11 And al the prophetes in like manner prophecied, and ſayd: Goe vp into Ramoth Galaad, and thou ſhalt proſper, and our Lord wil deliuer them into the kinges hand.

12 And the meſſenger that went to cal Micheas, ſayd to him: Behold the wordes of al the prophetes with one mouth tel the king good thinges: I beſech thee therfore that thy word alſo diſſent not from them, and that thou ſpeake proſperous thinges.

13 To whom Micheas anſwered: Our Lord liueth, whatſoeuer my God ſhal ſay to me, that wil I ſpeake.

14 He therfore came to the king. To whom the king ſayd: Micheas, ſhal we goe into Ramoth Galaad to fight, or ſit ſtil? To whom he anſwered [::] Goe ye vp: for al thinges ſhal fal out proſperous, and the enemies ſhal be deliuered into your handes.

15 And the king ſayd: Agayne, and agayne I adiure thee, that thou ſpeake not to me, but that which is true in the name of our Lord.

16 But he ſayd: I ſaw al Iſrael diſperſt in the mountaynes, as ſheepe without a ſhepheard: and our Lord ſayd: Theſe haue no maiſters: let euerie man returne into his houſe in peace.

17 And the king of Iſrael ſayd to Ioſaphat: did I not tel thee that this man did not prophecie me anie good, but theſe thinges that be euil?

18 But he ſayd: Heare ye therfore the word of our Lord: I ſaw our Lord ſitting in his throne, and al the hoſt of heauen aſſiſting him on the right hand on the left.

19 And our Lord ſayd: who ſhal deceiue Achab the king of Iſrael, that he may goe vp and fal in Ramoth Galaad. And when one ſayd in this maner, and an other otherwiſe:

20 there came forth a ſpirit, and ſtood before our Lord, and ſayd: I wil deceiue him. To whom our Lord ſayd: wherin wilt thou deceiue him.

21 But he anſwered: I wil goe forth, and wil be a lying ſpirit in the mouth of al his prophetes. And our Lord ſayd: Thou ſhalt deceiue, and ſhalt preuaile: goe forth, and doe ſo,

22 Now therfore, behold our Lord hath geuen the ſpirit of lying in the mouth of al thy prophetes, and our Lord hath ſpoken of thee euil thinges.

23 And Sedecias the ſonne of Chanaana came, and ſtroke the cheeke of Micheas, and ſayd: which way paſſed the ſpirit of our Lord from me, that it ſhould ſpeake to thee.

24 And Micheas ſayd: Thou thy ſelf ſhalt ſee in that day, when thou ſhalt enter into chamber out of chamber, to be hid.

25 And the king of Iſrael commanded, ſaying: Take Micheas, and lead him to Amon the gouernour of the citie, and to Ioab the ſonne of Amelech.

26 And you ſhal ſay: Thus ſayth the king: Caſt this felow into priſon, and giue him a litle bread, and a litle water, til I returne in peace.

27 And Micheas ſayd: If thou returne in peace, our Lord hath not ſpoken in me, & he ſayd: Heare al ye peoples.

28 Therfore the king of Iſrael, and Ioſaphat the king of Iuda went vp into Ramoth Galaad.

29 And the king of Iſrael ſayd to Ioſaphat: I wil change my habite, and ſo I wil goe to the fight, but be thou clothed with thine owne garmentes. And the king of Iſrael changing his habit came to the battel.

30 And the king of Syria had commanded the captaynes of his horſemen ſaying: Fight not agaynſt the leaſt, or agaynſt the greateſt, but agaynſt the king of Iſrael only.

31 Therfore when the princes of the horſemen ſaw Ioſaphat, they ſayd: This is the king of Iſrael. And they compaſſed him fighting: but he cried to our Lord, and he holpe him, and turned them away from him.

32 For when the captaynes of the horſemen ſaw, that is was not the king of Iſrael, they lea⟨illegible⟩t him.

33 And it chanced that one of the people ſhot an arrow at aduenture, and ſtroke the king of Iſrael betwen the necke and the ſhoulders, and he ſayd to his cocher: Turne thy hand, and carie me out of the battel, becauſe I am wounded.

34 And the fight was ended in that day: moreouer the king of Iſrael ſtood in his chariote agaynſt the Syrians vntil euening, and died at the ſunne ſette.

Marginal notes to Chapter 18

• 3 [::] For this he was iuſtly reprehended, but his ſimple intention diminiſhed his fault, and ſo he was more eaſily pardoned, & for his good workes otherwiſe donne in Gods ſeruice. ch. 19. 3.
• 14 [::] See Annotation. 3. Reg. ⟨illegible⟩. v. 15.

Chapter 19

CHAP. XIX. Ioſaphat being reproued by a prophet for yelding help to Achab, 5. appoynteth Iudges in ſeueral cities, admonishing them to doe iuſtice. 8. exhorteth Prieſtes and Leuites to execute their ſunctious carefully. 11. Amarias High Prieſt directing and ruling in thinges belonging to God, Zabedias general captayne gouerneth the kinges affayres.

1 AND Ioſaphat the king of Iuda returned into his houſe peaceably, into Ieruſalem.

2 Whom Iehu the ſonne of Hanani the Seer mette, and ſayd to him: [::] To the impious man thou geueſt ayde, and to them that hate our Lord thou art ioyned in frendſhip, and therfore thou didſt deſerue in deed the wrath of our Lord:

3 but good workes are found in thee, for that thou haſt taken away the groues out of the land of Iuda, and haſt prepared thy hart to ſeeke our Lord the God of thy fathers.

4 Ioſaphat therfore dwelt in Ieruſalem: and he went forth to the people agayne from Berſabee vnto mount Ephraim, and recalled them to our Lord the God of their fathers.

5 And he appoynted iudges of the land in al the fenſed cities of Iuda, in euerie place,

6 and commanding the iudges, he ſayd: Take heede what you doe: for you exerciſe not the iudgement of man, but of our Lord: and whatſoeuer you ſhal iudge, it ſhal redound to you.

7 Let the feare of our Lord be with you, and with diligence doe al thinges: for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God, nor acception of perſonnes, nor deſyre of giftes.

8 In Ieruſalem alſo Ioſaphat appoynted Leuites, and Prieſtes, and princes of families of Iſrael, that they ſhould iudge the iudgement and cauſe of our Lord to the inhabitantes therof.

9 And he commanded them, ſaying: Thus shal you doe in the feare of our Lord faithfully, and with a perfect hart.

10 Euerie cauſe, that shal come to you of your brethren, that dwel in their cities, betwen kinred and kinred, wherſoeuer there is queſtion of the law, of the commandement, of ceremonies, of iuſtifications: shew it them, that they ſinne not agaynſt our Lord, and leſt there come wrath vpon you and your brethren: ſo doing therfore you shal not ſinne.

11 And [::] Amarias the prieſt and your Bishop shal be chiefe in theſe thinges, which pertayn to God: moreouer Zabadias the ſonne of Iſmahel, who is the prince in the houſe of Iuda, shal be ouer thoſe workes, which pertayne to the kinges office: and you haue maiſters the Leuites before you, take courage, and doe diligently, and our Lord wil be with the good.

Marginal notes to Chapter 19

• 2 [::] Preciſian Do⟨illegible⟩a⟨illegible⟩ſtes holding it vn⟨illegible⟩ful to conuerſe with ſinners amongſt other Scriptures alleaged ⟨illegible⟩ reprehention of Ioſa⟨illegible⟩ for his ſocietie with Achab. To whom S. Auguſtin anſwereth, that he was not blamed for other conuerſation with Achab, but for ayding him, and, ioyning with him in the act of ſinne, when he contemning Micheas the true prophete of God, and beleuing falſe prophetes went to battel wherin both kinges offended, but with difference; ſo one was ſa⟨illegible⟩e though he ſemed to be ſecure, the other was ſaued in great danger. and repenting was pardoned li. 2. c. 1⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩. opiſt Parme⟨illegible⟩.
• 11 [::] A moſt plame diſtinction of ſpiritual and temporal authoritie and offices, not inſtituted by Ioſaphat, nor anie other king, but by God himſelf. Deut. 17. Num. 27.

Chapter 20

CHAP. XX. The Ammonites, Moabites, and Syrians ioynning forces agaynſt Ioſaphat, 3. he ſeeketh Gods helpe by publique prayer and faſting. 14. A Prophet fortelleth that God wil fight for them: 20. ſo they ſinging praiſes to God, the enemies kil ech other. 24. Ioſaphat with his men gather verie great ſpoiles. 30. reigneth in peace, 35. but his nauie perisheth, for his ſocietee with wicked Ochozias.

1 AFTER theſe thinges were the children of Moab gathered together, and the children of Ammon, and with them of the Ammonites, to fight agaynſt Ioſaphat

2 And there came meſſengers, and told Ioſaphat, ſaying: There cometh agaynſt thee a great multitude from thoſe places, which are beyond the ſea, and out of Syria, and behold they ſtay in Aſaſonthamar, which is Engaddi.

3 And Ioſaphar being frighted with feare, he tooke him wholy to beſech ou⟨illegible⟩ Lord, and he [::] proclamed a faſt to al Iuda.

4 And Iudas was gathered together to pray to our Lord: yea and al [::] came out of their cities to beſech him.

5 And when Ioſaphat ſtood in the middes of the aſſemblie of Iuda, and Ieruſalem in the houſe of our Lord before the new court,

6 he ſayd: Lord God of our fathers, thou art God in heauen, and ruleſt ouer al the kingdomes of Nations, in thy hand is ſtrength and might, neither can anie man reſiſt thee.

7 Didſt not thou our God kil al the inhabitantes of this land before thy people Iſrael, and gaueſt it to the ſeed of Abraham thy frend for euer?

8 And they dwelt in it, & built in it a Sanctuarie to thy name, ſaying:

9 If euils fal vpon vs, the ſword of iudgement, peſtilence, & famine, we wil ſtand before this houſe in thy ſight, wherein thy name is inuocated: & we wil crie to thee in our tribulations, and thou ſhalt heare, and ſaue vs.

10 Now therfore behold the children of Ammon, and mount Seir, by whom thou didſt not grant Iſrael to paſſe, when they came out of Aegypt, but they declined from them, & ſlew them not:

11 doe the contrarie, and endeuoure to caſt vs out of the poſſeſſion, which thou haſt deliuired to vs.

12 Our God, wilt not thou therfore iudge them? In vs in deed there is not ſo great ſtrength, that we can reſiſt this multitude, which cometh violently vpon vs. But whereas we are ignorant what we ought to doe, this onlie we haue leaft, that we direct our eies to thee.

13 And al Iuda ſtood before our Lord with their litle ones, and wiues, and their children.

14 And there was Iahaziel the ſonne of Zacharias, the ſonne of Banaias, the ſonne of Iehiel, the ſonne of Mathanias, a Leuite of the children of Aſaph, vpon whom the ſpirit of our Lord came in the middes of the multitude,

15 and he ſayd: Attend ye al Iuda, and you that dwel in Ieruſalem, and thou king Ioſaphat: thus ſayth our Lord to you: Feare not, neither dread ye this multitude: for it is not your battel, but Gods.

16 To morrow you shal goe downe agaynſt them: for they wil come vp by the ſteepe named Sis, and you shal find them in the vtmoſt part of the torrent, which is agaynſt the wilderneſſe of Ieruel.

17 It shal not be you that shal fight, but onlie ſtand confidently, and you shal ſee the helpe of our Lord ouer you, ô Iuda, and Ieruſalem: feare not, neither dreade ye: to morrow you shal goe out agaynſt them, and our Lord wil be with you.

18 Ioſaphat therfore, and Iuda, and al the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem fel flat on the earth before our Lord, and adored him.

19 Moreouer the Leuites of the children of Caath, and of the children of Core prayſed our Lord the God of Iſrael with a lowd voice, on high.

20 And when they had riſen earely in the morning, they went forth by the deſert of Thecua: and they being gone forth, Ioſaphat ſtanding in the middes of them, ſayd: Heare me ye men of Iuda, and al the inhabiters of Ieruſalem: [::] beleue in the Lord your God, and you ſhal be ſecure: beleue his prophetes, and al thinges ſhal fal out proſperous.

21 He gaue counſel alſo to the people, and appoynted the ſinging men of our Lord, that they ſhould prayſe him in their companies, and ſhould goe before the hoſt, and with agreable voice ſhould ſay: Confeſſe to our Lord, becauſe his mercie is foreuer.

22 And when they began to ſing prayſes, our Lord turned their embuſhementes vpon themſelues, to witte, of the children of Ammon, and of Moab, and of mount Seir, who were gone forth to fight agaynſt Iuda, and were ſtriken.

23 For the children of Ammon, and of Moab, roſe together agaynſt the inhabitantes of mount Seir, to kil and deſtroy them: and when they had in worke atcheued this, being turned alſo agaynſt themſelues, they fel wounded one of an other.

24 Moreouer Iuda when they were come to the watch place, that looketh to the deſert, ſaw a far of al the countrie abrode ful of dead bodies, and that none remayned aliue that could eſcape death.

25 Ioſaphat therfore came, and al the people with him to take away the ſpoiles of the dead, and they found among the dead bodies, diuerſe ſtuffe, garments alſo, and moſt pretious veſſels: and they ſpoiled it, ſoe that they could not carie al thinges, nor in three dayes take a Way the ſpoiles for the greatneſſe of the praye.

26 And in the fourth day they were aſſembled in the Vale of bleſſing: for becauſe there they had bleſſed our Lord, they called that place the Vale of bleſſing vntil this preſent day.

27 And euerie man of Iuda returned, and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, and Ioſaphat before them into Ieruſalem with great ioy, becauſe our Lord had geuen them ioy of their enemies.

28 And they entered into Ieruſalem with pſalteries, and harpes, and trumpettes into the houſe of our Lord.

29 And the dread of our Lord fel vpon al the kingdomes of the landes when they heard that our Lord had fought agaynſt the enemies of Iſrael.

30 And the kidgdom of Ioſaphat was quiet and God gaue him peace round about.

31 Ioſaphat therfore reigned ouer Iuda, and he was fiue and thirtie yeares old when he begane to reigne: and he reigned fiue and twentie yeares in Ieruſalem: and the name of his mother was Azuba the daughter of Selahi.

32 And he walked in the way of his father Aſa, neither declined he from it, doing the thinges that were pleaſing before our Lord.

33 But [::] yet the excelſes he tooke not away, and as yet the people had not directed their hart to our Lord the God of their fathers.

34 But the reſt of the actes of Ioſaphat, the firſt and the laſt are writen in the wordes of Iehu the ſonne of Hanani, which he diſpoſed into the Bookes of the kinges of Iſrael.

35 After theſe thinges Ioſaphat the king of Iuda entered frendshipe with Ochozias the king of Iſrael, whoſe workes were moſt impious.

36 And he was partaker to make ſhippes, which should goe into Tharſis: and they made a nauie in Aſiongaber.

37 And Eliezer the ſonne of Dodau of Mareſa prophecied to Ioſaphat, ſaying: Becauſe thou haſt had a league with Ochozias, our Lord hath ſtrooken thy workes, and the shippes are broken, neither could they goe into Tharſis.

Marginal notes to Chapter 20

• 3 [::] They faſted not only to ſub due the fleſh to the ſpirite but alſo for other neceſſities.
• 4 [::] Example of pilgremage to holie places, becauſe it pleaſeth God to heare the prayers of good people rather in one place then in an other. ch. 6. 7. &c.
• 20 [::] Faith is the fundation of al good workes. Heb. 11. but not ſufficient to ſaluation without other vertues, and therefore they not only beleued but alſo faſted and prayed, and where nede required fought with weapons, though at this time it pleaſed God to fight for them. See Ioſue 23.
• 21 Pſal. 135.
• 33 [::] He deſtroyed the places where ſacrifice was offered to idoles. ch. 17. v. 6. but tolerated other places where the people offered to God our Lord without the temple, not being able to reduce al to perfection.

Chapter 21

CHAP: XXI. Ioſaphat dieth, and Ioram ſucceding killeth his owne brethren, and ſome other chiefe men. 6. reigneth wickedly. 8. Edom, and Lobua reuolt from him. 12. Elias by letters forwarneth him of plagues, 16. which falling vpon him, he dieth after two yeares languishing, and horrible diſeaſe.

1 AND Ioſaphat ſlept with his fathers, & was buried with them in the Citie of Dauid: and Ioram his ſonne reigned for him.

2 Who had brethren the ſonnes of Ioſaphat, Azarias, and Iahiel, and Zacharias, and Azarias, and Michael, and Saphatias. al theſe were the ſonnes of Ioſaphat the king of Iuda.

3 And their father gaue them manie giftes of ſiluer, and of gold, and penſions, with the moſt fenſed cities in Iuda: but the kingdom he deliuered to Ioram, becauſe he was the firſt begotten.

4 And Ioram roſe ouer the kingdom of his father: and when he had eſtabliſhed himſelf, he ſlew al his brethren with the ſword, and certain of the princes of Iſrael.

5 Two and thirtie yeare old was Ioram when he began to reigne: and he reigned eight yeares in Ieruſalem.

6 And he walked in the waies of the kinges of Iſrael, as the houſe of Achab had done: for Achabs daughter was his wife, and he did euil in the ſight of our Lord.

7 But our Lord would not deſtroy the houſe of Dauid for the couenant, which he had made with him: and becauſe he had promiſed that he would geue him a lampe, and to his ſonnes for euer.

8 In thoſe daies Edom rebelled, from being ſubiect to Iuda, and made them ſelues a king.

9 And when Ioram had paſſed with his princes, and al the horſemen, that were with him, he roſe in the night, and ſtroke Edom, which had compaſſed him, and al the captaynes of his horſemen.

10 But yet Edom rebelled, from being vnder the dominion of Iuda vntil this day: at that time Lobna alſo reuolted, from being vnder his hand. For he had forſaken our Lord the God of their fathers:

11 moreouer he built alſo excelſes in the cities of Iuda, and he made the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem to fornicate, and Iuda to tranſgreſſe.

12 And there were letters brought him [::] from Elias the prophete, in which was Writen: Thus ſayth our Lord the God of Dauid thy father: Becauſe thou haſt not walked in the waies of Ioſaphat thy father, & in the waies of Aſa the king of Iuda,

13 but haſt gone by the waies of the kinges of Iſrael, and haſt made Iuda to fornicate, and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, hauing imitated the fornication of the houſe of Achab, moreouer alſo haſt killed thy brethren, the houſe of thy father, better men then thou:

14 behold our Lord wil ſtrike thee with a great plague with al thy people, and children, and thy wiues, and al thy ſubſtance.

15 And thou shalt be ſicke of a very ſore diſeaſe of thy bealie, til thy vital partes come forth by litle and litle euerie day.

16 Our Lord therfore raiſed vp agaynſt Ioram the ſpirit of the Philiſthianes, and of the Arabians, which are borderers to the Aethiopians.

17 and they went vp into the Land of Iuda, and waſted it, and they ſpoyled al the ſubſtance, that was found in the kinges houſe, moreouer alſo his ſonnes, and wiues: neither was there a ſonne left him but Ioachaz, who was the yongeſt.

18 And beſide al theſe thinges our Lord ſtroke him with an incurable diſeaſe of the bealie.

19 And when day ſucceded day, and the ſpaces of times paſſed about, the circuite of two yeares was complete: and ſoe being waſted with a long comſumption, ſoe that he voyded euen his very bowels, he was ridde of the diſeaſe, and of his life together. And he died in an exceding vile infirmitie, & the people made him not exequies according to the maner of burning, as they had done to his anceters.

20 He was two and thirtie yeares old, when he began to reigne, and he reigned eight yeares in Ieruſalem. And he walked not rightly, and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid: but yet not in the ſepulchre of the kinges.

Marginal notes to Chapter 21

• 1 4. Reg. 8.
• 12 [::] Elias was aſſumpted from ordinarie conuerſation with mortal men the eighttenth yeare of king Ioſaphat 4. Reg. 2. 3. who reigned twentie fiue yeares 3. Reg. 22. v. 42. So he ſhewed this ſpecial care of Ioram and his kingdom, after his aſſumption ſeuen yeares.

Chapter 22

CHAP. XXII. Ochozias reigning one yeare, 3. is ſlaine together with Ioram king of Iſrael, by king Iehu. 10. Athalia killeth the kinges children (onlie Ioas being ſaued by his aunt) and vſurpeth the kingdom ſix yeares.

1 AND the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem made Ochozias his leaſt ſonne, king for him: for al the elders, that had bene before him, the rouers of the Arabians had ſlayne, which inuaded the campe: and Ochozias the ſonne of Ioram the king of Iuda reigned.

2 Two and [::] fourtie yeares old was Ocohzias when he began to reigne, and he reigned one yeare in Ieruſalem, and the name of his mother was Athalia the daughter of [::] Amri.

3 But he alſo went by the waies of the houſe of Achab: for his mother forced him to doe impiouſly.

4 He therfore did euil in the ſight of our Lord, as the houſe of Achab: for they were his counſelers after the death of his father, to his deſtruction.

5 And he walked in their counfels. And he went forth with Ioram the ſonne of Achab king of Iſrael, into battel agaynſt Hazael king of Syria, into Ramoth Galaad: and the Syrians wounded Ioram.

6 Who returned to be cured into Iezrael: for he had taken manie woundes in the foreſayd battel. Therfore Ochozias the ſonne of Ioram king of Iuda, went downe te viſit Ioram the ſonne of Achab in Iezrael being ſicke.

7 For it was the wil of God agaynſt Ochozias, that he ſhould come to Ioram: and when he was come he ſhould goe out alſo againſt Iehu the ſonne of Namſi, whom our Lord anoynted to deſtroy the houſe of Achab.

8 When Iehu therfore ouerthrew the houſe of Achab, he found the princes of Iuda, and the ſonne of the brethren of Ochozias, which ſerued him, and he ſlewe them.

9 Searching alſo for Ochozias himſelf, he tooke him lying hid in Samatia: and being brought vnto him, he killed him, and they buried him: becauſe he was the ſonne of Ioſaphat, who had ſought our Lord in al his hart [::] neither was there anie more hope that anie ſhould reigne of the ſtocke of Ochozias.

10 For Athalia his mother, ſeing that her ſonne was dead, aroſe, and ſ⟨illegible⟩eu al the kinges ſtocke of the houſe of Ioram.

11 Sauing that Ioſabeth the kinges daughter tooke Ioas the ſonne of Ochozias, and ſtole him out of the middes of the kinges ſonnes, when they were ſlayne▪ and she hid thim with his nource in the bedde chamber: and Ioſabeth that hid him, was the daughter of king Ioram, the wife of Ioiada the high prieſt, the ſiſter of Ochozias, and therfore Athalia did not kil him▪

12 He therfore was with them in the houſe of God ſix yeares, in the which Athalia reigned ouer the Land.

Marginal notes to Chapter 22

• 1 4. Reg. 8. v. 25. ch. 9.
• 2 [::] To wit when he beganne to reigne alone: for he reigned together with his father at the age of 22. 4. Reg. 8. v. 26. And after his fathers death but one yeare.
• 2 [::] See 4. Reg. 8. v. 18.
• 9 [::] Human hope failed, but Gods prouidence vſed meanes to conſerue ſome of Dauids iſſue to ſitte in his throne, yea to continue the ſucceſsion ⟨illegible⟩ Chriſt. Mat. 1.

Chapter 23

CHAP. XXIII. Ioiada the Hiegh priest annoynteth and crowneth Ioas king. 12. cauſeth Athalia to be ſlaine, 16. idolatrie to be deſtroyed. 18. and Gods ſeruice aduanced.

1 AND in the ſeuenth yeare Ioiada taking courage, tooke the centurions, to witte, Azarias the ſonne of Ieroham, and Iſmahel the ſonne of Iohanan, Azarias alſo the ſonne of Obed, and Maaſias the ſonne of Adaias, and Eliſaphat the ſonne of Zechri: and made a couenant with them.

2 Who going about Iuda, gathered together the Leuites out of al the cities of Iuda, and the princes of the families of Iſrael, and they came into Ieruſalem.

3 Therfore al the multitude made a couenant with the king in the houſe of God: and Ioiada ſayd to them: Behold the kinges ſonne ſhal reigne, as our Lord hath ſpoken, vpon the ſonnes of Dauid.

4 This [::] therfore is the thing which you ſhal doe.

5 The third part of you that come to the [*] Sabbath of the Prieſtes, and of Leuites, and of porters ſhal be in the gates: and a third part at the kinges houſe: and a third at the gate, which is called of the Fundation: but let al the reſt of the common people be in the courtes of the houſe of our Lord.

6 Neither let anie other enter into the houſe of our Lord, but the Prieſtes, and they that miniſter of the Leuites: let them onlie goe in, becauſe they are ſanctified and let al the reſt of the multitude obſerue the watches of our Lord.

7 And let the Leuites enuiron the king, hauing euerie one their weapons: (and if anie other ſhal enter into the temple, let him be ſlayne) and let them be with the king both coming in, and going out.

8 The Leuites therfore, & al Iuda did according to al thinges, which [::] Ioiada the high Prieſt had commanded; and they tooke euerie one the men that were vnder them, and came by the order of the Sabbath, with them that had fulfilled the Sabbath, and were to goe forth. For Ioiada the high Prieſt permitted not the companies to depart, which were accuſtomed to ſuccede one an other euerie weeke.

9 And Ioiada the Prieſt gaue to the centurions the ſpeares, and the ſhieldes, and targattes of king Dauid, which he had conſecrated in the houſe of our Lord.

10 And he appoynted al the people of them that held weapons on the right ſide of the temple, vnto the left ſyde of the temple, before the altar, and the temple, round about the king.

11 And they brought forth the kinges ſonne, and put the crowne vpon him, and the teſtimonie, and gaue the law to be in his hand, & they made him king: Ioiada alſo the high Prieſt, and his ſonnes annoynted him: and they wiſhed him wel, and ſaid: God ſaue the king.

12 Which thing when Athalia had heard, to witte, the voice of them that ranne and prayſed the king, ſhe went in vnto the people, into the temple of our Lord.

13 And when ſhe had ſeene the king ſtanding vpon the ſteppe in the entrance, and the princes, and the companies about him, and al the people of the land reioyſing, and ſounding with trumpettes, and playing on inſtrumentes of diuerſe kind, and the voice of them that prayſed, ſhe rent her garmentes, and ſayd: Treaſon, treaſon.

14 And Ioiada the high Prieſt going forth to the centurions, and captaines of the armie, ſayd to them: Bring her forth without the precinct of the temple, and let her be killed with the ſword without. And the Prieſt commanded that ſhe ſhould not be killed in the houſe of our Lord.

15 And they layd handes vpon her necke: and when ſhe was entred within the gate of the horſes of the kinges houſe, they killed her there.

16 And Ioiada made a couenant betwen himſelf, and al the people, and the king, that they would be the people of our Lord.

17 Al the people therfore entred into the houſe of Baal, and deſtroyed it: and they brake his altars and [::] his [*] images: Mathan alſo the prieſt of Baal they ſlewe before the altars.

18 And Ioiada appoynted ouerſeers in the houſe of our Lord, vnder the handes of the Prieſtes, & the Leuites, which Dauid diſtributed in the houſe of our Lord: that they ſhould offer holocauſtes to our Lord, as it is writen in the law of Moyſes, in ioy and ſonges, according to the diſpoſition of Dauid.

19 He appoynted alſo porters in the gates of the houſe of our Lord, that the vncleane in aniething ⟨illegible⟩hould not enter in.

20 And he tooke the centurions, and the moſt valiant men and princes of the people, and al the common people of the land, and they made the king to goe downe from the houſe of our Lord, & to enter by the middes of the vpper gate into the kinges houſe, and placed him in the royal throne.

21 And al the people of the land reioyſed, & the citie was quiet: moreouer Athalia was ſlayne with the ſword.

Marginal notes to Chapter 23

• 1 4. Reg. 11.
• 4 [::] Gods promiſe being abſolute and certayne, yet humane meanes were neuertheles required.
• 5 [*] the vve⟨illegible⟩eli⟨illegible⟩ vvatch.
• 8 [::] In caſe of right and neceſſitie we ſee here what the high Prieſt could do and did by his authoritie: who otherwiſe intermedled not in the kings affayres. ch. 19▪ v 11.
• 17 [::] They are wilfully blind that wil not ſee difference betwen images of Baal & of Chriſt or of Sainctes.
• 17 [*] ſimul⟨illegible⟩⟨illegible⟩ra.

Chapter 24

CHAP. XXIIII. Ioas reigning piouſly, ſo long as Ioiada liueth, cauſeth the Temple to be repayred, 14. and new ſa⟨illegible⟩red veſsels to be made. 15. Ioiada an hundred thirtie yeares old dieth. 17. Ioas falleth to idolatrie: 20. cauſeth Zacharias to be ſlayne in the court of the Temple. 23. A few Syrians kil the chief men about the king, and carie away great prayes. 25. Ioas is ſlayne by his owne men, and his ſonne Amaſias reigneth.

1 SEVEN yeares old was Ioas when he began to reigne: and he reigned fourty yeares in Ieruſalem, the name of his mother was Sebia of Berſabee.

2 And he did that which is good before our Lord al the dayes of Ioiada the Prieſt.

3 And Ioiada tooke for him two wiues, of whom he begat ſonnes & daughters.

4–5 After which thinges it pleaſed Ioas to repayre the houſe of our Lord. And he aſſembled the Prieſtes, and the Leuites, and ſayd to them: Goe ye forth to the cities of Iuda, and gather of al Iſrael money for the reparation of the temple of your God, yeare by yeare, and doe this in haſt: moreouer the Leuites did negligently.

6 And the king called Ioiada the prince, and ſayd to him: why haſt thou had no care to conſtrayne the Leuites to bring in out of Iuda and Ieruſalem the money, that was [::] appointed of Moyſes the ſeruant of our Lord, that al the multitude of Iſrael ſhould bring it in into the tabernacle of teſtimonie?

7 For the moſt impious Athalia, and her children haue deſtroyed the houſe of God, and of al thinges that had bene ſanctified in the temple of our Lord, they adorned the temple of Baalim.

8 The king therfore commanded and they made a cheſt: and ſet it by the gate of our Lord on the out ſide.

9 And it was proclaymed in Iuda and Ieruſalem, that euery man should bring the price to our Lord, which Moyſes the ſeruant of God appoynted ouer al Iſrael, in the deſert.

10 And al the princes reioyſed, and al the people: and going in they contributed into the cheſt of our Lord, and caſt in ſo that it was filled.

11 And when it was time that they should bring the cheſt before the king by the handes of Leuites (for they ſaw much money) the kinges Scribe went in, and he whom the high prieſt had appoynted: & they powred out the money that was in the cheſt, & recaried it to his place: and ſo did they from day to day, and there was gathered infinite money.

12 Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them, that ouerſaw the workes of the houſe of our Lord: but they hired with it hewers of ſtones, and artificers of al workes, to repayre the houſe of our Lord: ſmithes alſo of yron and braſſe, that that which began to fal, might be vpholden.

13 And they that wrought did induſtriouſly, and the breach of the walles was cloſed by their handes, and they rayſed the houſe of our Lord into the old ſtate, and made it ſtand firmely.

14 And when they had accompliſhed al the workes, they brought the reſt of the money before the king and Ioiada: of the which were made veſſels of the temple to the miniſterie, and for holocauſtes, phials alſo, and other veſſels of gold and ſiluer: and holocauſtes were offered in the houſe of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada.

15 But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes, and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old.

16 And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges, becauſe he had done good with Iſrael, and with his houſe.

17 And after that Ioiada was dead, the princes of Iuda went in, and adored the king, who being altered by their ſeruiceableneſſe, agreed to them.

18 And they forſooke the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers, and ſerued groues, and ſculptilles, and there came wrath agaynſt Iuda, and Ieruſalem for this ſinne.

19 And he ſent them prophetes, that they ſhould returne to our Lord, whom proteſting they would not heare.

20 The ſpirit of God therfore inueſted Zacharias the ſonne of Ioiada the Prieſt, & he ſtood in the ſight of the people, and ſayd to them: Thus ſayth our Lord God: Why tranſgreſſe you the precept of our Lord, which thing ſhal not profit you, & haue forſaken our Lord, that he ſhould forſake you?

21 Who being gathered agaynſt him, they threw ſtones according to the kinges commandement, in the court of the houſe of our Lord.

22 And Ioas the king did not remember the mercie, that Ioiada his father had done with him, but he killed his ſonne. Who when he died, ſayd: Our Lord ſee, and require it.

23 And when a yeare was come about, the armie of Syria came vp againſt him: & it came into Iuda & Ieruſalem, & ſlewe al the princes of the people, and al the pray they ſent to the king into Damaſcus.

24 And wheras there was come a very ſmal number of the Syrians, our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude, for that they had forſaken our Lord the God of their fathers: on Ioas alſo they exerciſed ignomious iudgementes.

25 And departing they left him in great diſeaſes: and his ſeruantes roſe agaynſt him, [::] for reuenge of the bloud of the ſonne of Ioiada the prieſt, & they ſlewe him in his bed, & he dyed: and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid, but not in the kinges ſepulchres.

26 And there conſpired againſt him Zabad the ſonne of Semmaath an Ammoniteſſe, & Iozabad the ſonne of Semarith a Moabiteſſe.

27 Moreouer his children, and the ſumme of money, which was gathered vnder him, & the repayring of the houſe of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges: and Amaſias his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 24

• 6 [::] By the law euerie one payed yearly halfe a ſicle, towards the repayring of the tabernacle and ſo afterwardes of the temple. Ex. 30.
• 21 Ma⟨illegible⟩. ⟨illegible⟩ ▪
• 25 [::] He that killed his ſpiritual father was ſlaine by his owne ſeruantes.

Chapter 25

CHAP. XXV. Amaſias killeth thoſe that ſlew his father. 5. Beſides his owne people, hyreth ſouldiars of Iſrael, but by aduiſe of a Prophete diſmiſſeth them, 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans, whoſe idols taken in battel (13. the diſmiſſed ſouldiars in the meane time ſpoyling his countrie) he adoreth. 15. Contemning admonition, 17. and prouoking the king of Iſrael to warre, 22. is taken in battel and ſpoyled. 27. Fearing treaſon in Ieruſalem fleeth, and is ſlaine in Lachis.

1 FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amaſias when he began to reigne, and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ieruſalem, the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ieruſalem.

2 And he did good in the ſight of our Lord: but yet not in a perfect hart.

3 And when he ſaw his kingdom ſtrengthned, he put to death the ſeruantes, that had ſlayne the king his father,

4 but their children he ſlew not, as it is writen in the Booke of the law of Moyſes, where our Lord commanded, ſaying. The fathers ſhal not be ſlayne for the children, nor the children for their fathers, but euerie one ſhal die in his owne ſinne.

5 Amaſias therfore gathered together Iuda, and appoynted them by families, and tribunes, and centurions in al Iuda, and Beniamin: and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward, and found three hundred thouſand of yong men that went forth to battel, and held ſpeare and ſhielde.

6 He hyred alſo for wages of Iſrael an hundred thouſand ſtrong men, for an hundred talentes of ſiluer.

7 But a man of God came to him, and ſayd: O king, let not the hoſt of Iſrael goe forth with thee, for our Lord is not with Iſrael, and al the children of Ephraim:

8 and if thou thinke that battels conſiſt in the force of an armie, God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies: for it perteyneth to God both to helpe, and to put to flight.

9 And Amaſias ſayd to the man of God: What ſhal become then of the hundred talentes, which I haue geuen the ſouldiars of Iſrael? And the man of God anſwered him: Our Lord hath wherby he is able to geue thee much more then this.

10 Amaſias therfore ſeperated the hoſt, that came to him out of Ephraim, that they ſhould returne into their place: but they being wrath excedingly agaynſt Iuda, returned into their countrie.

11 Moreouer Amaſias brought forth his people confidently, and went into the Vale of ſalt pittes, and ſtroke the children of Seir, ten thouſand.

12 And other ten thouſand men did the children of Iuda take, and bring to the ſteepe of a certaine rocke, and caſt them down headlong from the toppe, who burſt in ſunder euerie one.

13 But that armie which Amaſias had ſent backe, from going with him to battel, was ſpred in the cities of Iuda, from Samaria vnto Bethhoron, & killing three thouſand tooke away a great praye.

14 But Amaſias after the ſlaughter of the Idumeans, ſette vp the goddes of the children of Seir, which he had brought thence, for his goddes, and adored them, and burnt incenſe to them.

15 For which thing our Lord being angrie againſt Amaſias, ſent a prophete vnto him, which ſhould ſay to him: Why haſt thou adored goddes, that haue not deliuered their owne people out of thy hand?

16 And when he ſpake theſe thinges, he anſwered him: Art thou the kinges counſeler? be quiet, leſt I kil thee. And the prophet departing, ſayd: I know that God is minded to kil thee, becauſe thou haſt done this euil, and beſides haſt not agreed to my counſel.

17 Therfore Amaſias the king of Iuda taking verie il counſel, ſent to Ioas the ſonne of Ioachaz the ſonne of Iehu, the king of Iſrael, ſaying: Come, let vs ſee one an other.

18 But he ſent backe the meſſengers, ſaying: A thiſtle that is in Libanus ſent to a cedar of Libanus, ſaying: Geue thy daughter to my ſonne to wife: & behold the beaſtes that were in the wood of Libanus paſſed, and trode downe the thiſtle.

19 Thou haſt ſayd: I haue ſtroken Edom, and therfore thy hart is extolled into pryde, ſitte in thy houſe▪ why doſt thou prouoke euil againſt thee, that both thou mayeſt fal, and Iuda with thee.

20 Amaſias would not heare, becauſe it was our Lordes wil, that he should be deliuered into the handes of the enemies[::] for the goddes of Edom.

21 Ioas therfore the king of Iſrael went vp, and they gaue themſelues one the ſight of the other: and Amaſias the king of Iuda was in Bethſames of Iuda:

22 and Iuda fel before Iſrael, and fled into their tabernacles.

23 Moreouer Amaſias the king of Iuda, the ſonne of Ioas, the ſonne of Ioachaz, did take Ioas the king of Iſrael in Bethſames, & brought him into Ieruſalem: and deſtroyed the wal therof from the gate of Ephraim, to the gate of the corner, foure hundred cubites.

24 Al the gold alſo, and ſiluer, and al the veſſels, that he found in the houſe of God, and with Obededom in the treaſures alſo of the kinges houſe, moreouer he brought backe the ſonnes of the hoſtages into Samaria.

25 And Amaſias the ſonne of Ioas the king of Iuda liued, after that Ioas died the ſonne of Ioachaz the king of Iſrael, fiftene yeares.

26 But the reſt of the wordes of Amaſias the firſt and the laſt are Writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael.

27 Who after he reuolted from our Lord, they lay in waite agaynſt him in Ieruſalem. And when he had fled into Lachis, they ſent, and ſlew him there.

28 And carying him backe vpon horſes, buried him with his fathers in the Citie of Dauid.

Marginal notes to Chapter 25

• 1 4. Reg. 14.
• 4 D⟨illegible⟩t. 24
• 16 4. Reg. 8.
• 20 [::] Obduration of hart for former ſinne.

Chapter 26

CHAP. XXVI. Ozias ſeruing God, 6. preuaileth in battel againſt the Philiſtians, Arabians, and Ammonites. 9. proſpereth in honour and wealth. 16. Then w⟨illegible⟩ixing proud offereth incenſe on the altar, is ſtriken with leproſie, expelled out of the Temple, and citie. 20. and his ſonne Ioathan ruleth the kingdom.

1 AND al the people of Iuda made his ſonne Ozias ſixtene yeares old, king for Amaſias his father.

2 He built Ailath, and reſtored it to the dominion of Iuda, after that the king ſlept with his fathers.

3 Sixtene yeares old was Ozias when he began to reigne, and he reigned two and fiftie yeares in Ieruſalem, the name of his mother was Iechelia of Ieruſalem.

4 And he did that which was right in the eies of our Lord, according to al thinges, which Amaſias his father had done.

5 And he ſought our Lord in the daies of Zacharias that vnderſtood and ſaw God: and when he ſought our Lord, [::] he directed him in al thinges.

6 Moreouer he went forth, and fought againſt the Philiſthijms, and deſtroyed the wal of Geth, and the wal of Iabinia, and the wal of Azotus: he built alſo townes in Azotus, and among the Philiſthijms.

7 And God did helpe him againſt the Philiſthijms, and againſt the Arabians, that dwelt in Garbaal, and againſt the Ammonites.

8 And the Ammonites gaue giftes to Ozias: and his name was renowmed vnto the entrance of Aegypt for his often victories.

9 And Ozias built towers in Ieruſalem ouer the gate of the corner, and ouer the gate of the valley, and the reſt, in the ſame ſide of the wal, and ſtrengthened them.

10 He built towers alſo in the wilderneſſe, and digged manie ceſternes, becauſe he had much cattel as wel in the champaine, as in the vaſtitie of the deſert: he had alſo vineyardes & dreſſers of vines in the mountaynes, and in Carmel: for he was a man geuen to huſbandrie.

11 And the hoſt of his warriers, which went forth to battels, was vnder the band of Iehiel the ſcribe, & Maaſias the doctor, and vnder the hand of Hananias, who was of the kinges dukes.

12 And al the number of the princes by families of valiant men, was two thouſand ſix hundred.

13 And vnder them al the hoſt of three hundred & ſeuen thouſand fiue hundred: which were apt to battels, and fought for the king againſt the aduerſaries

14 Ozias alſo prepared for them, that is to ſay, for al the armie, ſhildes, and ſpeares, and helmettes, and coates of mayle, and bowes, and ſlinges to caſt ſtones.

15 And he made in Ieruſalem engines of diuerſe kind, which he placed in the towers, and in the corners of the walles, to shoote arrowes, and great ſtones: and his name went forth farre, for that our Lord did ayde him, and had ſtrengthned him.

16 But when he was ſtrengthned, his hart was eleuated to his deſtruction, and he neglected our Lord his God: and entering into the temple of our Lord: he would burne[::] incenſe vpon the altar of incenſe.

17 And incontinent Azarias the Prieſt going in after him, & with him the Prieſtes of our Lord eightie, moſt valiant men,

18 they reſiſted the king, and ſayd: It is not thy office Ozias, to burne incenſe to our Lord, but of the Prieſtes, that is, of the children of Aaron, which are conſecrated to this kind of miniſterie: goe out of the Sanctuarie, contemne not: becauſe this thing shal not be reputed to thee for glorie of our Lord God.

19 And Ozias being angrie, and holding in his hand the cenſar to burne incenſe, threatned the Prieſtes. And forthwith there roſe a leproſie in his forehead before the Prieſtes, in the houſe of our Lord vpon the altar of incenſe.

20 And when Azarias the high Prieſt had beheld him, and al the reſt of the Prieſtes, they ſaw the leproſie in his forehead, and in haſt they thruſt him out. Yea and him ſelf being ſore afrayd, made haſt to goe out, becauſe he felt by and by the plague of our Lord.

21 Ozias therfore the king was a leper vntil the day of his death, and he dwelt in a houſe apart ful of the leproſie, for the which he had bene caſt out of the houſe of our Lord. Moreouer Ioathan his ſonne gouerned the kinges houſe, and iudged the people of the land.

22 But the reſt of the wordes of Ozias the firſt and the laſt wrote Iſaias the ſonne of Amos, the prophet.

23 And Ozias ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in the[::] kings ſepulchres field, becauſe he was a leper: and Ioathan his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 26

• 5 [::] So long as this king obſerued the ordinance of God to be directed by the high prieſt N⟨illegible⟩. 27. v 2⟨illegible⟩. he proſpered in his affayres.
• 16 [::] For vſurping ſpiritual authority which pertayned not to him, the high prieſt with his aſſiſtantes oppoſed themſelues againſt the king: and God confirmed their ſentence, by ſtriking the ſame king with leproſie. And ſo he was not only caſt out of the temple, but alſo out of his kingdom, and common conuerſation with other men, & forced to dwel in a ſeparet houſe without the citie according to the law. Leuit. 13. v. 46.
• 23 [::] Neither could he be buried in the propet ſepulchres of the kinges.

Chapter 27

CHAP. XXVII. Ioathan a godlie king, 5. preuaileth in battel againſt the Ammonites. 7. dieth, and his ſonne Achaz ſuccedeth.

1 FIVE and twentie yeares old was Ioathan when he began ⟨illegible⟩o reigne, and he reigned ſixtene yeares in Ieruſalem: the name of his mother was Ieruſa the daugter of Sadoc.

2 And he did that which was right before our Lord, according to al thinges, which Ozias his father had done, ſauing that he entered not into the temple of our Lord, and as yet the people did ſinne.

3 He built the high gate of the houſe of our Lord, and in the wal of Ophel he built manie thinges.

4 Cities alſo he built in the mountaynes of Iuda, and caſtelles and towres in the forreſtes.

5 He fought agaynſt the king of the children of Ammon, and ouercame them, and the children of Ammon gaue him at that time an hundred talentes of ſiluer, and tenne thouſand cores of wheate, and as manie cores of barley: the children of Ammon gaue him theſe thinges in the ſecond and third yeare.

6 And Ioathan was ſtrengthened, becauſe he had directed his waies before our Lord his God.

7 But the reſt of the wordes of Ioathan, and al his battels, and workes, are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iſrael and Iuda.

8 He was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne, and he reigned ſixtene yeares in Ieruſalem.

9 And Ioathan ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid: and Achaz his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 27

• 1 4. Reg. 15.

Chapter 28

CHAP. XXVIII. For his great wickednes Achaz is taken in battel, his countrie ſpoyled, and manie ⟨illegible⟩yne by the kinges of Syria, and Iſrael. 9. yet God ſuffereth not the kingdom to be ſubdued. 16. Then requiring helpe of the Aſsyrians. 17 is ſpoyled by the Idumeans, Philiſthians, and Aſsyrians. 22. After al which pl⟨illegible⟩nes he committeth more idolatrie. 26. dieth, and his ſonne Ezechias reigneth.

1 TWENTIE yeares old was Achaz when he began to reigne, & he reigned ſixtene yeares in Ieruſalem: he did not right in the ſight of our Lord as Dauid his father.

2 but walked in the wayes of the kinges of Iſrael, moreouer alſo he did caſt ſtatues to Baalim.

3 He it is that burnt incenſe to the Valebenennom, and he conſecrated his ſonnes in fire according to the rite of the nations, which our Lord ſlewe in the coming of the children of Iſrael.

4 He ſacrified alſo, & burnt incenſe in the excelſes, & on hilles, and vnder euerie tree ful of grene leaues.

5 And our Lord his God deliuered him into the handes of the king of Syria, who ſtroke him, and tooke a great praye out of his kingdom, & brought into Damaſcus: to the handes alſo of the king of Iſrael was he deliuered, and ſtriken with a great plague.

6 And Phacee the ſonne of Romelia ſlewe of Iuda an hundred twentie thouſand in one day, al men of warre: for that they had forſaken our Lord the God of their fathers.

7 At that time Zechri a mightie man of Ephraim, ſlewe Maaſias the kinges ſonne, and Ezricam the gouernour of his houſe, Elcana alſo ſecond from the king.

8 And the children of Iſrael tooke of their brethren two hundred thouſand of wemen, of boyes, and of wenches, and an infinite praye: and they brought it into Samaria.

9 At that time there was a Prophete of our Lord, named Oded: who going forth to meete the armie coming into Samaria, ſayd to them: Behold our Lord the God of your fathers being angrie againſt Iuda, hath deliuered them into your handes, and you haue ſlayne them cruelly, ſo that your crueltie did reach to heauen.

10 Moreouer the children of Iuda and Ieruſalem you wil ſubdue vnto you for bondmen and bondwemen, which nedeth not to be done: for you haue ſinned hereupon to our Lord your God.

11 But heare ye my counſel, and carie backe the captiues, that you haue brought of your brethren, becauſe the great furie of our Lord hangeth ouer you.

12 There ſtood therfore princes of the children of Ephraim, Azarias the ſonne of Iohanan, Barachias the ſonne of Moſollomoth, Ezechias the ſonne of Sellum, and Amaſa the ſonne of Hadali, againſt them that came out of the battel,

13 and they ſayd to them: You ſhal not bring in the captiues hither, leſt we ſinne to our Lord. Why wil you adde vpon our ſinnes, and heape vp old offences? for it is a great ſinne, and the anger of the furie of our Lord hangeth ouer Iſrael.

14 And the men of warre diſmiſt the pray, & al the thinges that they had taken, before the princes and al the multitude.

15 And the men, whom we mentioned aboue, ſtood and taking the captiues, and al that were naked they clothed and ſhod them, with the ſpoyles: and when they had clothed and refreſhed them with meate and drinke, and annoynted them becauſe of their labour, and had looked carefully to them: as manie as could not walke, and were of a weake bodie, they ſet on beaſtes, and brought them to Iericho the Citie of palme trees to their brethren, and themſelues returned into Samaria.

16–17 At that time king Achaz ſent to the king of the Aſſyrians asking helpe. And the Idumeans came and ſtroke manie of Iuda, and tooke a great praye.

18 The Philiſthijms alſo were ſpred abroad by the cities of the champayne, and toward the South of Iuda: and they tooke Bethſames, & Aialon, and Gaderoth, Socho alſo, & Thamnan, and Gamzo, with their villages, and dwelt in them.

19 For our Lord had humbled Iuda becauſe of Achaz the king of Iuda, for that he had made it naked of helpe, and had contemned our Lord.

20 And he brought agaynſt him Theglathphalnaſar the king of the Aſſyrians, who alſo afflicted him, and ſpoyled him no man reſiſting.

21 Therfore Achaz ſpoyling the houſe of our Lord, and the houſe of the kinges, and of the princes gaue giftes to the king of the Aſſyrians, and yet it did nothing profite him.

22 Moreouer alſo in the time of his diſtreſſe he increaſed contempte agaynſt our Lord, king Achaz himſelf by himſelf,

23 immolated victimes to the goddes of Damaſcus that ſtroke him, and ſayd: The goddes of the kinges of Syria doe helpe them, whom I wil pacifie with hoſtes, and they wil ayde me, wheras on the contrarie part they were his ruine, and al Iſraels.

24 Achaz therfore hauing ſpoyled al the veſſels of the houſe of God, and broken them ſhut the gates of the temple of God, and made him altars in al the corners of Ieruſalem.

25 In al the cities alſo of Iuda he built altars to burne frankincenſe, and he prouoked to wrath our Lord the God of his fathers.

26 But the reſt of his wordes, al his workes the firſt and the laſt are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael.

27 And Achaz ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in the Citie of Ieruſalem: for they receiued him not into the ſepulchres of the kinges of Iſrael. And Ezechias his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 28

• 1 4. Reg. 16.
• 23 ::VVicked policie auaileth nothing, but hurteth much.

Chapter 29

CHAP. XXIX. Ezechias repayreth the Temple, and diuine ſeruiee▪ 5. zelouſly exhorteth offenders to repentance. 12. the Temple is purified in ſixtene daies. 18. the king and nobles offer hoſtes, which the Prieſtes immolate. 25. with ſolemne muſick (ordained by king Dauid) and great ioy of al the people.

1 THERFORE Ezechias began to reigne, when he was fiue and twentie yeares old, and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ieruſalem: the name of his mother was Abia, the daughter of Zacharias.

2 And he did that which was pleaſing in the ſight of our Lord, according to al thinges that Dauid his father had done.

3 He in the firſt yeare and moneth of his reigne opened the doores of the houſe of our Lord, and repayred them.

4 And he brought the Prieſtes and the Leuites, and aſſembled them in the Eaſt ſtreate.

5 And he ſayd to them: Heare me ye Leuites, and be ſanctified, cleanſe the houſe of our Lord the God of your fathers, and take away al vncleannes out of the Sanctuarie,

6 Our fathers haue ſinned and done euil in the ſight of our Lord God, forſaking him: they haue turned away their faces from the tabernacle of our Lord, and geuen the backe.

7 They haue ſhut the doores, that were in the porch, and put out the lampes, and haue not burnt incenſe, and haue not offered holocauſtes in the Sanctuarie of the God of Iſrael.

8 Therfore was the furie of our Lord ſtirred vp vpon Iuda and Ieruſalem, and he hath deliuered them into commotion, and into deſtruction, & to be hiſſed at, as your ſelues ſee with your eyes.

9 Behold, our fathers haue fallen by the ſwordes, our ſonnes, and our daughters, and wiues are led captiue for this wickedneſſe.

10 Now therfore it pleaſeth me that we make a couenant with our Lord the God of Iſrael, and he wil turne away the furie of his wrath from vs.

11 My children be not negligent: our Lord hath choſen you to ſtand before him, and to miniſter to him, and to worſhipe him, and to burne incenſe to him.

12 The Leuites therfore aroſe: Mahath the ſonne of Amaſai, and Ioel the ſonne of Azarias, of the children of Caath: moreouer the children of Merari, Cis the ſonne of Abdi, and Azarias the ſonne of Ialaleel. And of the children of Gerſon, Ioah the ſonne of Zemma, and Eden the ſonne of Ioah.

13 But of the children of Eliſaphan, Samri, and Iahiel. Alſo of the children of Aſaph, Zacharias, and Mathanias.

14 Moreouer alſo of the children of Heman, Iahiel, & Semei: yea and of the children of Idithun, Semeias, and Oziel.

15 And they gathered together their btethren, and were ſanctified, and went in according to the commandment of the king, and the precept of our Lord, to purge the houſe of God.

16 The Prieſtes alſo going into the Temple of our Lord to ſanctifie it, brought out al vncleannes, which they ſound within the entrance of the houſe of our Lord, which the Leuites tooke, and caried to the Torrent cedron without.

17 And they began to clenſe it the firſt day of the firſt moneth, and in the eight day of the ſame moneth they entred into the porche of the temple of our Lord, and they purged the temple in eight dayes, and in the ſixtenth day of the ſame moneth, they accompliſhed that which they began.

18 They entered in alſo to Ezechias the king, and ſayd to him: We haue ſanctified al the houſe of our Lord, and the altar of holocauſt, and the veſſels therof, moreouer alſo the table of propoſition with al the veſſels therof,

19 and al the furniture of the temple, which king Achaz in his reigne had polluted, after that he tranſgreſſed; and behold al thinges are ſet forth before the altat of our Lord.

20 and Ezechias the king riſing early, aſſembled al the princes of the citie, and went vp into the houſe of our Lord:

21 and they offered together ſeuen oxen, and ſeuen rammes, ſeuen lambes, and ſeuen buckgoates for ſinne, for the kingdom, for the ſanctuarie, for Iuda, and he ſayd to the Prieſtes the children of Aaron, that they ſhould offer them vpon the altar of our Lord.

22 They killed therfore the oxen, and the Prieſtes tooke the bloud, and powred it vpon the altar, they killed alſo the rammes, and their bloud they powred alſo vpon the altar, and they immolated the lambes, and powred the bloud vpon the altar.

23 They brought the buckgoates for ſinne before the king, and the whole multitude, and they put their handes vpon them:

24 and the Prieſtes immolated them, and ſprinkled their bloud on the altar for an expiation of al Iſrael: for the king had commanded for al Iſrael, that holocauſt ſhould be made, and for ſinne.

25 He appoynted alſo the Leuites in the houſe of our Lord with cymbals, and pſalteries, and harpes according to the diſpoſition of Dauid the king, and of Gad the Seer, and of Nathan the Prophete: for it was the precept of our Lord by the hand of his prophetes.

26 And the Leuites ſtoode, holding the inſtrumentes of Dauid, and the Prieſtes trumpettes.

27 And Ezechias commanded that they should offer holocauſtes vpon the altar: and when holocauſtes were offered, they began to ſing prayſes to our Lord, and to ſound with trumpettes, and on diuerſe inſtrumentes, which Dauid the king of Iſrael had prepared for to ſound.

28 And al the multitude adoring, the ſinging men, and they that held the trumpettes, were in their office, whiles the holocauſt was accomplished.

29 And when the oblation was ended, the king bowed, and al that were with him, and adored.

30 And Ezechias, and the princes commanded the Leuites, that they should prayſe our Lord in the wordes of Dauid, and Aſaph the Seer: who prayſed him with great ioy, and bowing the knee adored.

31 But Ezechias added theſe wordes alſo: You haue filled your handes to our Lord, come, and offer victimes, and prayſes in the houſe of our Lord. Al the multitude therfore offered hoſtes, and prayſes, and holocauſtes with a deuout minde.

32 Moreouer the number of the holocauſtes, which the multitude offered, was thls, oxen ſeuentie, rammes an hundred, lambes two hundred.

33 And they ſanctified to our Lord oxen ſix hunered, & sheepe three thouſand.

34 But the Prieſtes were few, neither could they ſuffiſe to draw of the ſkinnes of the holocauſtes: wherfore the Leuites alſo their brethren holpe them, til the worke was accomplished, and the Prieſtes were ſanctified, for the Leuites are ſanctified with an eaſier rite, then the Prieſtes.

35 There were holocauſtes therfore verie many, the fatte of pacifiques, and the libamentes of the holocauſtes: and the ſeruice of the houſe of our Lord was accomplished.

36 And Ezechias reioyſed, and al the people, becauſe the miniſterie of our Lord was accomplished. For it pleaſed them that the thing should be done of a ſoden.

Marginal notes to Chapter 29

• 1 4. Reg. 18.

Chapter 30

CHAP. XXX. Ezechias by meſſengers and letters exhorteth the people both of Iuda and Iſrael, to make Paeſch in Ieruſalem. 11. which ſome of Iſrael, and al Iuda performe, 18. the fourtenth day of the ſecond moneth, though al could not be purified according to the law. 23. they make an other feaſt of Azimes ſeuen dayes more, the king aend princes geuing hoſtes to the people.

1 EZECHIAS alſo ſent to al Iſrael and Iuda: and he wrote letters to Ephraim and Manaſſes, that they ſhould come to the houſe of our Lord in Ieruſalem, and should make a Phaſe to our Lord the God of Iſrael.

2 Counſel therfore being taken of the king and the princes, and of al the aſſemblie of Ieruſalem, they decreed to make the Phaſe the ſecond moneth.

3 For they could not make it in his time becauſe the Prieſtes that might ſuffiſe, had not bene ſanctified, and the people had not as yet bene gathered into Ieruſalem.

4 And the word pleaſed the king, and al the multitude.

5 And they decreed to ſend meſſengers into al Iſrael from Berſabee vnto dan, that they should come, and make the Phaſe to our Lord the God of Iſrael in Ieruſalem: for manie had not made it as is preſcribed by the law.

6 And the poſtes went forth with letters of commandement from the king, and his princes, into al Iſrael and Iuda, according to that, which the king had commanded, proclaming: Children of Iſrael returne ye to our Lord the God of Abraham, and Iſaac, and Iſrael: and he wil returne to the remnant, that hath eſcaped the hand of the king of the Aſſyrians.

7 Become not as your fathers▪ and brethren, which haue reuolted from our Lord the God of their fathers, who hath deliuered them into deſtruction, as your ſelues ſee.

8 Harden not your neckes, as your fathers: geue handes to our Lord, and come to his Sanctuarie, which he hath ſanctified for ouer: ſerue our Lord the God of your fathers, and the wrath of his furie shal be turned away from you.

9 For if you shal returne to our Lord: your brethren, and children shal haue mercie before their Lordes, that haue led them captiue, and they shal returne into this land: for our Lord your God is merciful, and wil not turne away his face from you, if you shal returne to him.

10 Therfore the poſtes went forward ſpedely from citie to citie, through the land of Ephraim, and of Manaſſes, as farre as Zabulon, they mocking and ſkorning them.

11 Neuertheleſſe certayne men of Aſer, and Manaſſes, and Zabulon, condeſcending to the counſel, came to Ieruſalem.

12 But the hand of God was in Iuda, to geue them one hart to doe the word of our Lord, according to the precept of the king and of the princes.

13 And much people was gathered into Ieruſalem to make the ſolemnitie of Azimes in the ſecond moneth:

14 And riſing they deſtroyed the altars that were in Ieruſalem, and ouerthrowing al thinges wherin incenſe was burnt to idols, they threw it into the Torrent cedron.

15–16 And they immolated the Phaſe the fourtenth day of the ſecond moneth. The Prieſtes alſo and the Leuites at length being ſanctified offered holocauſtes in the houſe of our Lord. And they ſtoode in their order according to the diſpoſition, & law of Moyſes the man of God: but the Prieſtes receiued the bloud to be powred out of the handes of the Leuites,

17 becauſe a great multitude Was not ſanctified: & therfore the Leuites immolated the Phaſe for them, that came not in time to be ſanctified to our Lord.

18 For a great part of the people of Ephraim, and Manaſſes, and Iſſachar, and Zabulon, that had not bene ſanctified, did eate the Phaſe, not according to that which is writen: and Ezechias prayed for them, ſaying: Our good Lord wil be merciful,

19 to al them, [::] that in al their hart ſecke our Lord the God of their fathers: and wil not impute it to them that they are not ſanctified.

20 Whom our Lord heard, and was pacified to the people.

21 And the children of Iſrael, that were found in Ieruſalem, made the ſolemnitie of Azimes ſeuen daies in great ioy, prayſing our Lord euerie day. The Leuites alſo and the Prieſtes by inſtrumentes, that agreed to their office.

22 And Ezechias ſpake to the hart of al the Leuites, that had good vnderſtanding concerning our Lord: and they did eate during the ſeuen daies of the ſolemnitie, immolating victimes of pacifiques, and prayſing our Lord the God of their fathers.

23 And it pleaſed the whole multitude to celebrate it [::] other ſeuen daies: which alſo they did with great ioy.

24 For Ezechias the king of Iuda had geuen the multitude a thouſand oxen, and ſeuen thouſand ſheepe: but the princes had geuen the people oxen a thouſand, & ſheepe ten thouſand: there was ſanctified therfore a verie great multitude of Prieſtes.

25 And al the multitude of Iuda was ful of mirth, as wel of the Prieſtes and Leuites, as of al the aſſemblie, that came out of Iſrael; of the proſelites alſo of the land of Iſrael, and them that dwelt in Iuda.

26 And there was made a great ſolemnitie in Ieruſalem, ſuch as had not bene in that citie from the dayes of Salomon the ſonne of Dauid the king of Iſrael.

27 And the Prieſtes & the Leuites roſe vp bleſſing the people: & their voice was heard: and their prayer came into the holie habitation of heauen.

Marginal notes to Chapter 30

• 19 [::] Being penitēt in ha⟨illegible⟩t for their ſinnes, Gods diſpenſation might be ſapp⟨illegible⟩ſed fo⟨illegible⟩ legal purification i⟨illegible⟩ caſe of ⟨illegible⟩ce ⟨illegible⟩ine, which otherwiſe was ſt⟨illegible⟩ly comma⟨illegible⟩ L⟨illegible⟩t. 5. ⟨illegible⟩. Deut. 27. &c.
• 23 [::] Voluntarie workes of ſuperetogation, more then was commanded.

Chapter 31

CHAP. XXXI. Idoles being deſtroyed in al Iuda and part of Iſrael, Prieſtes and Leuites freely execute their functions. 4 Tithes and firſt fruictes are payed in ſuch abundance, 15. that they are put in ſtore houſes, and diſtributed by officers.

1 AND when theſe thinges had bene ritely celebrated, al Iſrael that was found in the cities of Iuda, went forth, and they brake the idols, and cut downe the groucs, ouerthrew the excelſes, and deſtroyed the altars, not onlie out of al Iuda and Beniamin, but out of Ephraim alſo and Manaſſes, til they vtterly deſtroyed them: and al the children of Iſrael returned into their poſſeſſions and cities.

2 And Ezechias appoynted companies of Prieſtes, and of Leuites, by their diuiſions, euerie man in his owne office, to witte, as wel of the Prieſtes, as of the Leuites, for the holocauſtes, and pacifiques, that they ſhould miniſter, and [::] confeſſe, and ſing in the gates of the campe of our Lord.

3 And the kinges part was, that of his proper ſubſtance holocauſt ſhould be offered, morning alwaies and euening, in the Sabbathes alſo, and the Calendes and in other ſolennites, as it is writen in the law of Moyſes.

4 He commanded alſo the people that dwelt in Ieruſaiem, to geue portions to the Prieſtes, and the Leuites, that they might attend the law of our Lord.

5 Which when it was noyſed in the eares of the multitude, the children of Iſrael offered very manie firſt fruites of corne, of wine, and of oyle, of honie alſo: and of al thinges, which the ground bringeth forth, they offered tithes.

6 Yea and the children of Iſrael and Iuda, that dwelt in the cities of Iuda, offered tithes of oxen, and ſheepe, and tithes of ſanctified thinges, which they had vowed to our Lord their God: and carying them al, made manie heapes.

7 The third moneth they began to lay the fundations of the heapes, and in the ſeuenth moneth they finiſhed them.

8 And when Ezechias, and his princes came in, they ſaw the heapes, and bleſſed our Lord, and the people of Iſrael.

9 And Ezechias asked the Prieſtes and the Leuites, why the heapes lay ſo:

10 Azarias the high Prieſt of the ſtocke of Sadoc anſwered him, ſaying: Since firſt fruites began to be offered in the houſe of our Lord, we haue eaten, and haue bene ful, and very much hath remayned, becauſe our Lord hath bleſſed his people: and of the remaynes this is the abundance, which thou ſeeſt.

11 Fzechias therfore commanded that ſtorehouſes ſhould be prepared in the houſe of our Lord. Which when they had done,

12 they brought in as wel the firſt fruites, as the tithes, and watſoeuer they had vowed, faythfully. And the ouerſeer of them was Chonenias a Leuite, and Semeihis brother the ſecond,

13 after whom Iahiel, and Azarias, and Nahath, and Aſael, and Ierimoth, Ioſabad alſo, and Eliel, and Ieſmachias, and Mahath, and Banaias, ouerſeers vnder the hand of Chonenias, and Semei his brother, by the commandment of Ezechias the king, and Azarias the high Prieſt of the houſe of God, to whom al thinges apperteyned.

14 But Core the ſonne of Iemna a Leuite, and porter of the eaſt gate, was ouerſeer of thoſe thinges, which were voluntarily offered to our Lord, and of the firſt fruites and the thinges conſecrated for Sancta ſanctorum.

15 And vnder his charge Eden, and Beniamin, Ieſue, and Semeias, Amarias alſo, and Sechenias, in the cities of the Prieſtes, that they ſhould faithfully diſtribute to their brethren portions, to the leſſer and greater:

16 ſauing the men children from three yeares and aboue, to al that entered into the temple of our Lord, and whatſoeuer day by day was profitable in the miniſterie, and the obſeruances according to their diuiſions,

17 to the Prieſtes by families, and to the Leuites from the twentith yeare and vpward, by the orders and companies,

18 and to al the multitude, as wel their wiues, as their children of both ſex, mea⟨illegible⟩es were geuen faithfully of theſe thinges, that had bene ſanctified.

19 Yea and of the children of Aaron by the fildes and the ſuburbes of euerie citie, there were men ordayned, that ſhould diſtribute portions, to al the male ſexe, of the Prieſtes and the Leuites.

20 Ezechias therfore did al thinges which we haue ſayd in al Iuda: and wrought good and right, and truth before our Lord his God,

21 in al the ſeruice of the miniſterie of the houſe of our Lord, according to the law and the ceremonies, willing to ſeeke his God in al his hart, and he did it and proſpered.

Marginal notes to Chapter 31

• 2 [::] Beſides conſeſſion of ſinnes there is alſo cōfeſſion of Gods excellencie & goodnes

Chapter 32

CHAP. XXXII. Sennacherib king of Aſſyria inuading Iuda, king Ezechias encorageth the people, and prouideth to defend the countrie. 9. the Aſſyrians threaten the people, and blaſpheme God. 20. Ezechias and Iſaias pray. 21. An Angel deſtroyeth the Aſſyrians armie, ſo their king retiring home, is ſlayne in his idols temple, by his owne ſonnes. 22. Ezechias reigneth in peace, 24. falleth into deadlie ſicknes, but miraculouſly recouereth, offendeth in pryde, and repenteth. 27. is exceding rich, which he imprudently sheweth to ſtrangers: 32. dieth, and Manaſſes ſuccedeth.

1 AFTER which thinges, and :: this maner of truth, came Sennacherib the king of the Aſſyrians, and entering into Iuda, beſieged the fenſed cities, deſirous to take them.

2 Which when Ezechias had ſene, to witte, that Sennacherib was come, and the whole force of the battel to be turned agaynſt Ieruſalem,

3 taking counſel with the princes, and the moſt valiant men, to ſtoppe vp the heades of the fountaynes, that were without the citie: and the ſentence of them al decreing this,

4 he gathered a very great multitude, & they ſtopped vp al the fountaynes, and the riuer, that ranne in the middes of the land, ſaying: Leſt the kinges of the Aſſyrians come, and finde abundance of waters.

5 He built alſo doing induſtriouſly euerie wall that had bene deſtroyed, and built towers vpon them, and an other wall without: and he repayred Mello in the citie of Dauid, and made armour and ſhildes of al ſortes:

6 And he appointed princes of warryers in the armie: and he called them al together in the ſtreate of the gate of the citie, and ſpake to their hart, ſaying:

7 Doe manfully, and take courage: feare not, neither dread ye the king of the Aſſyrians, and al the multitude, that is with him: for there are manie moe with vs, then with him.

8 For with him is an arme of fleſh: with vs the Lord our God, which is our helper, and fighteth for vs. And the people was encouraged with theſe maner of wordes of Ezechias the king of Iuda.

9 Which thinges after they were done, Sennacherib the king of the Aſſyrians ſent his ſeruantes to Ieruſalem (for himſelf with al his armie beſeiged Lachis) to Ezechias the king of Iuda, & to al the people, that was in the citie, ſaying:

10 Thus ſayth Sennacherib the king of the Aſſyrians: In whom hauing affiance, doe you ſitte beſieged in Ieruſalem?

11 Hath Ezechias deceiued you, to deliuer you to death in hunger and thirſt, affirming that the Lord your God can deliuer you from the hand of the king of the Aſſyrians?

12 Why, is not this Ezechias, that hath deſtroyed his excelſes, and altars, and hath commanded Iuda & Ieruſalem, ſaying: Before one altar you ſhal adore, and on it you ſhal burne incenſe?

13 Are you ignorant what thinges I haue done, and my fathers to al the peoples of the landes? haue the goddes of nations, and of al landes bene able to deliuer their countrie out of my hand?

14 Who is there of al the goddes of the nations, which my fathers waſted, that could deliuer his people out of my hand, that your God alſo can deliuer you out of this hand?

15 Let not therfore Ezechias deceiue you, nor delude you with vayne perſuaſion, neither beleue ye him. For if no god o⟨illegible⟩ al nations and kingdomes, could deliuer his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers, conſequently neither ſhal your God be able to deliuer you out of my hand.

16 Yea and manie other thinges did his ſeruantes ſpeake, agaynſt our Lord God, and agaynſt Ezechias his ſeruant.

17 Letters alſo he wrote ful of blaſphemie againſt our Lord the God of Iſrael, and he ſpake agaynſt him: as the goddes of their nations could not deliuer their people out of my hand, ſo the God alſo of Ezechias can not deliuer his people out of this hand.

18 Moreouer alſo with a lowd crie, in the Iewes tongue, he ſounded againſt the people, that ſate on the walles of Ieruſalem, that he might terrifie them, and take the citie.

19 And he ſpake agaynſt the God of Ieruſalem, as agaynſt the goddes of the peoples of the earth, the workes of mens handes.

20 Ezechias therfore the king, and Iſaias the prophet the ſonne of Amos, prayed agaynſt this blaſphemie, and cried out euen to heauen.

21 And our Lord ſent an Angel, which ſtroke euerie ſtrong man, and warryer, and prince of the armie of the king of the Aſſyrians: and he returned with ignominie into his countrie. And when he was entered into the houſe of his God, his ſonnes that were come forth of his wombe, ſlewe him with the ſword.

22 And our Lord ſaued Ezechias and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Aſſyrians, and out of the hand of al, & gaue them reſt round about.

23 Manie alſo brought hoſtes, and ſacrifices to our Lord into Ieruſalem, and giftes to Ezechias the king of Iuda: who was exalted after theſe thinges before al nations.

24 In thoſe daies Ezechias was ſick euen to death, and he prayed our Lord: and he heard him, and gaue him a ſigne.

25 But not according to the benefites, which he receiued, did he recompenſe, [::] becauſe his hart was eleuated: and wrath came agaynſt him, and agaynſt Iuda and Ieruſalem.

26 And he was humbled afterward, becauſe his hart had bene exalted, both he and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem: and therfore the wrath of our Lord came not vpon them in the daies of Ezechias.

27 And Ezechias was rich, and glorious excedingly and gathered to himſelf great treaſures of ſiluer and of gold, and of pretious ſtone, of ſpices, and of armour of al kinde, and of veſſels of great price.

28 Storehouſes alſo of corne, of wyne, and of oyle, and ſtalles of al beaſtes, and foldes of cattel,

29 and ſix cities he built to him ſelf: for he had flockes of ſheepe, and of heardes innumerable, becauſe our Lord had geuen him ſubſtance exceding much.

30 The ſame is Ezechias, that ſtopped the vpper fountaine of the waters of Gihon, and turned them away vnderneth toward the Weſt of the Citie of Dauid: in al his workes he did proſperouſly what he would.

31 But yet in the embaſſie of the princes of Babylon, that were ſent to him, to aske of the wonder, that had chanced vpon the earth, God leift him that he might be tempted, and al thinges might be made knowen, that were in his hart.

32 But the reſt of the wordes of Ezechias, and of his mercies are writen in the viſion of Iſaias the ſonne of Amos the prophete, and in the booke of the kinges of Iuda & Iſrael.

33 And Ezechias ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefe ſepulchres of the children of Dauid: and al Iuda celebrated his funeralles, & al the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem: and Manaſſes his ſonne reigned for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 32

• 1 4. R⟨illegible⟩g. 18. Iſaie 36.
• 25 [::] ⟨illegible⟩ore danger of p⟨illegible⟩e in proſperitie, then in aduerſitie.

Chapter 33

CHAP. XXXIII. Manaſſes for his manifold wickednes is led captiue into Babylon. 12. repenteth in priſon, is reſtored to his kingdom, and deſtroyeth idolatrie: 18. dieth, 21. & Amon ſucceding, 24. is ſlayne by his ſeruantes, and Ioſias reigneth.

1 TWELVE yeares old was Manaſſes when he began to reigne, and he reigned fiftie fiue yeares in Ieruſalem.

2 And he did euil before our Lord, according to al the abominations of the nations, which our Lord ouerthrew before the children of Iſrael:

3 and being turned, he reedified the excelſes which Ezechias his father had deſtroyed: and he built altars to Baalim, and made groues, and he adored al the hoſt of heauen, and worſhipped it.

4 He built alſo altars in the houſe of our Lord, wherof our Lord had ſayd: In Ieruſalem ſhal my name be for euer.

5 And he built them to al the hoſt of heauen in the two courtes of the houſe of our Lord.

6 And he made his ſonnes to paſſe through fyre, to the Valebenennom: he obſerued dreames, folowed ſouthſayings, gaue him ſelf to magike artes, he had with him magicians, & inchaunters: and he wrought manie euils before our Lord, to prouoke him.

7 Alſo a grauen, and a molten ſigne he put in the houſe of God, wherof our Lord ſpake to Dauid, and to Salomon his ſonne, ſaying: In this houſe, and in Ieruſalem, which I haue choſen al the tribes of Iſrael, Wil I put my name for euer,

8 And I wil not make the foote of Iſrael to moue out of the land, which I haue deliuered to their fathers: yet ſo if they ſhal obſerue to doe that I haue commanded them, and al the law, and the ceremonies, and iudgementes by the hand of Moyſes.

9 Manaſſes therfore ſeduced Iuda, and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, that they did euil aboue al the nations, which our Lord had ouerthrowen before the face of the children of Iſrael.

10 And our Lord ſpake to him, and to his people, and they would not attend.

11 Therfore he brought vpon them the princes of the hoſt of the king of the Aſſyrians: and they tooke Manaſſes, & led him bound with chaynes, and fetters into Babylon.

12 Who after that he was in diſtreſſe, prayed our Lord his God: and did penance excedingly before the God of his fathers.

13 And he deſired him, and beſought him earneſtly: [::] and he heard his prayer, and brought him agayne to Ieruſalem into his kingdom, and Manaſſes knew that our Lord he was God.

14 After theſe thinges he built a wal without the citie of Dauid, on the weſt of Gihon in the valley, from the entrance of the fiſh gate round about vnto Ophel, and rayſed it excedingly: and he appoynted princes of the hoſt in al the fenſed cities of Iuda:

15 and he tooke away ſtrange goddes, and the idol out of the houſe of our Lord: the altars alſo which he had made in the mount of the houſe of our Lord, and in Ieruſalem, and he threw al without the citie.

16 Moreouer he reedified the altar of our Lord, and immolated vpon it victimes, and pacifiques, and prayſe: and he commanded Iuda to ſerue our Lord the God of Iſrael.

17 Neuertheleſſe as yet the people immolated in the excelſes to our Lord their God.

18 But the reſt of the actes of Manaſſes: and his obſecration to his God: the wordes alſo of the Seers, that ſpake to him in the name of our Lord the God of Iſrael, are conteyned in the wordes of the kinges of Iſrael.

19 His [::] prayer alſo, and his obtayning, and al his ſinnes, and contempt, the places alſo wherein he built excelſes, and made groues, and ſtatues before he did penance, are writen in the wordes of Hozai.

20 Manaſſes therfore ſlept with his fathers, and they buried him in his houſe: & his ſonne Amon reigned for him.

21 Ammon was two and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne, and he reigned two yeares in Ieruſalem.

22 And he did euil in the fight of our Lord, as Manaſſes his father had done: and he immolated to al the idols, which Manaſſes his father had made, and ſerued them.

23 And he did not reuerence the face our Lord, as Manaſſes his father did reuerence it, and he committed farre greater ſinnes.

24 And when his ſeruantes had conſpired agaynſt him, they ſlewe him in his owne houſe.

25 Moreouer the reſt of the multitude of the people, hauing ſlaine them that ſtroke Amon, made Ioſias his ſonne king for him.

Marginal notes to Chapter 33

• 1 4. Reg. 21.
• 13 [::] A pregnant example of the effect of harty repentance.
• 19 [::] This prayer is not extant in the Hebrew but in Greke & Latin. as yet neither receiued for canonical, by the Church no⟨illegible⟩ refuſed.

Chapter 34

CHAP. XXXIIII. Ioſias deſtroyeth idolatrie. 8. repaireth the Temple. 14. The booke of the law found in the Temple is redde before him. 19. wherby vnderſtanding the ſinnes of the people, 23. a prophete foresheweth their punishment, 26. but not in his daies. 29. He reneweth the couenant betwen God and the people.

1 EIGHT yeares old was Ioſias when he began to reigne, & he reigned thirtie and one yeares in Ieruſalem.

2 And he did that which was right in the ſight of our Lord, and walked in the waies of Dauid his father: he declined not neither to the right hand, nor to the left.

3 And in the eight yeare of his reigne, when he was yet a child, he began to ſeeke the God of his father Dauid: and the twelfth yeare after he began to reigne, he cleanſed Iuda and Ieruſalem from excelſes, and groues, and idols, & ſculptils.

4 And they deſtroyed before him the altars of Baalim, and the idols, that had bene ſet vpon them, they deſtroyed: the groues alſo and ſculptils he cut downe and brake in peeces: and ouer their tombes, that were accuſtomed to immolate vnto them, he ſtrawed the fragmentes.

5 Moreouer the bones of the Prieſtes he burnt on the altars of the idols, and he clenſed Iuda and Ieruſalem.

6 Yea and in the cities of Manaſſes, and of Ephraim, and of Simeon, vnto Nepthali he ouerthrew al.

7 And when he had deſtroyed the altars, and the groues, and had broken the idols into peces, and had ouerthrowen al profane temples out of al the land of Iſrael, he returned into Ieruſalem.

8 Therfore in the eightenth yeare of his reigne, the land now clenſed, and the temple of our Lord, he ſent Saphan the ſonne of Eſelias, and Maaſias the gouernour of the citie, and Ioha the ſonne of Ioachaz Commenter, that they ſhould repayre the houſe of our Lord his God.

9 Who came to Helcias the high prieſt: and taking of him the money, which had bene brought into the houſe of our Lord, and which the Leuites and porters had gathered together of Manaſſes, and Ephraim, and of al the remnant of Iſrael, of al Iuda alſo, and Beniamin, and the inhabiters of Ieruſalem,

10 they deliuered in their handes, that ouerſaw the workemen in the houſe of our Lord, that they ſhould repayre the temple, and mend al weake partes.

11 But they gaue it to the artificers, and to the maſons, that they ſhould bye ſtones out of the quarries, and timber for the ioyntures of the building, and for making the roofe of the houſe, which the kinges of Iuda had deſtroyed.

12 Who did al thinges faithfully. And the ouerſeers of the workemen were Iahath & Abdias of the children of Merari, Zacharias and Moſollam of the children of Caath, which vrged the worke: al Leuites ſkilful to ſing on inſtrumentes.

13 But ouer them, that caried burdens to diuerſe vſes, were ſcribes, and maſters of the Leuites, and porters.

14 And when they caried forth the money, that had bene brought into the temple of our Lord, Helcias the Prieſt found the Booke of the law of our Lord, [::] by the hand of Moyſes.

15 And he ſayd to Saphan the Scribe: I haue found the booke of the law in the houſe of our Lord: and deliuered it to him.

16 But he brought in the volume to the king, and told him, ſaying: Al thinges, which thou gaueſt into the hand of thy ſeruantes, loe are accomplished.

17 The ſiluer that was found in the houſe of our Lord, they haue gathered into a maſſe: and it was geuen to the ouerſeers of the artificers, and of them that make diuerſe workes.

18 Moreouer Helcias the Prieſt deliuered me this booke. Which when he had read in the kinges preſence,

19 and he had heard the wordes of the law, he rent his garmentes:

20 and he commanded Helcias, and Ahicam the ſonne of Saphan, and Abdon the ſonne of Micha, Saphan alſo the ſcribe, and Aſaa the kinges ſeruant, ſaying:

21 Goe, and pray our Lord for me, and for the remnant of Iſrael, and Iuda, concerning al the wordes of this Booke, which is found: for the great furie of our Lord hath diſtilled vpon vs, for that our fathers haue not kept the wordes of our Lord, to doe al thinges, that are writen in this volume.

22 Helcias therfore went, and they that were ſent together by the king, to Olda a propheteſſe, the wife of Sellum the ſonne of Thecuath, the ſonne of Haſra keeper of the garmentes: who dwelt in Ieruſalem in the ſecond part: and they ſpake to her the wordes, which we haue aboue mentioned.

23 But ſhe anſwered them: Thus ſayth out Lord the God of Iſrael: Tel the man, that ſent you to me:

24 Thus ſayth our Lord: Behold I wil bring euils vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitantes therof, and al the curſes, that are writen in this Booke, which they redde before the king of Iuda.

25 Becauſe they haue forſaken me, and haue ſacrificed to ſtrange goddes, that they might prouoke me to wrath in al the workes of their handes, therfore ſhal my furie droppe vpon this place, & ſhal not be extinguished.

26 But to the king of Iuda that ſent you to beſeche our Lord, thus ſpeake ye: Thus ſayth our Lord the God of Iſrael: Becauſe thou haſt heard the wordes of this volume,

27 and thy hart is mollified, and thou art humbled in the ſight of our Lord for theſe thinges, which are ſpoken againſt this place, and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, and reuerencing my face, haſt rent thy garmentes, and wept before me: I alſo haue heard thee, ſayth our Lord.

28 [::] For now wil I gather thee to thy fathers, and thou ſhalt be brought into thy graue in peace: neither shal thyne eies ſee al the euil that I wil bring in vpon this place, and vpon the inhabitantes therof. They therfore reported to the king al thinges that ſhe had ſayd.

29 But he calling together al the ancientes of Iuda and Ieruſalem,

30 went vp into the houſe of our Lord, and al the men of Iuda, and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem, Prieſtes and Leuites, and al the people from the leaſt to the greateſt. In whoſe hearing in the houſe of our Lord, the king read al the wordes of the volume.

31 And ſtanding on his tribunal ſeate, he made a couenant before our Lord, that he would walke after him, and keepe his preceptes, and teſtimonies, and iuſtifications in al his hart, and in al his ſoule, and would do the thinges that were writen in that volume, which he had read.

32 He adiured alſo vpon this al that were found in Ieruſalem, and Beniamin: and the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem did according to the couenant, of our Lord the God of their fathers.

33 Ioſias therfore tooke away al abominations of al the countries of the children of Iſrael: and made al, that were left in Iſrael, to ſerue our Lord their God. Al his daies they reuolted not from our Lord the God of their fathers.

Marginal notes to Chapter 34

• 1 4. Reg. 22.
• 5 ⟨illegible⟩. Reg. 12.
• 14 [::] Geuen by the hand of Moyſes.
• 28 [::] It is a benefite to be taken out of this world, before genera⟨illegible⟩ miſe⟨illegible⟩e come vpon the people.

Chapter 35

CHAP. XXXV. Ioſias celebrateth a moſt Solemne Paſch. 20. Is ſlaine by the king of Aegypt, al Iudalamenting him, 25. moſt ſpecially Ieremias.

1 AND Ioſias made in Ieruſalem [::] a Phaſe to our Lord, which was immolated the fourtenth day of the firſt moneth.

2 And he appoynted the Prieſtes in their offices, and exhorted them that they would miniſter in the houſe of our Lord.

3 To the Leuites alſo, at whoſe inſtruction al Iſrael was ſanctified to our Lord, he ſpake: Put the Arke in the Sanctuarie of the temple, which Salomon built the ſonne of Dauid the king of Iſrael, for you ſhal carie it no more: but now miniſter to our Lord your God, and to his people Iſrael.

4 And prepare your ſelues by your houſes, and kinredes in the diuiſions of euerie one, as Dauid the king of Iſrael commanded, and Salomon his ſonne deſcribed.

5 And miniſter ye in the Sanctuarie by families and Leuitical companies,

6 and being ſanctified immolate the Phaſe, prepare alſo your brethren, that they may doe according to the wordes, which our Lord ſpake in the hand of Moyſes.

7 Moreouer Ioſias gaue to al the people, that was found there in the ſolemnitie of the Phaſe, lambes and kiddes of the flockes, and of the reſt of the cattel thirtie thouſand, of oxen alſo three thouſand, al theſe thinges of the kinges ſubſtance.

8 His dukes alſo voluntarily offered that which they vowed, as wel to the people, as to the Prieſtes and the Leuites. Moreouer Helcias, and Zacharias, and Iahiel princes of the houſe of our Lord, gaue to the Prieſtes to make the Phaſe cattel one with an other two thouſand ſix hundred, and oxen three hundred.

9 And Chonenias, and Semeias, alſo Nathanael, his brethren, moreouer Haſabias, and Iehiel, and Iozabad princes of the Leuites, gaue to the reſt of the Leuites to celebrate the Phaſe fiue thouſand sheepe, and oxen fiue hundred.

10 And the miniſterie was prepared, and the Prieſtes ſtood in their office: the Leuites alſo in companies, according to the kinges commandement.

11 And the Phaſe was immolated: and Prieſtes ſprinkled the blood with their hand, and the Leuites drew of the skinnes of the holocauſtes:

12 and they ſeperated them to geue them by the houſes and families of euerie one, and to be offered to our Lord, as it is writen in the Booke of Moyſes, of oxen alſo they did in like maner.

13 And they roſted the Phaſe vpon fyre, according to that which is writen in the law: but the pacifique hoſtes they b⟨illegible⟩vled in caudrons, and kettles, and pottes, and in haſt they diſtributed it to al the people.

14 And for themſelues, and for the Prieſtes they prepared afterward: for in oblation of holocauſtes and of fatte the Prieſtes were occupied vntil night: wherfore the Leuites prepared for themſelues, and for the Prieſtes the children of Aaron laſt.

15 Moreouer the ſinging men the children of Aſaph ſtood in their order, according to the precept of Dauid, and Aſaph, and Heman, and Idithun the prophetes of the king: and the porters watched at euerie gate, ſo that they departed not a moment from the miniſterie: for the which cauſe alſo their brethren the Leuites prepared meates for them.

16 Therfore al the ſeruice of our Lord was ritely accompliſhed that day, ſo that they made the Phaſe, and offered holocauſtes vpon the altar of our Lord, according to the precept of king Ioſias.

17 And the children of Iſrael that were found there, made the Phaſe at that time, and the ſolemnitie of Azymes ſeuen daies.

18 There was not a Phaſe like to this in Iſrael, from the daies of Samuel the prophete: neither did anie of al the kinges of Iſrael make a Phaſe as Ioſias, to the Prieſtes, and the Leuites, and to al Iuda, and Iſrael that was found, and to the inhabitantes of Ieruſalem.

19 In the eightenth yeare of the kingdom of Ioſias was this Phaſe celebrated.

20 After that Ioſias had repayred the temple, came vp Nechao the king of Aegypt to fight in Charcamis beſide Euphrates: and Ioſias went forth to meete him.

21 But he ſending meſſengers vnto him, ſayd: What haue I to doe with thee king of Iuda? I come not agaynſt thee this day, but I fight agaynſt an other houſe, to the which God hath commanded me to goe in haſt: leaue to doe agaynſt God, who is with me, leſt he kil thee.

22 [::] Ioſias would not returne, but prepared battel agaynſt him, neither did he agree to the wordes of Nechao from the mouth of God, but went forward to fight in the fielde of Mageddo.

23 And there being wounded of the Archers, he ſayd to his ſeruantes: Carie me out of the battel, becauſe I am ſore wounded.

24 Who remoued him from one chariote into an other chariote, that folowed him after the maner of kinges, and they caried him away into Ieruſalem, & he died, and was buried in the monument of his fathers, and al Iuda and Ieruſalem [::] mourned for him.

25 Ieremie moſt of al: whoſe lamentations al the ſinging men and ſinging wemen repeate vntil this preſent day vpon Ioſias, and it is growen as it were a law in Iſrael: Behold it is ſayd to be writen in the lamentations.

26 But the reſt of the wordes des of Ioſias & of his mercies: which are commanded by the law of our Lord:

27 his workes alſo the firſt and the laſt, are writen in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael.

Marginal notes to Chapter 35

• 1 [::] This Phaſe, o⟨illegible⟩h made by Io⟨illegible⟩as is fanious, partly for that this feaſt had bene omitted ſome yeares, but ſpecially for the great and extraordinarie ſolemnitie made at this um⟨illegible⟩.
• 1 4. Reg. 16.
• 22 [::] Ioſias thought that the king of Aegypt intended to inuade his kingdome. And it was Gods wil he ſhould be ſlaine, and not ſee the euiles that ſhould happen to the people.
• 24 [::] Solemne exequies with lamentations and muſike.

Chapter 36

CHAP. XXXVI. Ioachaz reigneth three monethes. 4. His brother Eliakim (named loakim) eleuen yeares, 9. his ſonne Ioachin three monethes, 11. his vncle Sedecias eleuen yeares. 14. Moſt Prieſtes, and people contemning the admonitions of Prophetes, 17. manie are ſlaine by the Chaldees, the Temple and Ieruſalem ſpo led and burnt. 20. The ſayd kinges ſucceſsiuely, and people are caryed captiue into Babylon. 22. After ſeuentie yeares Cyrus king of Perſia, releaſeth the captiuitie, and geueth leaue to reedifie the Temple.

1 THE people therfore of the land tooke Ioachaz the ſonne of Ioſias, and made him king for his father in Ieruſalem

2 Taree and twentie yeares old was Ioachaz, when he began to reigne, and he reigned three monethes in Ieruſalem.

3 And the king of Aegypt when he came into Ieruſalem, depoſed him, and condemned the land in an hundred talentes of ſiluer, and a talent of gold.

4 And he made Eliakim [::] his brother king for him, ouer Iuda and Ieruſalem: and he turned his name Ioakim: but he tooke Ioachaz himſelf with him, and caried him away into Aegypt.

5 Fiue and twentie yeares old was Ioakim when he began to reigne, and he reigned eleuen yeares in Ieruſalem: and he did euil before our Lord his God.

6 Agaynſt him came vp Nabuchodonoſor the king of the Chaldees, and brought him bound in chaynes into Babylon.

7 Whither he tranſported alſo the veſſels of our Lord, and put them in his temple.

8 But the reſt of the wordes of Ioakim, and of his abominations, which he wrought, and the thinges that were found in him, are contayned in the Booke of the kinges of Iuda and Iſrael. And Ioachin his ſonne reigned for him.

9 Eight yeares old was Ioachin when he began to reigne, and he reigned three monethes and ten dayes in Ieruſalem, and he did euil in the ſight of our Lord.

10 And when the compaſſe of a yeare was come about, Nabuchodonoſor the king ſent ſome, that brought him in to Babylon, the moſt precious veſſels of the houſe of our Lord being caried away withal: But he made Sedecias his vncle king ouer Iuda and Ieruſalem.

11 One & twentie yeares old was Sedecias when he began to reigne: & he reigned eleuen yeares in Ieruſalem.

12 And he did euil in the eies of our Lord his God, neither did he reuerence the face of Ieremie the prophet ſpeaking to him from the mouth of our Lord

13 He reuolted alſo from king Nabuchodonoſor, who had adiured him by God: & he hardened his necke & his hart, that he would not returne to our Lord the God of Iſrael.

14 Yea & al the chiefe of the Prieſtes, and the people tranſgreſled vnlawfully according to al the abominations of the Gentiles: and they polluted the houſe of our Lord, which he had ſanctified to him in Ieruſalem.

15 And our Lord the God of their fathers ſent to them, by the hand of his meſſengers, ryſing by night, and daily admoniſhing them: for that he ſpared his people and his habitation.

16 But they mocked the meſſengers of God, and litle eſtemed his wordes, and ſcorned the prophetes, vntil the furie of our Lord aſcended vpon his people, and there was no amendment.

17 For he brought vpon them the king of the Chaldees, and ſlewe their yong men with the ſword in the houſe of his ſanctuarie, he pitied not yong man, and virgin, and old man, no neither him that ſtouped for age, but he deliuered al into his handes.

18 And al the veſſels of the houſe of our Lord, as wel greater as leſſer, and the treaſures of the temple, and of the king, and the princes he tranſported into Babylon.

19 The enemies ſet fyre on the houſe of God, and deſtroyed the wal of Ieruſalem, al the towres they burnt, and what ſoeuer was pretious, they deſtroyed.

20 If anie man eſcaped the ſword, being led into Babylon he ſerued the king and his ſonnes, til the king of the Perſians reigned.

21 That the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie might be accompliſhed, and the land might celebrate their Sabbathes: for al the daies of the deſolation ſhe kept a Sabbath, til the ſeuentie yeares were expyred.

22 But in [::] the firſt yeare of Cyrus king of Perſians, to fulfil the word of our Lord, which he had ſpoken by the mouth of Ieremie, our Lord rayſed vp the ſpirit of Cyrus king of the Perſians: who commanded to be proclaymed in al his kingdom, yea by writing, ſaying:

23 Thus ſayth Cyrus king of the Perſians: Al kingdomes of the earth hath the Lord the God of heauen geuen me, and he hath commanded me that I ſhould build him a houſe in Ieruſalem, which is in Iewrie: who of you is there in al his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him goe vp.

Marginal notes to Chapter 36

• 4 [::] Hitherto from K. Danids death the ſonne had euer ſucceded to his father.
• 21 ⟨illegible⟩re. 25.
• 22 [::] It is like that Eſdras added this cōcluſion when he reſtored the holie Scriptures that were loſt▪ for he beginneth his owne booke with the ſame wordes. The end of the fifth age.

THE CONTINVANCE OF THE CHVRCH AND RELIGION, IN THE FIFTH AGE. From the fundation of the Temple, to the captiuitie in Babylon. The ſpace of 430. yeares.

ALBEIT there were greater Schiſmes, Hereſies, and more reuoltes from Gods law and ſeruice in this fifth age, then in the former: Yet the true [Margin: The Church ſtil viſible, and the ſame faith as before.] Church and Religion continued ſtil, and were no leſſe conſpicuous then before. VVhich being clere and euident, touching manie principal Articles, we wil here only remitte the reader to ſome ſpecial places, for confirmation therof: neither wil we be prolixe, in declaring other pointes denied, or called into controuerſie at this time, by the impugners of Catholique Religion.

Beleefe in one God appeareth plainly in building, adorning, & dedicating [Margin: One God.] the Temple with ſo great ſolemnitie of the Prieſtes, Leuites, and al the Tribes, and particularly by king Salomons prayer. 3. Reg. 7. & 8. 2. Paral. 2. &c. Alſo Prouerb. 8. Eccle. 12. Iſaie. 41. 44. 45. The Myſterie of the B. Trinitie, [Margin: Three Perſons Chriſt.] Prouer. 12. Iſaiae. 6. 48. 49. Oſe. 11. Ioel. 2. Of Chriſt our Redemer. Iſaie. 7. 8. 9. 11. 28. 53. Ierem. 23. 30. 33. Ezech. 17. 34. 37. Dan. 7. 9. Oſee. 6. 11. [Margin: Sacrifices Sacramentes to be changed by Chriſt.] 14. Ioel. 2. Sophon. 2. Aggoei. 2. Zachar. 2. &c. Sacrifices, Sacramentes, & other Rites the ſame as before. But more frequent Prophecies, that they ſhould be changed into better, and perfecter by Chriſt. Prou. 9. Iſai. 12. 52. 55. 61. In the meane time for more ſignification of the ſingular vertue of Chriſts Sacramentes, the effect of penitential workes is often recorded. For example, wicked Achab by hairecloth, faſting, and other humiliation eſcaped part of his deſerued puniſhment. [Margin: Fruict of penance.] 3. Reg. 21. Manaſſes recouered Gods fauoure, and his temporal kingdom. 2. Par. 33. VVho yet was punished in his poſteritie. 4. Reg. 23. And the Niniuites by ſuch penance auoided deſtruction. Ione. 3. Yea nothing is more frequent in the Prophetes then preaching of penance. Iſa. 1. 2. 3. 30. Iere. 3. 18. &c. and others, al aſcribing the cauſe of plagues, and afflictions to the want of repentance. And falſe Prophetes condemned of errour and falſe doctrine, for promiſing the people peace, and ſecuritie in their ſinnes. Ierem. 14. Lamen. 2. Beſides abſtinence from diuers ſortes [Margin: Abſtinence.] of meates, counted vncleane (Iſaiae 66.) and ordinarie faſtes, according to [Margin: Faſtes.] the law, other faſtes were appointed ſometimes, vpon occaſions requiring, not only to ſubdue, and mortifie the flesh, but alſo to obtaine mercie at Gods handes in ſpecial diſtreſſes. 2. Par. 20. Ioel. 1. 2. Ione 3. Elias faſting fourtie dayes, 3. Reg. 19. prefigured Chriſts faſt. VVhich the Church imitateth in Lent of fourtie daies, according to humane habilitie, for the faſtes [Margin: Lent.] of Chriſt, Elias, and Moyſes were miraculous.

To the Feaſtes inſtituted before, was added the Dedication of the [Margin: Feaſtes.] Temple. 3. Reg. 7. 2, Par. 3. Which was built in Mount Moria, 2. Par. 3. the ſpecial place deſigned long before for this purpoſe, when Abraham [Margin: Place of the Temple deſigned long before.] was directed thither by God, & was there readie to ſacrifice his ſonne Iſaac. Gen. 22. where Dauid alſo offered ſacrifice. 2. Reg. 24. 1. Par. 21.

This being the onlie ordinarie place for Sacrifice, there were for other vſes of daylie prayer reading, preaching, and hearing the word of God other Synagogues built (as it were Parish churches) in great number: in [Margin: Synagogues.] Ieruſalem it ſelf foure hundred and foure ſcore, and manie more in the whole kingdom, as the Hebrew Traditions teſtifie. Of al which places, eſpecially of [Margin: Sanctuarie.] the Temple, there was venerable reſpect had. For which cauſe when Ioiada the High Prieſt gaue order to kil Athalia, he ſuffered it not to be donne in the Temple, but commanded firſt to draw her forth. 4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23. And as peculiar places, ſo ſpecial Pſalmes, and Hymnes were appointed [Margin: Sette forme of prayers.] for diuers purpoſes and occaſions. 2. Par. 20.

The miniſterie of Angeles was very vſual in this time. One was ſent [Margin: Miniſterie of Angeles.] to comforte and direct Elias the prophet in his afflictions. 3. Reg. 19. 4. Reg. 1. An Angel ſtroke the Aſſyrians whole campe, 4. Reg. 19. 2. Par. 32. Alſo the Interceſſion of Angels is ſo euident, Tobiae 12. Raphael offering Tobias prayer to God, that Proteſtants haue no other refuge to auoide this point of faith, but by denying the Booke to be Canonical Scripture.

Honour of other Sainctes, and their Interceſſion is proued a Maiori. [Margin: Honour and Interceſſion of Sainctes.] For ſo much as honour was religiouſly exhibited to ſpiritual power and excellencie, in men yet liuing in this world. So a Noble man adored Elias the Prophet, being farre greater then he is ciuil, and worldlie reſpectes. 3. Reg. 18. Eliſeus alſo was adored by his diſciples, not for anie worldlie authoritie or eminence, but for his ſpiritual power and ſuperioritie amongſt them. 4. Reg. 2. Likewiſe al Prophetes, and Prieſtes were religiouſly honored for their holie and ſpiritual functions. 3. Reg. 13. Much more Sainctes are rightly honored being immortal, and in eternal glorie. It appeareth alſo that Elias, ſeuen yeares after that he was tranſlated from humane conuerſation (when Eliſeus was chiefe Prophet. 4. Reg. 3. which was in or before the eightenth yeare of Ioſaphat, who reigned fiue and twentie. 3. Reg. 22.) had care of Ioram, and his kingdom, admoniſhing him by letters of Gods wrath, against him and his people for their ſinnes. 2. Par. 21. And the scripture ſaieth often, that God ſpared and protected Ieruſalem, and the kingdom of Iuda for Dauids ſake. 3. Reg. 11. 15. 4. Reg. 8. 19. 20. 2. Par. 6. 21. Iſa. 37. we haue alſo example of Sainctes Reliques [Margin: Reliques.] in the cloke of Elias. 4. Reg. 2. in Eliſeus bones, 4. Reg. 13. and in an other Prophetes bodie buried in Bethel. VVhich Ioſias would not ſuffer to be touched. 4. Reg. 23. Images were conſerued in the Temple, [Margin: Images.] 3. Reg. 7. as before in the Tabernacle: when idolartie was moſt deſtroyed. 3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 23. yea an abuſe riſing of the braſen ſerpēt, for which Ezechias deſtroyed it 4. Reg. 18. yet he touched not the Images of Cherubins in the Temple. VVhich none but Infideles ſought to deſtroy. And Oſee the Prophet (ch. 3.) bewayleth the want of Theraphim or Images, amongst other ſacred thinges, Sacrifice, Altar, and Ephod. VVherby the ancient Rabbins proue very wel, that Images of Angels (and the ſame of other Sainctes) are not contrarie to the Decalogue, but the images of Idoles. Good workes were rewarded, and bad puniſhed, 3. Reg. 9. and the [Margin: Good workes me⟨illegible⟩itorions.] whole hiſtorie of this age teſtifieth the ſame. VVhere by the way may be obſerued, that ſome inſt men fel from their iuſtice, as Salomon. 1. Par. 28. 3. Reg. 11. Ioas, 4. Reg. 12. 2. Par. 24. Ozias, 2. Paral. 26. Others from wickednes returned to pietie. as Manaſſes 4. Reg. 23. 2. Par. 33. the [Margin: Euangelical counſelles pre figured.] multitude of the people very often much folowing the diſpoſition of their kinges. Special State of life not commanded by the law, was voluntarily profeſſed, and obſerued by ſome Prophetes, and their diſciples, called the children of Prophetes. Keping particular Rules, and wearing diſtinct [Margin: Chaſtitie of clergie men, & religious orders.] habite. 4. Reg. 1. 2. 4. The orders of Nazarites, and Rechabites inſtituted before, continued ſtil. Amos. 2. Ierem. 35. ſtil which were very examplar [Margin: Mat. 19▪ 1 Cor. 7. Act. 5. 1. Tim. 5.] figures of Religious State, and Orders in the new Teſtament, and perpetual chaſtitie of clergie men embraced by ſuch, as folow Euangelical counſailes. propoſed, and not commanded by our Sauiour. To which S. Paul likewiſe exhorteth, though there be no precept therof to anie, before they bind themſelues.

Exequies for the dead were continually kept, as the ſacred hiſtorie witneſſeth, [Margin: Solemne Exequies for the dead.] recording where and with what ſolennitie the kinges were buried. which would be ouerlong, & nedeles to recite: the like is alſo writen of ſome Prophetes. 3. Reg. 13. 4. Reg. 23. Holie Tobias by example, and fatherlie admonition exhorted his ſonne, to do workes of mercie, not only to the liuing, but alſo to the dead. Put thy bread, and thy wine vpon the ſepulture of the iuſt. c. 4. Iſaias, ch. 57. as the Iewes both vnderſtood and [Margin: Gen. 5.] practiſed, prayed, that peace be geuen to the iuſt, in his couch, or reſting place after his death. Of the general Reſurrection, Elias tranſlation [Margin: Reſurrection.] is a figure, who yet liuing sheweth, that God can and wil reſtore al men to life againe in their bodies, after death, as he conſerueth him, and Enoch in their mortal bodies without corruption. Ezechiel alſo prophecieth of the Reſurrection of the dead, applying it myſtically to ſpiritual reſurrection, and reſtauration of Iſrael to former ſtate. ch. 37. Of the laſt Iudgment, and [Margin: Iudgement.] eternal glorie to the good, and euerlaſting paine to the wicked, Salomon agreably to the doctrin of other Prophetes, diſcourſeth▪ in his booke of Eccleſiaſtes, [Margin: Eternal glorie or paine.] namely ch. 3. 11. and in the last concludeth thus. Let vs al together heare the end of ſpeaking: Feare God, and obſerue his commandmentes: for this is euerie man (or, to this end man is created) and God wil bring, into Iudgement al thinges, that are done, for euerie errour (or obſcure thing) whether it be good or euil.

Neither were theſe and other pointes of Faith and Religion interrupted, [Margin: Church without interruption.] but ſtil beleued and profeſſed in the Church alwaies viſible and incontaminate, notwithſtanding ſome boughes an⟨illegible⟩ branches became vnſtructſul, and rotten: others brake of and were ſeparated from this vine. For when Salomon falling to luxurie, multiplying manie wiues and concubines, was by them ſeduced and brought to ſpiritual fornication, and idolatrie, making altars, & offering ſacrifices to Idoles, the Prieſtes, Prophetes, and people generally perſeuered in Gods law & ſeruice. 3. Reg. 11. After whoſe death Ieroboam his ſeruant, of the tribe of Ephraim, [Margin: Ieraboams wicked policie] poſſeſſing Tenne Tribes (called the kingdom of Iſrael) to maintaine his new ſtate, fearing that if the people reſorted to Ieruſalem, for religions ſake, they would depart from him, and returne to the right heyres of Dauid and Salomon, made an egregious Schiſme; ſetting vp two golden calues in Bethel, and Dan. 3. Reg. 12. made temples, altares, and prieſtes to ſ⟨illegible⟩rue them, al oppoſite to Gods ordinance. But not only the other Two Tribes, called the kingdom of Iuda, but alſo the greateſt part of Iſrael, eſpecially Prieſtes, Leuites, and deuouteſt people, repayred ſtil to Ieruſalem, not yelding to that ſchiſme and idolairie. 2. Par. 11. Moreouer God raiſed vp and ſent ſpecial Prophetes, to confirme the weake and recal the ſeduced.

For Ieroboam had no ſowner ſette vp his new altar in Bethel, and begunne [Margin: Prophets inſpired by God to reſiſt Schiſme and Hereſie.] to offer incenſe vpon it, but a Prophet came out of Iuda, in the word of our Lord: and cried againſt that altar, foretelling that wheras for that preſent, they burnt frankine⟨illegible⟩nſe vpon it, the time should come, when the falſe [Margin: 4. Reg. 23.] prieſtes should be burned there, confirming by preſent miracles that which he auerred in wordes, the kings hand ſuddanly withering, & reſtored [Margin: The often change of Kinges, and euil ſucceſſe in the kingdō of Iſrael.] againe by the prophets prayer, and the new altar cleuing in ſunder, that the ashes fel out. 3. Reg. 13. Further an other Prophet called Ahias foreſhewed the deſtruction and vtter extirpation of Ieroboams familie, for his enormious wickednes, and namely (which is most often inculcate) for making Iſrael to ſinne, by deuiſing and ſetting abroch a new religious. 3. Reg. 14. which ruine happened very shortly. For himſelf reigning twentie two yeares [Margin: The firſt familie reigned but 24. yeares] (3. Reg. 14.) one of his ſonnes died preſently according to the Prophets word. v. 18. An other called Nadab ſucceding to his father, reigned only two yeares, and vvas ſlaine together with their whole race and kindred, [Margin: The ſecond newe familie 26.] by Baaſa of the tribe of Iſsachar. 3. Reg. 15. Likewiſe Baaſa folowing the bad ſteppes of Ieroboam was forewarned by Iehu a Prophet, that his houſe should alſo be deſtroyed. And accordingly when he had reigned foure and twentie yeares, his ſonne Ela reigning but two yeares, was ſlaine by his ſeruant [Margin: The third but 7. daies. The fourth▪ 48. yeares.] Zambri, and al his kinred deſtroyed. VVhish Zambri reigned but ſeuen dayes. For being forthwith beſieged by Amri, of the tribe of Beniamin, he deſperatly burned him ſelf together with the kinges palace. Neither did Amri then poſſeſſe the kingdome with peace. For he being choſen king by the armie only, whereof he was general, an other part of the people choſe & folowed Thebni. Wherof aroſe ciuil Warre betwen the Antikinges, continuing three yeares: til ⟨illegible⟩hebni died, and ſo Amri reigned alone, but wickedly as his predeceſsors, twelue yeares in al. Then ſucceeded his ſonne Achab moſt wicked. Who maried Iezabel a Sydonian, & by her was perſwaded to worshippe Baal. 3. Reg. 16. To him not withſtanding God ſent manie admonitions by ſundrie Prophetes, and beſtovved great benefites vpon him, wherupon he did ſome notorious penitential workes; but not perſeuering in anie good thing, returned to his wickednes. 3. Reg. 20. And finally beleuing falſe prophetes, and perſecuting Micheas for prophecying the truth, was ſlaine in battel when he thought himſelf moſt ſecure. 3. Reg. 22. hauing reigned twentie two yeares. 3. Reg. 16. His ſonne Ochozias reigning but two yeares fel through a window, and died of the hurt. 4. Reg. 1. His other ſonne Ioram; after twelue yeares was ſlaine by Iehu of another familie: who then diſpatched Iezabel, [Margin: The fifth. 103.] and leauing her in the ſtreete, the dogges did e⟨illegible⟩te her carcaſſe. He alſo cauſed ſeuentie ſonnes of Ioram to be ſlaine, and vtterly deſtroyed al Achabs houſe. 4. Reg. 10. For which ſeruice he was eſtablished in the kingdome, for foure generations, v. 30. So himſelfe reigning twentie eight yeares, ⟨illegible⟩. Reg. 10. after hi⟨illegible⟩ reigned ſucceſsiuely his ſonne Ioachaz ſeuenetene yeares, his ſonne Ioas, ſixtene yeares. 4. Reg. 13. his ſonne Ieroboam one and fourtie yeares. Laſt lie his ſonne Zacharias, vvhom his ſeruant Sellum of an other race, killed [Margin: The ſixth, one moneth. The ſeuenth, 12. yeares. The eight 20. yeares.] when he had reigned but ſix monethes. 4. Reg. 15. And after one mon⟨illegible⟩th Sellum vvas ſlaine by Manahen of another progenie. VVho reigned tenn⟨illegible⟩ yeares. Then his ſonne Phaceia reigning two yeares, was ſlaine by Phacee of another generation. He reigning twentie yeares, manie of his people were carried captiue into Aſſiria, and himſelfe was ſlaine by Oſee of another kindred. 4. Reg. 15. Finallie the Aſſirians taking Samaria by three yeares [Margin: The ninthnine yeares. Then ouerthrowen and the kingdom neuer reſtored] ſiege, in the ninth yeare of Oſee poſſeſſed the kingdome of Iſrael, and led al the principal perſons captiues into Aſs⟨illegible⟩ria: about two hundred fourtie two yeares after that Ieroboam firſt reigned ouer the Ten Tribes. Th⟨illegible⟩ there were in al ninetene kinges. Beſides Thebni, who onlie reigned in part againſt another. Of which the firſt Ieroboam, and Iehu were aduanced by Gods ordinance, for punishment of others. Amri was choſen by the armie, the reſt of the people choſing Thebni: Six inuaded by mere force, killing their predeceſsors. The reſt ſucceeded▪ by ſuch titles as their fathers had. And though ſome were better ſome worſe then others▪ al were wicked, and at la⟨illegible⟩ ouerth ⟨illegible⟩w⟨illegible⟩.

Contrariwiſe in the kingdome of Iuda ſtanding after the ſeperation of [Margin: The kingdom of Iuda for Dauids ſake conſerued in his ſede.] tenne tribes about foure hundred yeares, though ſome kinges were wicked, yet ſome were good; and in them al God preſerued Dauids ſeede, by the line of Salomon, in this direct ſucceſsion: Roboam, Abias, Aſa, Ioſaphat, Ioram, Ochozias, Ioas (in whoſe infancie, his grandmother Athalia vſurped the kingdome ſix yeares) Amaſias, Ozias, Ioathan, Achaz, Ezechias, Manaſſes, Amon, Ioſias, Ioachaz (hitherto the ſonne euer ſucceeding his father) then Ioakim (brother of Ioachaz) Ioachin otherwiſe called Iechonias, ſonne of Ioachaz. And finallie his Vncle Sedecias; who was carried captiue into babilon. But Iechonias by Gods ſpecial prouidence, was fauored and exalted by a new king of Babilon. whether he was led captiue before. In whoſe line Dauids of ſpring continued though not with title of kinges, yet in eminent ſtate, and eſtimation. As reſteth to be noted in the ſixth age of the world.

The progenie alſo of Aaron continued in their office and function of [Margin: Succeſſion of Prieſtes continued.] Prieſthood, with ſucceſſion of High Prieſtes; as before from Aaron to Sadoc, partly in the line of Eleazar, partlie of Ithamar, both Aarons ſonnes; ſo from Sadoc, by the like ſucceſsion of both families. For of Eleazar is recorded this Genealogie 1. Parol. 6. Sadoc, Achimaas, Azarias, Iohanan, Azarias, Amarias, Achitob, Sadoc, Sellum, Helcias, Azarias, Zaraias, and Ioſedech. vvho vvas High Prieſt in the captiuitie. (v. 15.) being caried into Babilon in the firſt tranſmigration vvith king Iechonias, before the general captiuitie of al, as it ſeemeth 4. Reg. 24. his father Zaraias yet liuing, vvho vvas ſlaine nine yeares after by Nabuchadonoſor, 4. Reg. 25. And amongſt theſe there vvere ſome High Prieſts of Ithamars line. Towitte, Ioram, Ioiada (4. Reg. 11. 2. Par. 23.) Ioathan, Vrias, (4. Reg. 16.) and ſome others; or els ſome of the aboue mentioned, had other names. recited by Ioſephus. lib. 10. cap. 11. Antiq. and Nicephorus lib. 2. cap. 4. Hiſt. Eccleſ.

Moreouer beſides this ordinarie ſucceſsion of Prieſtes, there vvas an extraordinarie [Margin: Extraordinary miſſion of Prophetes.] miſſion of Prophetes: to ſupply more fullie the office of preaching the truth, and admonishing offenders. And theſe God inſpired and ſent, moſt eſpeciallie when and where errors ſprong, and ſinnes moſt abounded: geuing them extraordinarie grace and moſt excellent vertues, to conterpoiſe the enormities of vvicked men. Such vvere in the times of Achab and Iezabel, in the kingdome of Iſrael, beſides manie others, the two famous [Margin: Great effectes of their preaching and miracles.] great Prophets Elias, & Eliſeus. vvhoſe admirable liues and holie conuerſation vvere a mirrour to the vvorld, and great terrour to the vvicked, VVhoſe vvorkes and miracles meruelouſlie confirmed the vvel diſpoſed, encouraged the w⟨illegible⟩ake, conuerted manie tranſgreſſors, confounded falſe Prophets, [Margin: Elias his miracles.] iuſtified their ovvne preaching, and much glorified God. Elias 1. ſhutte the heauen, that it rayned not in three yeares. 2. was fedde by rauens. 3. Multiplied a poore vvidovves meale & oile. 4. Raiſed her dead ſonne to life (3. Reg. 17.) 5. Brought fire from heauen, to burne his ſacrifice: thereby confounding foure hundred and fifty falſe prophets of Baal. 6. By prayer procured rayne. (3. -Reg. 18.) 7. Faſted vvithout eating or drincking fourtie daies and nightes together. (3. Reg. 19.) 8. Procured fire from heauen, which deuoured two inſolent captaines, and their hundred men (4. Reg. 1.) 9. Diuided the riuer of Iordan vvith his cloke, that himſelfe and Eliſens paſſed ouer the drie chanel. 10. VV as aſſumpted in a firie chariote into ſome place, vvhere he yet liueth. And parting a vvay Obtained of God, the like duble ſpirit (of prophecie and miracles) to Eliſeus. In like maner Eliſeus. 1. diuided Iordan againe by Elias cloke, and ſo [Margin: Eliſeus his miracles.] returned to his diſciples. 2. Amended the bitternes of certaine waters, by caſting in ſalte. 3. Boies being curſed by him, for deriding him, were forth vvith torne by beares (4. Reg. 2.) 4. He procured water without rayne, for three kinges in the campe (4. Reg. 3.) 5. Multiplied a poore vvidovves Oile. 6. By his prayers barren woman became frutefull. 7. He raiſed her ſonne from death. 8. Made the bitter broth of his diſciples ſweete. 9. Fedde maine with few loaues (4. Reg. 4.) 10. Cured Naaman of leproſie. 11. Stroke Giezi with the ſame (4. Reg. 5.) 12. Naaman of leproſie. 11. Stroke Giezi with the ſame (4. Reg. 5.) 12. Made yron to ſwimme. 13. Knewe the ſecret counſels of the Syrian king. 14. Made one ſee horſemen, and firie chariotes, which to others were inuiſible. 15. Made the Syrianes blinde, that vvere ſent to apprehend him, and ſo ledde them into samaria. 16. For ſhewed vnexpected plentie of corne the next day, VVith the death of a great man, that would not beleue it. (4. Reg. 7.) 17. And after his death an other mans dead bodie, touching his bones reuiued. 4. Reg. 13.

Other Prophets vvrought alſo miracles, but theſe for example may ſuffice to she vve, that God preſerued religion alſo in the kingdome of Iſrael. [Margin: Religion not wholly deſtroyed in the kingdom of Iſrael.] VVhich himſelfe further teſtified, euen in moſt deſolate times, vvhen Elias lamented that he vvas leift alone (3. Reg. 19.) For God anſvvered, that ſeuen thouſand (meaning therby a great multitude) had not bowed their knees to Baal, not ſo much as in out vvard she vve conformed themſelues to infidelitie, or idolatrie. Iehu in his time, deſtroyed all the worſhippers of Baal. (4. Reg. 10.) But none at anie time could wholy deſtroy true Iſraelites. For God would not ſuffer it. 4. Reg. 14. v. 27.

Yea not vvithſtanding diuers notorious hereſies vvere preached, & folovved [Margin: Hereſies in the kingdom of Iſrael.] in that kingdome of the Tenne tribes, yet ab did not fall, nor embrace them. Iecoboam not onlie made and ſet vp golden calues, but alſo taught, that they vvere Gods, ſaying: Behold thy goddes, O Iſrael, which [Margin: Ieroboamites] brought thee out of the land of Aegypt. 3. Reg. 12. making temples, altars, and imaginarie prieſtes, which were not of the children of Leui. Alſo a feaſt the fiftenth day of the moneth, after the ſimilitude of the ſolemnitie, that was celebrated in Iuda. Al which the holie Scripture ſaith: He fourged of his owne hart. The very propertie of Archeretickes. But the true Prieſtes, Leuites, and manic others, that [Margin: Manie conſtant in true religion.] had geuen their hart to ſeke our Lord, went into Ieruſalem, to immolate theire victimes before our Lord the God of their fathers. 2 Par. 11. Yea Naaman a ſtranger of Syria, and a Neophite in religion, taught by his example, that none may yeld conformitie, nor otherwiſe communicate with Infideles, then Gods Prieſts, or Prophetes approue for lawful. 4. Reg. 5.

Vnto this hereſie of leroboam Achab, by Iezabels perſwaſion, added [Margin: Iezabelites.] the worſhipping of Baal, as God. 3. Reg. 16. making both temple and altar to him in Samaria. Ieroboams prieſts ſeruing fitly this purpoſe. Though al the former heretikes no more agreed to this new hereſie, then Iutherans now admitte of Caluiniſme. For Iehua Ieroboamite deſtroyed al Iezabilits that he could by a ſtratageme gette together. 4. Reg. 10. v. 28. 29. Muchleſſe did al Iſrael ſerue Baal.

Againe after that Salmanazar king of Aſsyria had taken Samaria, and [Margin: Samaritanite⟨illegible⟩. diuided into manie Sectes.] placed there a new people, 4. Reg. 17. they learning the rites of the Iſraelits religion, mixed their Paganiſme there with, and made a new hereſie, or rather manie new hereſies. For being diuers nations they had in ſeueral conuentieles, their particular goddes, and ſo manie diuers Sects. The Babylonians, Cutheites, Emathites, Heueites, and Sapharuaimites. 4. Reg. 17. But as the Prieſtes, which taught them rites of true religion, allowed not of this mixture, ſo doubtles ſome people harkened to their admonitions, and kept religion ſimply and ſincerely. And at this very time of the Tenne tribes captiuitie, holie Tobias who was carried captiue with the [Margin: Tobias neues yelded to Schiſme.] reſt, neither before nor after the captiuitie, leift the law of God. But went to Ieruſalem (when others ſerued leroboams golden calues) to the Temple of our Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Iſrael. And in captiuitie beſtowed himſelfe in workes of mercie, towardes the liuing and dead of his nation. Tob. 1.

As for the kingdom of Iuda, it was more free from hereſies. For [Margin: The Kingdom of Iuda more free from herefie.] very few or none of thoſe kinges that fell to other groſse enormities, yea to manifeſt idolatrie, became heretikes, as is probablie collected by that Iſaias the Prophet being ſent to Achaz, admonished him, conuerſed and dealt with him, as with one that beleued wholly and ſolely true religion: aſſuring him that God would protect Ieruſalem, bidding him not to feare the two ſmoking [Margin: King Achaz.] firebrandes, in the wrath of Raſin king of Syria, and of Phacce king of Iſrael. Iſa. 7. Further bidding him aske a ſinge of God, he anſwered, though frovvardli⟨illegible⟩, yet not as an infidel: I wil not aske: and I wil not tempt our Lord. Yea though Vrias the High Prieſt by commandment [Margin: Vrias high prieſt.] of the ſame king (4▪ Reg. 16.) made a new altar in place of Gods Altar, yet he erred not in faith, nor in doctrine, as teaching in Moyſes chayre, but in fact onclie, and of frailtie for feare of the king, a⟨illegible⟩ the king offended in his externall act, to ſlatter the king of Syria. And in this caſe God ſent Iſai⟨illegible⟩ to admonish the king, which Vrias neglected, or durſt not do. Likwiſe Ioram [Margin: King Ioram. and others committing idolatrie in fact, manie others ſtil profeſſed true Religion.] (4. Reg. 8 2. Par. 21.) Ochozias (2. Par. 22.) Ioas in the latter part of his life, 2. Par. 24. Manaſſes in the former part of his reigne (4. Reg. 2. 2. Par 33.) and ſowe other kinges of Iuda committing idolatrie, and making others to fall with them, either were not wholie peruerted, or at leaſt drew not al with them, For not onlie Prophets, in whoſe hand (or miniſterie) God ſpake, and reproued theſe ſinnes, but manie others kept their Zele of true religion. as appeared in their promptnes to ſerue God, when by good kinges Aſa, Ioſaphat, Ezechias, Ioſias and others, they were exhorted, or admitted ſo to do. 4. Reg. 18. 23. 2. Par. 15. 17. 29. 30. 31. 33. 34. &c.

Finally wheras diuers good princes diſpoſed, thinges belonging to Diuine ſeruice in the temple, correcting faultes, and puniſhing oftenders in that behalfe, (3. Reg. 15. 4. Reg. 18. 23.) they did the ſame without preiudice of the High Prieſtes ſuprem⟨illegible⟩cie in ſpirituall cauſes, and their godlie actes make nothing for the Engliſh Paradox of Laiheadſhippe. [Margin: Authoritie depending vpon diuine ordinance, is not changed by factes or practiſe.] For ſuperior authoritie, and ordinarie povvre is not proued by factes good or euil, but rather by Gods ordinance and inſtitution. For as the factes of vſurpers make no lawfull preſcription; ſo neither the factes of good men, do change Gods general ordinance and law: But are done either by waie of execution, or ſometimes by diſpenſation. Often alſo by commiſsion and ſpecial inſpiration of God. As king Dauid by diſpenſation did eate the holie bread, [Margin: Good kinges defended and promoted religion not as chiefe in ſpiritual cauſes, but by way of execution, diſpenſation, o⟨illegible⟩ cōmiſſion.] [Margin: Mat. 1⟨illegible⟩.] which was ordained for Prieſts onlie. 1. Reg 21. He diſpoſed of Prieſtes and Leuites offices about the Arke of God. Par. 15. 19. by way of execution according to the law. And of the like offices in the Temple (when it should be built) 1. Par. 23. 24. 25. 26. by diuine inſpiration. And Salomon by commiſsion from God depoſed Abiathar the High Prieſt, from his office and put Sadoc in his place. 3. Reg. 2. VVherefore albeit good kinges did excellentlie well in calling together the Prieſtes, and diſpoſing them in their offices, for execution of Gods ſeruice, yea in commanding what they should do 4. Reg. 18. 19. 22. and in punishing Prieſtes (4. Reg. 23.) yet they did ſuch thinges as Gods Commiſſioners, not as ordinarie Superiors in ſpiritual cauſes, and ſtill the ordinarie ſubordination made by the law, Deut. 17. Num. 27. ſtood firme and inuiolable, the High Prieſt ſupreme Iudge of all doubtes in faith, cauſes, and quarels in religion, when other ſubordinate inferior Iudges varied in their iudgmentes. Of which offices Malachias the Propher (cap. 2.) admonished Prieſtes in his time, that whereas they were negligent, not performing [Margin: Prieſtes by their negligēce do ſinne but loſe not their authoritie.] their dutie, their ſinne was the greater, for that their authoritie ſtil remained, and the perpetual Rule of the lavv, that the lippes of the Prieſt ſhal kepe knowlege, and they (other men generally) ſhal require the law of his mouth, becauſe he is the Angel of the Lord of hoſtes. And al Princes & others were to receiue the law at the prieſtes hād of [Margin: Deut. 17. v. ⟨illegible⟩.] the Leuitical Tribe. This vvas the vvarrant of ſtabilitie in truth of the Synagogue [Margin: The Church of the old Teſtament conſerued in truth. Much more the Church of Chriſt.] in the old Teſtament. Much more the Church and Spouſe of Chriſt, vvhoſe excellencie and ſingular priuileges Salomon deſcribeth in his canticle of canticles, hath ſuch vvarrant. Of this ſpouſe al the Prophets write, & that more pla⟨illegible⟩nlie then of Chriſt himſelfe, forſeing more aduerſaries [Margin: ⟨illegible⟩ Pſal. 30. conc. ⟨illegible⟩. li. 3. ⟨illegible⟩. 32. de doctrin chriſt. ⟨illegible⟩. Tim. 3 4. Reg. 19.] bending their forces againſt her, as S. Auguſtine obſerueth, then againſt Chriſt her head. And the ſame holie father in manie places teacheth, that she neither periſheth, nor loſeth her beutie, for the mixture of euil members, in reſpect of whom she is blacke, but fayre in reſpect of the good, Canti⟨illegible⟩. 1. Notwithſtanding therfore ſinners remaining within the Church, ſchiſmatikes and heretickes breaking from the Church, ſtil she remaineth the pillar and firmament of truth; the virgin daughter of Sion.

Colophon

The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes. By the English College of Doway. The first tome (Genesis to Job), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1609 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (108 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

In 4 places on this page the transcription has no verse cross between two numbered verses; there both numbers head a single paragraph (for example “12–13”) rather than cutting the text by guesswork. In 1 place a cross stands in the text where the printed verse numbers show no new verse; it is kept there as †.

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