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JEREMY I.

THIS Chapter dateth itself by the thirteenth year of Josiah, and that was the time, and this was the subject of the Prophets first Ministry; for here is laid down the general head upon which his whole Prophesy doth chiefly run, A rod and evil to come upon Jerusalem from the North. God showeth him a plain dried withered rod, to signify the rod and stroke that God was about to bring upon the people; and when he asked Jeremy what he saw, he not only saith he saw a rod, but he can readily name the wood of which it was made, though it was withered and dry, and no ready token on it to discern of what wood it was, I see, saith he, Makal shaked, a rod of Almond: thou hast well seen, saith God, for Ani shokedh, I hasten my word to perform it. The Lord descanteth upon the word Shakedh in the Prophets answer: And since Jeremy had spoken so fully, as to tell that he not only saw a rod, but a rod of Shakedh, or of Almond, the Lord answers as fully, that he is not only about to bring a rod upon the Land, but also Shakedh, he doth hasten to perform it.

[Division 352] [Josiah 14] Josiah goeth on in piety and in reforming, yet is not the wrath of [Division 353] [Josiah 15] the Lord removed, partly because of the sins of Manasseh, 2 King. [Division 354] [Josiah 16] 23. 26. and partly because the people's reformation was but feigned, [Division 355] [Josiah 17] Jer. 3. 10. and partly because in most of them there was no reformation at all.

2 KING. XXII. from verse. 3. to end, and XXIII. to verse. 29. 2 CHRON. XXXIV. from verse. 8. to end, and XXXV. to verse. 20.

[World 3385] [Division 356] [Josiah 18] THE copy of the Law written with Moses own hand is found this year in the Temple, Josiah consulteth Huldah a Prophetess about it. Jeremy was not now at Jerusalem but at Anathoth the Town of his birth, he prophesied there till his Towns-men were about to kill him, Chap. 11. 22. and then he goeth up to Jerusalem, and the Lord before hand tells him, that he must expect rougher dealing at Jerusalem then at home: For, if foot-men had wearied him, how could he run with horsemen, &c. Chap. 12. 5. If he had been thus tired with his own equals at Anathoth, what would he do with the great ones at Jerusalem? And if in his native Town, the place of his peace, he had found so much trouble, what would he do in Jerusalem's tumults? For even thy brethren and thy fathers house have dealt treacherously with thee, &c. verse. 6.

The Prophet was very young when he began to Prophesy, and spent some of his junior years in preaching to his own Country-men, but they despised his youth; and therefore as Christ being refused by his own Towns-men of Nazareth, goeth then about all Galilee, preaching the Gospel, Luke 4. So Jeremy rejected and endangered by his Towns-men of Anathoth, goeth then abroad to prophesy at Jerusalem; where it is more then probable he was not when Josiah inquired of Huldah a woman about Moses Copy. Zephaniah had not yet appeared a Prophet at all, as shall be observed by and by.

Josiah humbled and afraid upon the reading of the Law, bringeth the people into a Covenant, setteth on to destroy Idolatry, and keepeth a solemn Passover.

JEREMY II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII.

[Division 357] [Josiah 19] JEREMY in these latter years of Josiah, doth prophesy very sad [Division 358] [Josiah 20] and heavy things against Judah and Jerusalem, and telleth plainly, [Division 359] [Josiah 21] that Jerusalem should become like Shiloh, &c. For the time and [Division 360] [Josiah 22] order of these Chapters, the Reader may take notice of these few [Division 361] [Josiah 23] things:

[Division 362] [Josiah 24] 1. That whereas his Chapters from the twentieth forward, are of very [Division 363] [Josiah 25] much and very visible dislocation, these to the twentieth do not own [Division 364] [Josiah 26] any such thing in so visible and evident a manner as those do, nor indeed [Division 365] [Josiah 27] by any closer intimation to conclude any whit certainly upon, and [Division 366] [Josiah 28] therefore it is not safe nor solid to transpose them at all, but to take [Division 367] [Josiah 29] them up as they lie. Nor do I see anything to the contrary, but that [Division 368] [Josiah 30] they lie very direct and methodically all along.

2. The thirteenth Chapter, and all that follow to the one and twentieth I conceive to have been delivered in the time of Jehoiakim, and not in the time of Josiah, and that upon this ground, because in Chap. 13. verse. 18. The Prophet calls to the King and Queen, Humble yourselves, and sit down, for your Principality shall come down even the Crown of your glory: which was most fully accomplished upon Jehoiakim and his wife, Jer. 22. 19. with 2 King. 24. 12. and not at all upon Josiah and his Queen; at the least not upon his Queen for ought we read of.

3. There is one particular very remarkable, that runneth along through the most of these Chapters, from the beginning of the third to the fourteenth, and that is, the mention of a great drought or want of rain, as Chap. 3. 3. & 5. 24, 25. & 8. 13. 20. & 9. 10. 12. & 12. 4. & 14. 1, 2, 3, 4. Now if this drought were in the time of Josiah [as it is mentioned instantly before the dating of a Prophesy in Josiah's time, Chap. 3. 3. 6.] and in the time of Jehoiakim [as there is mention of it presently after a Prophesy against Jehoiakim, Chap. 13. 18. & 14. 1, 2.] then it appeareth that this sad restraint of rain fell out in the last years of Josiah, and continued some of Jehoiakim’s time, and so these Chapters of Jeremy do most properly fall in with the latter years of Josiah's reign. In Chap. 11. 2. he seemeth to speak concerning the Covenant that Josiah had caused the people to enter into, upon the finding and reading of Moses copy, and he doth earnestly exhort the people to keep it. And it may be that phrase in Chap. 2. 31. O generation behold, or see the Word of the Lord, may have reference to that copy of Moses also; I am sure it may be more properly interpreted, as if he pointed to that; then it is interpreted by some Jews, as if he shown them the Pot of Manna. There is only some Chronical doubt ariseth upon the eighteenth verse of the second Chapter, and that is, whether Judah had any league and reliance with and upon Egypt in Josiah's time; which, as there is no Scripture to assert; so also is there none neither to contradict. And it may very well be held affirmatively, and more probable then otherways, all circumstances well considered: And what if Josiah's death by the King of Egypt were a temporal punishment, for his reliance upon Egypt?

The Prophesy of ZEPHANIAH, all.

IN these latter times of Josiah did Zephaniah also arise, and appear a Prophet, the great Grand-child of King Hezekiah if some guess aright. The times of his Prophesying may be settled the better by this, that as the first verse of his Book doth date his Prophesy by the reign of Josiah, so the eight verse of the same Chapter doth Prophesy against the Kings Children, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, for their new-fashions and new-fangled apparel. Now the eldest of these three was but twelve years old at Josiah's eighteenth, and the second but ten. It is true indeed that it nameth not these three men by name, but why it should not be understood in the literal and proper sense, and mean these three men, I yet see no ground to the contrary. The Jews indeed appear to be of another mind, for they make Jeremy to be Zephanies Scholar; and so Expositors are of another mind, for they understand the Kings Children largely, for the Noble-men's Sons, or Courtiers, but considering the wickedness of these sons of Josiah after their fathers death, I have no reason to think them much otherwise in their fathers life-time, and I see not why they may not go in the first place with any that deserved reproof, and on whom it lighted under the name of the Kings Children.

2 CHRON. XXXV. from verse. 20. to end. 2 KING. XXIII. verse. 29. 30.

[World 3398] [Division 369] [Josiah 31] JOSIAH slain by Pharaoh Necho, yet dies in peace, 2 Kings 22. 20. because in God's favor. The King of Assyria had conquered Carchemish a great while ago, Isaiah 10. 9. And Necho or his Predecessors had recovered it, and he went now to strengthen the Garrison there, or to recover it; and passing some part of Josiah's Country with an Army, Josiah takes a quarrel at him [though it may be he was in league with him] and is slain at Megiddo. This Zech. 12. 10. alluded to, The mourning of Hadadrimmon; and in the valley of Megiddo; there is an Ellypsis of the conjunction Va • .

2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 1, 2, 3, 4. 2 KING. XXIII. verse. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35.

JEHOAHAZ is made King by the people of the Land, as one best beloved by them, for he was two years younger then Jehoiakim. Compare 2 King. 23. verse. 31. & 36. He is called Shallum, 1 Chron. 3. 15. Jer. 22. 11. He reigned but three months, and is deposed by Pharaoh Necho. His three months reign is to be reckoned in the last year of Josiah: as Jeremy maketh the account plain, Jer. 25. 3. And therefore I must here retract [and I retract it with wonder how it ever was so mistaken] what is said in Prolegon; to harmony of Evang: That some years of trouble passed between the death of Josiah, and the reign of Jehoiakim.

2 KING. XXIII. verse. 36, 37. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. Vers. 4, 5.

[World 3399] [Division 370] [Iehoiaikim 1] JEHOIAKIM reigneth eleven years; set up by Pharaoh Necho, [Division 371] [Iehoiaikim 2] and named Jehoiakim by him instead of Eliakim. In which change of name, Pharaoh shown rather his power then anything else, unless he would not endure the word Jehovah in Jehoiakim’s name, for Jehoiakim and Eliakim is but one and the same in signification.

JEHOIAKIM doth wickedly, like as his wicked predecessors had done: And his eyes and his heart are not but for covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence to do it, Jer. 22. 17. Amongst other of his wickednesses this was not the least, committed in the beginning of his reign, that he slew Urijah the Prophet. Read here, Jer. 26. ver. 20, 21, 22, 23.

JEREMY XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, & XXII. to ver. 24.

IT was observed before, that Chapter 11. was most properly to be referred to Josiah's times, as pointing to the Covenant that he caused the people to enter into, and that the twelfth Chapter joined to it, viz. verse. 5, 6. of Chap. 12. to verse. 21, 22, 23. of Chap. 11. And so with the end of the twelfth Chapter, are ended the Prophesies of Jeremy of Josiah's time. And it was also observed before, that ver. 18. of Chap. 13. pointed at the time of Jehoiakim; and so doth also the 18. verse. of Chap. 22. And therefore since we have no date nor direction for any of the Chapters between, to fix them to any other time, we may very well take in all these Chapters of Jeremy from the beginning of the thirteenth to the 24 verse of the two and twentieth, in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim. The one and twentieth Chapter only is to be set out, for it is plainly dated by the time of Zedekiah. Now the reason of setting this Chapter so forward, as among those that were in the beginning of Jehoiakim’s time, whereas it was in Zedekiahs, which was many years after, may be conjectured to be because of the correspondency of something in the twentieth Chapter and it. In the twentieth a Pashur in the time of Jehoiakim, sets Jeremy in the stocks for foretelling destruction to Jerusalem by the Babylonian. And in the one and twentieth a Pashur in the time of Zedekiah, seeks to Jeremy for remedy against the Babylonian, who had made good Jeremiah's Prophesy so far as that he had besieged Jerusalem: This was a thing remarkable, that one Pashur should thus oppose Jeremiah's prophesying, and another Pashur should thus assert it; And for the better marking of this, the two Chapters that contain the two stories are laid together.

The two and twentieth to ver. 24. doth show that it was delivered in Jehoiakim’s time, when Shallum or Jehoahaz was not long before captivated: It biddeth, Weep not for the dead, Josiah, but weep sorely for Shallum that was gone, for he should return no more, verse. 10. See 2 Kings 23. 34.

JEREMY XXVI. all, and XXVII. to verse. 12.

THE beginning of these two Chapters bear the date of the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, which in this Prophets language is not precisely the first year of his reign [the first, second, or third year singly he nameth not] but it is taken in a larger sense and construction, as there is an evidence from the like expression used concerning another King, and expounded, Chap. 27. 1. In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, in the fourth year: Here Zedekiah is in the fourth year of his reign, and yet it is called, The beginning of his reign; and the reason of the Phrase is, because of the double condition and change that either of these Kings underwent in the time of their reign; Jehoiakim for above two years reigned by the deputation of Pharaoh Necho: but the rest of his time by the deputation of Nebuchad-nezzar; and Zedekiah for four years at the least reigned under the subjection of the King of Babel, Jer. 51. 59. but the rest of his time he reigned as rebelling, and casting off the yoke of the Babylonian, 2 King. 24. 20. therefore the time of either of these Kings before this change and alteration befell them, is called, The beginning of their reign.

Now as for the order and method of these two Chapters under hand, let us a little look back to the portion where we left before, and that was at the three and twentieth verse of the two and twentieth Chapter; for from thence to this 26 Chapter, all that comes between is dislocated and laid there by anticipation. The four and twentieth verse of Chapter twenty two beareth the date of the reign of Jehoiachin or Coniah, which was not till Jehoiakim had reigned eleven years; whereas divers Prophesies which were uttered in those eleven years of Jehoiakim, are set after, as Chap. 25. & 26. & 27. and very many more. Now the reason of this method is this, that the threatenings against the father Jehoiakim, and the son Jehoiachin might be laid together; and the rather because the time of Jehoachins reign was but very short, namely, three months; and therefore the prediction of his captivity, is fitly joined to the prediction of his fathers, since his reign is reputed as nothing, Chap. 36. 30.

And when the Text is fallen upon, upon this occasion, from verse. 24. of Chap. 22. to the end, all the Prophesies that refer to his time, and concern his person, are also brought up together, viz. Chap. 23. and 24. that the matters concerning him might be laid together in one place.

The 25 Chapter is dated by Jehoiakim’s fourth year yet laid before Chap. 26. & 27. that bear the date of the beginning of his reign, because it pointeth out the term and space of the Babylonian Captivity, which was indeed the main subject of Jeremiah's Prophesy, and therefore when in the preceding Chapters he had fore-told the captivity, both to, and of Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin, and in the five and twentieth he sets himself to fore-tell and measure out the space of the Captivity, therefore these Chapters that handle that main and general head of his Prophesy are laid thus forward and together, and then particular matters are laid after. So that these 26 & 27 Chap. to ver. 12. do join in proper current of time and Chronicle, to verse. 23. of Chap. 22. and the reason of the interposition of the other Chapters may be conceived of as hath been said. In Chap. 26. Jeremy is in danger of his life by the Priests and false Prophets, but acquitted by the Elders: They allege two contrary examples, one of Hezekiah, who piously submitted to Micah's Prophesy, and troubled him not for it; and the other of Jehoiakim who cursedly slew Urijah for Prophesying the truth: the former they propose as a Copy to be followed, and the other as a caution, not to shed more Prophets blood in murdering Jeremy, for too much was lately shed already in the murder of Urijah.

In Chap. 27. to verse. 12. Jeremy is enjoined to make yokes and bonds, to denote servitude and subjection to Babel, but in the entry of the Chapter there is a visible difficulty; for in the beginning of Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremy is commanded to make bonds and yokes, and to send them to certain Kings, by the messengers that came to Zedekiah King of Judah; now how can Zedekiah be called King of Judah in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, since Jehoiakim reigned eleven years, and Jehoiachin three months before Zedekiah came to reign? Answ. These things are to be understood to be spoken Prophetically concerning Zedekiah, as well as concerning Nebuchad-nezzars sons; for the Lord by the Prophet fore-tells that Nebuchad-nezzar should reign, and his son and Grand-child after him, and therefore must the Prophet presently make yokes and bonds, and put them of his own neck in token of Judah's subjection, which indeed begun in the very next year. And he fore-tells withal that Zedekiah should reign, and that divers Kings should send Messengers to him, and by them▪ should Jeremy send those yokes to those Kings, &c.

[World 3401] [Division 372] [Jehoiakim 3] The latter part of this third year of Jehoiakim, is the beginning of Nebuchad-nezzars first year, for his first year took up part of Jehoiakim’s third, and part of his fourth; this is apparent, by comparing Dan. 1. 1. with Jerem. 25. 1. The fourth of Jehoiakim is indeed most commonly reckoned as Nebuchad-nezzars first, but we shall observe hereafter, that there are intimations sometimes in Scripture, to teach us to understand that reckoning according to this account.

DANIEL 1. to verse. 8. And 2 KING. XXIV. verse. 1. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 6, 7.

[World 3402] [Division 373] [Years of Captivity 1] [Jehoiakim. 4] IN this third year of Jehoiakim, Nebuchad-nezzar besiegeth and taketh Jerusalem, and Jehoiakim; he putteth him in fetters to carry him to Babel, but restoreth him again to the Throne as a tributary to the crown of Babel, and so Jehoiakim becomes his servant three years.

Here begins the seventy years Captivity, and the seventy years of the rule of Babel, Jer. 25. 11, 12. & 29. 10.

In this captivity were carried away Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and now is that sad Prediction to Hezekiah fulfilled, 2 King. 20. 18. and that of Zephaniah, Zeph. 1. 8.

DAN. 1. from verse. 8. to 18.

DANIEL and his three fellow Nobles now in Babel, refuse the Court diet, and betake themselves to an austerity of diet, but once more to be paralleled in all the Scripture, and that was in John the Babtist; yet they come on and grow fresh and fat, to show that man liveth not by bread only, &c.

JEREMY XXV.

IN this fourth year of Jehoiakim, which was the first year of Nebuchad-nezzar, verse. 1. Jeremy prepareth a cup of indignation for Jerusalem, and for all the Nations round about it, and at last for Sheshach or Babylon itself.

JEREMY XLVI. & XLVIII. & XLIX. to verse. 34.

JEREMY prophesieth against Pharaoh Necho and Egypt, foretelling the overthrow of his Army at Carchemish, which accordingly came to pass this year; and then the Lord avengeth the death of good Josiah, as verse. 10. This Chapter, though it fell under the time of Jehoiakim, yet is it laid so far in the Book, as after the story of Judah's going into captivity, and into Egypt; for a reason, which shall be touched presently, and so shall the method of Chap. 48. & 49. be taken into consideration.

JEREMY XXXVI. to verse. 9.

BARUCH writeth the Prophesy of Jeremy in a Book, and readeth it in the Lord's House on the solemn Fast day [the tenth of Tizri probably] in the fourth of Jehoiakim, verse. 1. This Chapter lieth after many Prophesies of the times of Zedekiah, because he would lay the relation of historical things, and particularly, of Jeremiah's sufferings, together. In Chap. 36. is told that he was imprisoned in Jehoiakim’s time, verse. 5. and his Book burnt by that wicked King. In Chap. 37. is told that he was imprisoned in Zedekiahs time, verse. 15. and in Chap. 38. how he is put into the dungeon.

JEREMY XLV.

A Message comes to Baruch from God, upon his writing out of Jeremiah's Prophesy in the fourth of Jehoiakim.

The looking back upon Chap. 43. & 44. and considering the tenor of them, will give light and a reason for the placing of this Chapter, and the next following so far in the Book, though they are of so early a date in the reign of Jehoiakim. Upon Johanans carrying the people into Egypt, contrary to the express Word of God, Jeremy, denounceth sad things to the Jews now in Egypt, and sure destruction to Egypt itself; this in Chap. 43. from verse. 9. &c. and in Chap. 44. thorough out. Then is laid the relation of the comfort and incouragment that Jeremy gave Baruch many years before the time of the other Prophesies; Then Baruchs safety in Egypt, and in her miseries, might be thence intimated and observed: For thither had Johanan brought Baruch, Chap. 43. 6. And the like juncture of Stories was observed at Exod. 18. where Jethroes coming to Israel's Camp is storied instantly after the story of the curse passed upon Amalek, to show that he fell not under that curse, though he lived in that Nation.

After the intertexture of this 42 Chapter, which was a comfortable word for Baruch in Egypt, in the threatenings of Egypt; the 46 Chapter which was also delivered in this fourth of Jehoiakim, is laid next, that all the threatenings against Egypt, though at several times delivered, yet might come together; and that the accomplishment of this Prophesy delivered in Jehoiakim’s time, and fulfilled upon Pharaoh Nechos Army, might be a confirmation, that Israel in Egypt must expect the like truth of the Prophesies against it, delivered to them there, of misery to come upon it by Nebuchadnezzar.

Of the same date with the 46 Chapter we may well suppose the 48▪ & 49 Chapters to be also, because the second verse of Chapter 46. doth use a comprehensive expression, The Word of the Lord against the Gentiles, as concluding all these Sermons and Prophesies against these several Nations under one date and head; only Chap. 47. and verse. 34. of Chap. 49. are of several specified dates; of which, when we come to them.

JEREMY XXXVI. from verse. 9. to end.

[World 3403] [Diwision 374] [Years of Captivity 2] [Jehoiakim 5] IN the fifth year of Jehoiakim, in the ninth month, Jehoiakim cuts in pieces and burns Jeremiah's Prophesy, a wickedness not to be paralleled: Let the Reader weigh whether Baruchs reading the Book in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, on the Fast day, verse. 6. and his reading it now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim, at an extraordinary Fast in the ninth month, be above the space of two months asunder. It is very well worth the pondering. I cannot but conclude affirmatively, and I believe upon very good ground; and this observed and concluded doth help to count the seventy years captivity the more exactly: if it do not also teach us to begin the year from the time of the first captivity, from its ancient date in Tisri, till Redemption altered the date, and brought it to Abib, which I believe Captivity hath now altered again. The preceding Chapter and this, and divers forward are Historical, and therefore they are laid together after those that are more fully Prophetical: we shall observe the like in the Book of Daniel ere it be long.

[Diwision 375] [Years of Captivity 3] [Jehoiakim 6] There is no particular occurrence mentioned this sixth year of Jehoiakim.

2 KING. XXIV. the latter end of verse. 1. and verse. 2, 3, 4.

JEHOIAKIM rebelleth against the King of Babel, for which he is miserably invaded, and Judah spoiled; and this misery continueth all his time.

DANIEL I. from verse. 18. to end.

[World 3405] [Diwision 376] [Years of Captivity 4] [Jehoiakim 7] DANIEL and his three fellows are presented to the King, and higly approved of.

JEREMY XXXV.

THE Story and matter of Jeremiah's setting wine before the [Division 377] [Years of Capt. 5] [Josiah 8] Rechabites, &c. is said to be in the days of Jehoiakim, but in [Division 378] [Years of Capt. 6] [Josiah 9] what year is not mentioned; only this may be collected out of the [Division 379] [Years of Capt. 7] [Josiah 10] Text, that it was after Jehoiakim’s rebelling against Nebuchad-nezzar, for they say in verse. 1. that they fled to Jerusalem for fear of the Army of the Chaldeans, and the Army of the Syrians: which are the Army mentioned to have come against him upon his rebelling, 2 King. 24. 2. This Story therefore fell out in these latter years of Jehoiakim. Now it is laid so far in the Book, as after divers Prophesies dated by the times of Zedekiah, partly because it is Historical, and so is set after Prophetical things, and partly because this Story of the Rechabites doth set off the impiety of the Jews, mentioned in the preceding Chapter, the more, for there he showeth how false the people were to their Covenant with God, in recalling their freed servants, and here how faithful the Rechabites were to an engagement of their father.

2 KING. XXIV. verse. 5, 6, 7. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 6, 7, 8.

[World 3409] [Division 380] [Years of Capt. 8] [Josiah 11] JEHOIAKIM captived, slain, and buried with the burial of an Ass.

JER. LII. verse. 28.

NEBUCHAD-NEZZAR captiveth three thousand and twenty three Jews. This is to be understood of the captivity. of Jehoiakim; it is called the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar, because his siege against Jerusalem began in his seventh, and he took the City in the beginning of his eight; and partly to distinguish this from the captivity of Jehoiakim, which was in his eight, when he carried away many thousands, 2 King. 24. 12, 14, 16.

2 KING. XXIV. verse. 8. 9. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 9.

JEHOIACHIN the son of Jehoiakim reigneth three months: He is called also Jeconiah, and Coniah: the name Jeho, or Jahu [a contraction of Jehovah ] being sometime set before his name, and sometime after, and the first syllable of his name sometime cut off; and he called Coniah.

That his three months are to be taken in, in Jehoiakim’s last year, there is evidence sufficient in 2 King. 25. 2, 8. where the eleventh year of Zedekiah, and the nineteenth of Nebuchad-nezzar are coincident, or fall in together: And in 2 Chron. 36. 10. where it is said, that when the year was expired the King of Babel captived him thither.

There is one main doubt and scruple ariseth, in comparing his Story in the Book of Kings and Chronicles together, for the Book of Chronicles saith, he was eight years old when he began to reign, and the Book of Kings saith, he was eighteen: Now in expressions that are so different, propriety is not to be expected in both; but the one to be taken properly, and that is, that he was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and the other, that he was the Son of the eighth year, or fell in the lot of the eighth year, after any Captivity of Judah had begun: for the beginning of his reign was in the eighth year of Nebuchad-nezzar, 2 King. 24. 12. and in the eighth year of the seventy of captivity: And so the Holy Ghost dealeth here as he doth about Ahaziah, 2 King. 8. 26. and 2 Chron. 22. 2. compared together, as was observed there.

JEREMY XXII. from verse. 24. to the end.

JEHOIACHIN, or Jeconiah, is no sooner upon the Throne, but Jeremy denounceth his captivity, and the failing of Solomon's house in him: And this doth but as it were take at that Prophesiy which he uttered before against Jehoiakim his father, Chap. 36. 30. He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; When the ending of Solomon's House is to be denounced, he calleth the Earth, Earth, Earth, to hear the word of the Lord, that the earthly Kingdom was now to decay, and therefore a Kingdom of another nature was to be looked after.

JEREMY XXIII. all.

THIS King and Kingdom is described in this Chapter; and when he had denounced the failing of Solomon's house, and the ruin of the earthly Kingdom of the house of David, in the Chapter before, he now telleth of the everlasting King and Kingdom of David, verse. 5. 6. and denounceth woe against those cursed Shepherds and Pastors that had helped Solomon's house forward unto ruin.

2 KING. XXIV. from verse. 10. to verse. 17. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 10.

JEHOIACHIN, or Jeconiah, or Coniah captived, and Jerusalem with him, 18000 men of might, 10000 from Jerusalem, and 8000 out of the Country, and all the treasures of the Temand Kings house: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And the mighty of the land: but written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The fools. Mordecai was carried away in this captivity, Esther 2. 6.

And so was Ezekiel also, and therefore he dateth his times from this date, Ezek. 1. 2. and calleth it, Our captivity, Chap. 40. 1.

2 KING. XXIV. verse. 17, 18, 19, 20. And JEREMY LII. ver. 1, 2, 3. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 11.

[World 3410] [Division 381] [Years of Captivity 9] [Zedekiah 1] ZEDEKIAH made King by the King of Babel, he was Jehoiachins Uncle, 1 Kings 24. 17. but called his brother, that is, his Kinsman, 2 Chron. 36. 10. and his son, because he succeeded him in the throne, 1 Chron. 3. 16.

JEREMY XXIV. all.

[Division 382] [Years of Captivity 10] [Zedekiah 2] JEREMY seeth comfortable things, concerning those that were [Division 383] [Years of Captivity 11] [Zedekiah 3] captived into Babylon with Jeconiah: that they are as good figs that may be eaten, and that in time they shall return.

JEREMY XXVII. from verse. 12. to the end.

[World 3413] [Division 384] [Years of Captivity 12] [Zedekiah 4] JEREMY had been commanded thirteen years ago to make yokes and bands, and to put them upon his own neck, in token of Judah's subjection to Nebuchad-nezzar: which in the very next year after, namely, in the third year of Jehoiachin came to pass: and he is also then commanded by way of prediction, that when such and such Kings Ambassadors should come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah, he should send the yokes away by those Messengers to their Kings.

That cometh to pass in this fourth year of Zedekiah, as the first verse of Chapter 28. doth plainly date it.

JEREMY XXVIII. all.

HANANIAH at Jerusalem; foretelling falsely the restoring of the captivity within two years, is himself struck with death within two months, for teaching rebellion against the Lord.

JEREMY XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XLIX. from verse. 34. to end. And LI. all.

THIS fourth year of his reign, Zedekiah either went himself, or sent Messengers to Babel, or both, for so is that verse. 59. of Chap. 51. diversely read, when Seraiah went with Zedekiah, or when he went for or in behalf of Zedekiah into Babylon. Now by the men that went thither, either with him or for him, Jeremy sendeth Letters to the children of the captivity, one to persuade them to frame their hearts, and to compose themselves for seventy years captivity: This, two Prophets in Babel, such others as Hananiah at Jerusalem, gain-say, and would persuade the people to the contrary. And a third writes to Jerusalem to have Jeremy punished; therefore he threateneth bitter judgments against all three. This in Chap. 29.

And being upon a Prophesy of the captivities return in that Chapter, verse. 10, 11, &c. he falleth in Chap. 30. & 31. largely to foretell the calling home of the two Tribes, and of the ten Tribes to Christ. Now though it be doubtful whither he sent the Prophesy of these two Chapters to Babel, yet is it doubtless, that their order is very proper in this place, where he is foretelling of the people's return.

He also sendeth another Letter to Babylon concerning the ruin and destruction of Babylon itself, in Chap. 50. & 51. which Chapters are laid as the period of his Prophesy, that then conclusion of them all might be the foretelling of the ruin of Babel. And under the same date may we also take the last part of Chap. 49. from verse. 34. to end; a Prophesy against Elam that joined with Babel against Judea, Isa. 22. 6. and is joined here with Babel in threatenings. The beginning of the reign of Zedekiah in verse 34. may be taken as it is Chap. 28. 1. for his fourth year.

EZEKIEL I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII.

[World 3414] [Division 385] [Years of Captivity 13] [Zedekiah 5] IN the fifth year from Jehoiachins captivity, the Lord raiseth up Ezekiel for a Prophet to the people in Babylon, as Jeremy was in Jerusalem.

He dateth his Prophesy from the 30 year, of the finding of Moses his Copy in the 18 of Josiah, [as is commonly conceived, but] as it may very well be supposed, from the 30 year of his own age, he being a Priest, and that being the time at which the Priests entered their function. Num. 4. 3. at that time the spirit of Prophesy came upon him, and by a river in Babylon, he seeth the Heavens opened, as Christ at the same age had the Heavens opened to him by a river in Judea, Luke 3. 21, 22, 23.

Now that the people of Israel, the Church, are to be planted in another Country for a long time, the Lord showeth a glory in the midst of them, as he had done at their first constituting into a Church in the Wilderness; and out of a cloud and fire, as he had done there, he showeth himself, and from between living creatures, as from between the Cherubims, he giveth his Oracles to the Prophet.

He causeth him to eat a roll, to lay a visionary siege to a pictured Jerusalem, to lie on his side three hundred and ninety days, suitable to the time of the people's rebellion from Jeroboams revolt to the Cities destruction; and forty days more in answer to the forty years transgression of Judah, under the ministry of Jeremy, as was said before. To eat the bread of affliction and pollution, to show the want of victuals at Jerusalem, and the people's eating of polluted things in Babel. To shave off his hair, and to part it into several fatal significations, &c. And now that the destruction of the City is near at hand, but five or six years off, he foretelleth it in sad expressions, and bemoaneth it with doleful lamentations.

2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 11, 12, 13, 14. 15, 16.

BEcause the fourth year of Zedekiah is called the beginning of his reign, Jer. 28. 1. which showeth his condition yet unchanged, as we observed before: And because Ezekiel in the next year speaketh of his revolt from his oath made to the King of Babel, Ezek. 17. 15. Therefore may we conclude that he rebelled against Babel in this fifth year of his reign.

EZEKIEL VIII. IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX.

[World 3415] [Division 386] [Years of Captivity 14] [Zedekiah 6] ALL these Chapters fall in, in the sixth year after Jeconiahs captivity, or in the sixth of Zedekiah, as appeareth by the date of the eighth Chapter, verse. 1. and by the date of the twentieth Chapter, verse. 1. compared together.

In Chapter eight the Lord showeth a just cause why he is about to remove his glory from the Temple, viz. because it was defiled with all manner of Idolatry.

1. There was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 An image of provocation, or a provoking image, verse. 3. 5. in the entry into the Temple.

2. The very whole Sanhedrin, and Jaazaniah their chief, committed all manner of Idolatry, verse. 10. 11.

3. The woman weeping for Adonis, verse. 14. And

4. The twenty four heads of the courses of the Priest-hood, and the High Priest, that should have been serving God at the Altar, turning their backs upon it, and adoring the Sun, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 verse. 16. a very strange framed word to express their strange abominableness.

In Chap. 9. God marketh his own before destruction cometh. Compare Rev. 7. Jeremy, Baruch, Ebedmelech, and whosoever else feared the Lord are here marked out for deliverance.

Chap. 10. Ezekiel seeth the glory of God in the Temple, which he had seen at Chebar, but now it is fleeting off, and removed as far as the East Gate. And in Chap. 11. it is flitted clean off the City to mount Olivet.

Chap. 12. When God had thus flitted away his own Glory he setteth the Prophet to flit away his stuff, and this doth he that he might the more thoroughly set on the impression of captivity. And from thence forward the Prophet falleth upon the people, the false Prophets, and Prophetesses with sharp reproofs, &c.

In Chap. 17. there is a terrible denunciation of Judgment against Zedekiah, for violating his Oath and fealty to the King of Babel, and seeking to Egypt for help and strength that he might rebel against him; This the Book of Chronicles brandeth him for, that he rebelled against King Nebuchad-nezzar, who had made him swear by God, 2 Chron. 36. 13. It appeareth that at this time he had revolted and began to rebel, and so was now brewing his own and Judah's destruction, and therefore the Prophet throughout all these Chapters doth lay on the more load of threatening and terror.

EZEKIEL XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII.

[World 3416] [Division 387] [Years of Captivity 15] [Zedekiah 7] DEstruction is now drawing on apace; God will not give the Elders of Israel any answer, no more then he would to Saul. A sword is sharpened and preparing for Jerusalem and Rabbah; Nebuchad-nezzar providing to be avenged on both: it seems the King of Ammon proved traitor to Babel as well as Zedekiah had done. This profane wicked Prince of Israel his day is come: the Crown must be over-turned, over-turned, over-turned till Christ come whose right it is. The sins of Jerusalem and Israel are reckoned up, now she is ready to be called to account.

[Division 388] [70 years Captiv 16] [Zedekiah 8] Of any passage or occurrence of this year there is no mention.

2 KING. XXV. verse. 1. 2. JEREMY XXXIX. verse. 50. & 52. verse. 4. 5.

[World 3418] [Division 389] [70 years Captiv 17] [Zedekiah 9] IN the ninth year of Zedekiah, in the tenth month, or the month Tebeth, the tenth day of the month, in the very deep of winter Nebuchad-nezzar layeth siege to Jerusalem.

EZEKIEL XXIV.

THAT very day Ezekiel is told of the thing by the Lord in Chaldea, and by the Parable of the death of a beloved wife he is told, and telleth the people of the destruction of the City and Temple, their delight.

EZEKIEL XXV.

YET will the Lord take vengeance of those neighbor Nations that took content, and rejoiced in the misery of Jerusalem.

JEREMY XXI.

ZEDEKIAH upon the Chaldeans incamping against the City, inquireth of Jeremy what shall become of them; and receiveth a sad answer of destruction and captivity, the reason of the order of this Chapter was observed before.

JEREMY XLVII.

JEREMY fore-telleth the subduing of the Philistines by Nebuchad-nezzar, even before Gaza, one of their chief Cities was subdued by Pharaoh; this was when Pharaohs Army was abroad, and raised the siege at Jerusalem, Jerem. 37. This Chapter lieth where it doth, that the Prophesies against Egypt may be joined together.

JEREMY XXXVII.

[World 3419] [Division 390] [70 years Captiv 18] [Zedekiah 10] THE Egyptians to whom Zedekiah had revolted from Nebuchad-nezzar, raise his siege at Jerusalem; yet Jeremy telleth, that the Chaldeans shall return and take the City; he is taken and put in prison.

JEREMY XXXII. XXXIII, XXXIV.

JEREMY in the prison buyeth and purchaseth Land in token of the people's return thither again: he Prophesieth comfortable things thereupon; but sad things to the present Generation in Jerusalem, who had covenanted to let their servants go free, but afterwards reduced them to servitude again.

EZEKIEL XXIX. to verse. 17.

IN this tenth year, the tenth month and twelfth day of the month the Word of the Lord cometh to Ezekiel against Egypt, &c. And here is a visible dislocation, for Chap. 26. is dated by the eleventh year, and Chap. 30. verse. 20. and Chap. 31. are dated by the eleventh year; yet this Chapter that comes between is dated by the tenth. Now the reason of this misplacing is easy to be apprehended, and that is this:

• 1. The Prophesy against Egypt was in the tenth year, as most properly meeting with Egypt, in the very height of its pride, and of Jerusalem's carnal confidence in it: For now it was a foot with all its force to raise the siege at Jerusalem, and Jerusalem with all its hope did rely upon it; and therefore in that very time the Lord denounceth destruction to it, and frustration to the Jews hopes in it. Now;
• 2. The reason of setting this Prophesy, that fore-telleth so much after the Prophesy against Tyrus, which was in the eleventh year, is, because Tyrus was first to be destroyed, and Egypt was to be the wages of Nebuchad-nezzar for destroying Tyrus, Chap. 29. 18, 19. and therefore that this might be observed the better, the threatening of the destruction of Tyrus which was given after, yet is set before the threatening of the destruction of Egypt, which was given before.

EZEKIEL XXVI. XXVII, XXVIII.

[World 3420] [70 years Captivity 19] [Zedekiah 11] THIS eleventh year of Zedekiah, and nineteenth of Nebu •• ad-nezzar was the fatal year of Jerusalem's destruction; and now are Ezekiel's three hundred and ninety years up, Ezek. 4. 5. we counted the very year of the division of the Tribes the first of them, or else the very last of them would have fallen here; on the very first day of this year hath Ezekiel the sad prediction concerning the ruin of Tyrus and Sidon.

EZEKIEL XXX. from verse. 20. to the end.

ON the seventh day of this first month Ezekiel Prophesieth of the weakening and fall of Egypt, whom Nebuchad-nezzar had now beaten off, and was returned to Jerusalem's siege again.

EZEKIEL XXXI.

ON the first day of the third month of this year, Ezekiel hath another Prophesy against Egypt.

JEREMY XXXVIII.

IN these gasping times of the City, when all the provision in it was even spent, verse. 9. Jeremy (by cursed suggestion to the King) is cast into the Dungeon, but delivered thence by the good care of Ebed-melech a Cushite, &c.

JEREMY XXXIX. verse. 15, 16, 17, 18.

JEREMY thus delivered by the means of Ebed-melech from the Dungeon, Prophesieth deliverance to Ebed-melech. Now this passage is laid after the Story of the taking of the City; though Jeremy prophesied it before; because when the Holy Ghost hath shown the safety of Jeremy in the destruction, he would also show the safety of Ebed-melech, according to Jeremiah's Prophesy.

2 KING. XXV. verse. 2. to verse. 20. 2 CHRON. XXXVI. verse. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. JEREMY XXXIX. verse. 2. to verse. 15. And LII. verse. 5. to verse. 28.

IN the fourth month of this eleventh year of Zedekiah, which was the month Tammuz on the ninth day of the month, [much about our Mid-summer day] there is no more provision left, and the City is broken up. Zedekiah and the men of war get away by night; but Zedekiah is overtaken near Jericho, ere he could reach the foords of Jordan, and brought to Nebuchad-nezzar, and judgment passed upon him, &c. And he that would never see the danger, now seeth the Judgment, and his eyes are put out.

In the fifth month, the seventh day of the month, Nebuzaradan fireth the Temple and Jerusalem, about the 23 of our July, captiveth the remnant of the people, leaving only some for husbandry, over whom he maketh Gedaliah Governor, and carrieth away all the Vessels of the House of the Lord, and the two brazen pillars that stood before it.

In reckoning the height of the two Pillars Jachin and Boaz, there is some difference and difficulty; for in 2 Kings 25. 17. It is said, The height of one Pillar was eighteen cubits. And so 2 King. 7. 15. and Jer. 52. 21. But in 2 Chron. 3. 15. it is said, He made two Pillars thirty five cubits high.

And in that very verse it is said, the Chapiter that was on the top of each of them, was five cubits: And so 2 King. 7. 16. and Jer. 52. 22. But in 2 King. 25. 17. it is said, The height of the Chapiter was three cubits.

Solution. 1. Of the difference in the former reckoning; the reason is this, because the Book of Kings, and Jer. 52. 21. reckon the height of each Pillar distinct, and say plainly, they were eighteen cubits high a piece; But the Book of Chronicles reckoneth the measure of them both jointly together, and saith, they were five and thirty cubits long; that is, both together were so long, and severally they were seventeen cubits and an half a piece. Now the half cubit that is reckoned above [when it is said they were eighteen cubits high a piece] was taken up within the Chapiter, for the Chapiter being a long massey piece of brass, set upon the head of the Pillar, the Pillar must needs be let in something into it, as a tenon into a morteise to make it fast, and so it was half a cubit; so that the Pillar was eighteen cubits high, but it was only seventeen cubits and an half appearing.

2. The difference of the second accounting [ viz. of the height of the Chapiter, one Text saying it was three cubits high, and the other five] ariseth from this, That the Chapiters themselves were five cubits high a piece, but there was net work wrought about them at their bottom, which stood as a Crown about them on the top of the Pillars, that only three cubits of the plain Chapiter could be seen.

In this captivity was Seraiah the father of Ezra taken and slain, 2 King. 25. 18. Ezr. 7. 1. he was the High Priest, and he and Zephaniah the second Priest or Sagan, came to an end as fatal, as Hophni and Phinehas had done at the ruin of Shiloh.

Were Ezra never so young now, yea were he now in his mothers womb, yet must he needs be very aged when he cometh up to Jerusalem so long after the captivity, Ezr. 7. we shall judge of this by then we come there.

The Book of the LAMENTATIONS.

UPON this sad misery befallen Jerusalem, Jeremy composeth the sad ditty of his Lamentations, bewailing its case most dolefully, but withal most elegantly. For all the Chapters in this Elegiack Book, the fifth or last excepted, are alphabetical, or every verse beginning in order with the Letters of the Alphabet, and the third Chapter doing it three times over: Only in all the Alphabets, but that of the first Chapter, there is a dislocation of the two letters 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain and Pe: For whereas Ain should properly be set before, according to the constant method of the Hebrew Alphabet, it is not so here, but Pe set before, and Ain after. The Prophet by this alteration of the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain, which in numbers denoteth seventy, aiming, as it may be well supposed, to hint the seventy years that this desolation of Jerusalem, to which it was now come, should last.

JEREMY XL. to verse. 9.

NEBUZARADAN bringeth all his captives to Ramah [then was a sad voice heard there of lamentation, weeping and mourning, as Chap. 31. 15. Matth. 2. 18.] and from thence he enlargeth Jeremy from his Manicles [not which he had put on him but which the Jews had put on him in the Court of the Prison] and dismisseth him to go to Gedaliah, or else whither, as he pleased. Then the Word of the Lord cometh to him, and directeth him to go to Gedaliah.

2 KING. XXV. verse. 20. 21. And JEREMY LII. verse. 26, 27, 28, 29.

THE continuance and connection of the Story here is to be conceived thus: That Nebuzaradan when he fired the Temple, and captived the City, in his return towards his Master maketh a Rendez-vouz at Ramah, as in the Sections preceding, and there disposeth of some of his Prisoners, particularly of Jeremy for enlargement, and then he goeth forward to his Master to Riblah; whither when he bringeth his Captives, Nebuchad-nezzar slayeth seventy two of them. This number is considerable by reflection upon the seventy two that were first chosen, Numb. 11. 26, 27. And because we may the rather observe this, there is a difference of the account of the Book of Kings from Jeremy. The Book of Kings saith that Nebuzaradan took away from Jerusalem, Seraiah, Zephaniah, three Porters, a chief Officer over the Army, and the chief Secretary of the Army; five men that were near the King, and sixty men of the Land; that is, five out of the Temple, two out of the City, five out of the Court, and sixty out of the Country, and brought them to Riblah, and there the King of Babel slew them. Now Jeremy agrees exactly in all the account but this, that he saith, he took away seven men that were near the King; which he did indeed, but slew but five of them, for the other two Jeremy and Ebedmelech were delivered: Now of their Story the Penman hath given you account before, and therefore when he saith here, that all these were taken at Jerusalem, and slain at Riblah, he himself had been the interpreter there how to understand it suitable to the relation in the Book of Kings.

Jeremy in verse. 28. 29. reckoning the men that Nebuchad-nezzar carried away captive, saith in his seventh year, they were three thousand and twenty three Jews, and in his eighteenth three thousand and thirty two from Jerusalem; in which if the Reader ruminate well upon the matter, he will find a great deal of difficulty: For,

1. He never mentioneth in this reckoning either the Captivity in the fourth of Jehoiakim, which was the first Captivity, not the Captivity of Jeconiah, in which the most people were carried away: And.

2. There is no mention else-where of Nebuchad-nezzars carrying away into captivity from Jerusalem either in his seventh year, or in his eighteenth; but of his doing so in his eighth there is mention, 2 King. 24. 12. and in his nineteenth, Jer. 25. 12.

Now for answer; 1. To the First, The Prophet doth not here speak simply of the persons that were captived, but of persons that were captived and put to death, for that was the very tenor of his speech in the verse immediately before: And for the confirming of this, it is observable, that in these two verses he mentioneth only the Captives that were caused by an open Rebellion, Jehoiakim’s and Zedekiahs, and upon those followed slaughter upon cold blood: but in the fourth of Jehoiakim, when Daniel and his fellows were captived, and when Jeconiah was captived with 18000 more, there was no such slaughter because there was no such rebellion: And by this very consideration we may learn what was the end of Jehoiakim, against whom Jeremy threatened the burial of an Ass, although the Scripture hath not clearly expressed it else-where.

To the second we have given some piece of an answer before, more fully now: Nebuchad-nezzars first year was properly in Jehoiakim’s third, for then is the first news you hear of him, Dan. 1. 1. but withal, his first year is counted with Jehoiakim’s fourth, in which the seventy years Captivity began, for then he had captived Jerusalem, and according to these two reckonings the Scripture reckons; sometime by the first, as Nebuchad-nezzars first year properly: some-time by the second, as being his first year over Israel, and of the seventy of Captivity, after which matter the Scripture looketh with special notice.

Now Jehoiakim’s Captivity was in Nebuchad-nezzars eighth according to the first date, but it is said to be in his seventh according to the second, and the rather because Jeconiah was captived the same year, and so the one is distinguished from the other. And so Zedeliahs captivity was in Nebuchadnezzar's nineteenth, according to the first date and propriety, but said here to be in the eighteenth, according to the second; and the rather to include in the number of the captived, and slain, those whom Nebuchad-nezzar caught of the Jews when he marched away from the siege of Jerusalem the year before, when the King of Egypt raised it; for then it is not imaginable but he caught some, and how he would deal with them they being in open rebellion we may well suppose.

JEREMY XL. from verse. 7. to the end. And XLI. all. 2 KING. XXV. verse. 22, 23, 24, 25.

THE dispersed Captains and Companies that had fled for their safety up and down for fear of the Chaldean Army, do ralley and come together to Gedaliah the Governor for protection. Jeremy amongst these reckoneth Jonathan, and the Sons of Ephai the Netophathite, which the Book of Kings omitteth; either for that these were slain with Gedaliah by Ishmael, as Jer. 41. 3. and never came to Egypt; whither the Book of Kings and Jeremy bringeth those rallied Captives and People after Gedaliahs death: Or that Jonathan came as an inferior to Johanan his brother, and that these sons of Ephai the Netophathite came under the colors of Seraiah the Netophathite, and so the Book of Kings reckons only the Colonels or chief Commanders.

In the seventh Month, Ishmael, some younger brother of the Royal blood, and ten Nobles of the Court, envying Gedaliahs promotion, do traitorously murder him. This was a very solemn month in itself; for the Feast of Trumpets expiation and Tabernacles that should have been in it; and in this month of old had Solomon kept the dedication of the Temple, and sent the people home with joyful hearts afterwards, but how is the matter altered now?

Ishmael also killeth seventy Samaritan Proselytes, such as were coming to the Feast of Tabernacles, and casteth them into a trench that Asa had made to be a stop betwixt the Samaritans and himself; then made to keep off Samaritans, enemies to their Religion, now filled with Samaritans, friends to it. The little dealing that the Jews had with the Samaritans, and the flying about of the Chaldean Troopers, had made such interception of intelligence, that these poor men knew not of the firing of the Temple, though it were in the fifth month, till they be upon the way towards it, and then understanding of it, they rent their clothes, &c.

JEREMY XLII. & XLIII. And 2 KING. XXV. verse. 26.

THE Captains and people upon the death of Gedaliah go into Egypt, though they had promised to be ruled by the voice of the Lord; and though the Lord had flatly forbidden them to go thither, and so had done of old, that they should never return to Egypt. Poor Jeremy is carried along with them; and when he comes there, he prophesieth both against Egypt and them.

[World 3421] [Captivity 20] The Jews are now settled in Egypt, and in time they fall to a common and open Idolatry, for which Jeremy reproveth them, and threateneth them very sore. In verse. 9. he seemeth to give a close touch upon the Idolatry of Solomon's wives, the first original of Idolatry to the Kings of Judah. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . The wickednesses of the Kings of Judah, and the wickednesses of his wives; which indeed may be well construed of everyone of their wives: But the quaintness of the phrase seemeth to hint some such a particular thing; and it may the rather be so understood, because he is here taxing the present Idolatry of the Jews wives in Egypt, and ripping up the sore to the very head, which indeed was first those wives of Solomon.

Observe in verse. 25. how the Hebrew Syntax seemeth to twit these men's base uxoriousness, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 using the Verb in the feminine Gender, though he speak to the men.

Now in the 45 Chap. of this Book of Jeremy, verse. 1. It is said, that Baruch had written these words in a Book at the mouth of Jeremy, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, what these very last words mentioned before. But this is very unlikely, for these last speeches appear to be uttered upon emergency; the meaning of it therefore is, that Jeremy in the fourth of Jehoiakim had uttered Prophesies to this purpose, that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and the Land left desolate, and the people captived, and mischief and misery following them: which is cleared to be accomplished in the story of these Chapters, and therefore this 45 Chapter is laid here though the story of it was nineteen or twenty years ago, to show, and to record the truth of those things which that wretched King Jehoiakim would not believe, but burnt the Book in the fire: And these are the subject of the other Copy that Baruch wrote when the first was burnt.

EZEKIEL XXXIII.

THIS twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar, and of the first Captivity, was the twelfth year of Ezekiel's Captivity with Jeconiah: And on the tenth month of this year, and on the fifth day of that month Ezekiel hath intelligence that Jerusalem was fired, verse. 21. Temple and all: It is almost a year and an half since the thing was done, and yet intelligence comes but now: The evening before these tidings came to him, his mouth is opened again to Prophesy to his own people, which he had not done since the day that Nebuchad-nezzar first laid siege to Jerusalem three years ago, whereof one year and a half was taken up in that siege, and one year and somewhat above an half, since the City was taken. Compare Chap. 24. verse. 1. & 26, 27. In this space of time though Ezekiel were dumb to Israel; yet was he not to other Nations, for he Prophesieth many sad things against other Countries, as is apparent by the Chapters taken up before.

EZEKIEL XXXII.

IN the same year, viz. the twelfth of Ezekiel's and Jechonias Captivity, he hath a Prophesy against Egypt in the last month of the year, on the first day of the month, and another on the fifteenth day of the same month, verse. 27. Now the dislocation of this Chapter is easily seen, for the three and thirtieth Chapter that followeth it, is dated in the tenth month of this twelfth year, and this, in the twelfth month: But the reason of this transposition is almost as easily seen; namely, because there are divers Prophesies against Egypt, and other Countries before, and this is also brought thither to them that it may lie with them.

EZEKIEL XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX.

[Captivity 21] ALL these Chapters of Ezekiel fall not under any expressed or determinate [Captivity 22] date; the fortieth Chapter does under the date of the five and twentieth year of Jechoniahs captivity; therefore we are to conceive at large of the time of these Chapters, that they were delivered between the twelfth year of that Captivity, by which the three and thirtieth Chapter is dated, and the five and twentieth, by which the fortieth.

JEREMY LII. verse. 30.

[World 3424] [Captivity 23] IN the three and twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar, or the three and twentieth of the first Captivity, for these run parallel, Nebuzaradan Captain of the Guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty five persons; it may be this was in revenge of the base usage of Gedaliah, and the Chaldeans that were with him: And here is the last blow of the Jews given by the Babylonian, and now is Judea and Jerusalem in full and complete Captivity.

PSAL. CXXXVII.

AND here it may not be impertinent to take in the 137 Psalm, which describeth the posture and sorrow, and soorn of these captived ones, as they sat in Babel.

1 CHRON. II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX.

[Captivity 24] NOR may it be unproper in this place to read and view again these [Captivity 25] Chapters of the first of Chronicles: It is true indeed, that they and [Captivity 26] their Texts broken in pieces might be laid to be read in other places, as was [Captivity 27] said before, as those Genealogies and Stories that are recited else-where in [Captivity 28] Scripture, to be laid with those places where they are mentioned; and those [Captivity 29] that are not mentioned again in Scripture to be laid with the Stories of such [Captivity 30] times as the best evidence or probability will tell when they came to pass, or [Captivity 31] were in being: Those Texts that tell of Plantations of Cities or Countries, [Captivity 32] to be laid in that place in the Book of Joshua that relateth the dividing of the Land, as was done there: Those that draw long Pedegrees to conclude in some famous man, as the Pedegree of Korah to Samuel, Chap. 6. these to be brought in at the Story of that famous man. Thus might these Genealogies and Chapters be taken up: But since, Chap. 9. 1. telleth that these Genealogies were written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah that were captived; and since divers places in these Chapters speak of the Captivity, and of these latter times; and since the reading of these Chapters after the Story of Jerusalem's Captivity, is as it were a short review of the planting, and settling, and growing of that Nation in that Country, out of which the Story of the Captivity hath told the Reader they were now removed; it may be very methodical and proper upon these considerations, and very profitable to take in these Chapters, and to read them here again.

EZEK. XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV, XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII.

[World 3434] [Captivity 33] THIS thirty third year of the first Captivity, and of Nebuchad-nezzar, [Captivity 34] was the five and twentieth of the Captivity of Jeconiah and Ezekiel. And now the Lord showeth the Prophet a new Temple, bigger then all the old Jerusalem, and a new Jerusalem bigger then all the Land of Canaan; by these very dimensions showing that these things cannot literally, but must spiritually be understood.

EZEKIEL XXIX. from verse. 17. to the end. And XXX. to verse. 20.

[World 3436] [Captivity 35] THIS seven and twentieth year of his Captivity Ezekiel hath another Prophesy against Egypt, and this is the last we have of this Prophet; and it is laid here, though it should have been last in the Book, that all the Prophesies against Egypt might come together. Nebuchad-nezzar had lately taken Tyrus, and it had cost him very dear; and this year he taketh Egypt, as the pay of his Soldiers for that service: And now is Babylon entire Monarch of all the World, and Nebuchad-nezzar become the golden head; Egypt the only Kingdom that opposed him being subdued.

DANIEL II, III, IV.

[World 3437] [Captivity 36] NEBUCHAD-NEZZAR now come to his height, hath a dream of the four Monarchies, of the tree cut down, &c. grows proud, and will be worshipped for a God. The three Princes of Judah live in the fire; they were now at the least 40 years old, and therefore improperly, but commonly called the three children.

This year is called the second year of the Kingdom of Nebuchad-nezzar, Dan. 2. 1. not of his first being King, but of his entire Monarchy, when Egypt, the only potent Prince and Nation that stood against him, was now subdued. So the first year of Cyrus is to be understood, Ezr. 1. 1. not the first year of his being King, but the first year of his universal Monarchy, as the very next verse explaineth it, The Lord God hath given me all the Kingdoms of the Earth.

• Some part of this year is Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 37] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 38] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 39] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 40] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 41] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 42] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 43] [Captivity 44] Nebuchad-nezzar restored to his wits and Kingdom again.

[Captivity 45] 2 KINGS XXV. verse. 27, 28, 29, 30. JEREMY LII. verse. 31, 32, 33, 34.

[World 3446] NEbuchad-nezzar dieth, and Evil-merodach reigneth. This is the thirty [Captivity 46] seventh year of the Captivity of Jeconiah. On the five and twentieth [Captivity 47] day of the twelfth month Evil-merodach bringeth him out of [Captivity 48] prison, and on the seven and twentieth day he promoted him above all the [Captivity 49] Kings of Babel, and feedeth him all his life; it may be Nebuchad-nezzars seven [Captivity 50] years madness and misery had wrought some humility and gentleness upon [Captivity 51] this his Son. Jeconiah was now fifty five years old, and had endured seven [Captivity 52] and thirty years imprisonment, and now the Lord releaseth him, and he nameth [Captivity 53] Salathiel as his next heir to David's Throne and Principality, for Jeconiah [Captivity 54] had no heir of his own: The time of the three Babylonian Kings, that [Captivity 55] took up the whole space of that Monarchy, are easily to be collected by the [Captivity 56] Scripture; namely, Nebuchad-nezzar to have reigned five and forty years current, [Captivity 57] Evil-merodach three and twenty current, and Belshazzar three. The [Captivity 58] first is plain by this, that the seven and thirtieth of Jeconiah is called Evilmerodachs [Captivity 59] first. The last will be made plain by and by, and the apparency of [Captivity 60] the second will result from both these. Evil-merodach by the Septuagint in [Captivity 61] Jer. 52. is called Ulamadachar; but he is called far nearer to his own name by [Captivity 62] them in 2 King. 25. Josephus calleth him Abilamaridochus Antiq. lib. 10. cap. 12. [Captivity 63] There is a general silence in Scripture of anything done in his time, besides [Captivity 64] his enlarging of Jeconiah; whereas there are very wondrous and remarkable [Captivity 65] matters mentioned and recorded to have been done in Babylon in the time of [Captivity 66] Nebuchad-nezzar his father and of Belshazzar his Son.

[World 3468] [Captivity 67] Belshazzar reigneth three years.

DANIEL VII.

IN this first of Belshazzar Daniel seeth the Vision of the four Kingdoms that troubled the World, but especially the Church, from the first rising of Nebuchad-nezzar, till the coming of the everlasting Kingdom of Christ in the Gospel, viz. Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Grecian, and Syrogrecian; All the time of the Kingdoms before the Babylonian is not meddled withal, because handled before along in the Bible, and all the times of the Roman State, after the coming of Christ is not meddled withal neither, but left to be treated of by a beloved Disciple, as these are by a beloved Prophet, viz. in the Revelation.

The dislocation of this Chapter will easily be spied by any eye that looketh but upon the two Chapters next before it; for the fifth speaks of Belshazzar's end of reign, and this of his beginning; and the sixth speaks of matters done in Darius his time, which was after Belshazzar's death, and this of matters done in the first of Belshazzers reign; but the reason of this dislocation is almost as conspicuous as the dislocation itself; and that is, because the Historical things of this Book are set by themselves first, and the visionary or prophetical things afterward.

[Captivity 68] [Belshazzar 2] In this second of Belshazzar there is no particular occurrence mentioned.

DANIEL V.

[World 3470] [Captivity 69] [Belshazzar 3] BABYLONS Sins are now come to the full, Belshazzar toppeth them up, by abuse of the Vessels of the House of God at a drunken and Idolatrous Feast, to the despite and scorn of him that owed them, and to the grief of those that had concernment in them.

Hereupon that Divine hand that had written the two Tables for a Law to his people, writeth the doom of Babel and Belshazzar upon the wall, viz. the ruin of these his enemies: This turneth the night of the Kings pleasure into fear unto him, as Isaiah had Prophesied of him long ago, Isaiah 21. 4. and Jeremy, Jer. 50. 43. The Wise Men of Babylon are become fools, and cannot read this writing though it were in their own Language; Daniel readeth and interpreteth it, and that both in an Hebrew and a Chaldee construction, for the words were both Languages, Mene, Mene, He hath numbered and finished; Tekel, in Chaldee. He hath weighed. In Heb. Thou art too light; Parsin, in Heb. The Persians; Paresin, in Chaldee. Dividing: and Daniel interprets it according to the extent of the words in both Tongues, for both Hebrews and Chaldeans were concerned though differently in the issue of the matter.

Presently the enemy that lay about the Town began to storm, and the Sentinels and Watch-men in the Watch Towres give the Alarm; Arise ye Princes, and anoint the Shield, see Isaiah 21. 5. And one Post runs to meet another, to show the King of Babylon that his City is taken at one end, Jer. 51. 31. and that night is Belshazzar slain. And Darius the Median took the Kingdom, being sixty two years old; and so it appears he was born in the year of Jehoia • ims and Jehoiachins captivity; and thus did the Lord provide, that in that very year when the Babylonian was most busy to captive and destroy, the captiver and destroyer of Babylon should be born. The Reader will here observe in the Chronicle in the Margin, that the third of Belshazzar proves but the sixty ninth year of the Captivity, and not the seventy. But if he do but withal observe, that part of Jehoiakim’s third was properly the beginning of those seventy years, he will also see that part of Belshazzar's third was in the like reckoning some of the seventieth year, and the rest of that year was taken up in Cyrus and Darius settling the Monarchy before the Decree for building Jerusalem come forth.

Cyrus the Persian was joined with Darius the Median in the expedition against Babel, and so in the rule of the Monarchy when they had obtained it; and therefore the Prophet Isaiah describeth the enemies of Babel, by a Chariot with a couple of Horse-men, a Chariot of Asses, and a Chariot of Camels, Isaiah 21. 7. 9. and Daniel interprets the hand-writing on the wall, that the Babylonian Monarchy should be divided betwixt the Median and the Persian: But Darius only carrieth the name here, because he was far the older man, and because indeed he was Cyrus his Grand-father: If we may conjecture anything from the Heathen Writers. They speak of Astyages the Median King, who had one only Daughter, called Mandane, and she the Mother of Cyrus by Cambyses the King of Persia, vid. Xenoph. Herod. Justin. Now this being the general consent of all the Writers of the best repute among the Heathen, that there was no King of Media at that time but only Astyages, Cyrus his Grand-father; we may very well conclude that this Darius and their Astyages were all one, and that Darius because of his Grand-fathership did bear the name of the Royalty, though Cyrus in this conquest had equal share with him, and was for other victories a Conqueror beyond him. Not to insist upon those mixtures of fabulousness that the Heathens have invented for the inhancing of the credit of Cyrus, as they were used to do about men that were the first raisers of a Kingdom; as that his Grand-father Astyages delivered him to Harpagus a Noble Man, as soon as he was born to be made away: that Harpagus afraid of such a Fact, delivered him to the Kings chief Shepherd for such a purpose; that he laid and left the infant in a wood: that it was there nourished by a Bitch: that the Shepherds wife took it home and nursed it, and exposed an infant of her own instead of it, &c. To omit these things which were invented only for the honor of the beginning of the Persian Empire; we may safely take up that relation which is unanimously given by all their Historians, and in which there can be no flattery at all suspected, and that is of the Pedigree and descent of Cyrus, and the names and qualities of his Parents, and so they give him for the son of Cambyses the King of Persia, and of Mandane the Daughter and only child of Astyages King of Media, and so was he heir to both the Kingdoms.

Now upon the conquest of Babylon, Darius, or Astyages plat-forms the Government of that Monarchy under one hundred and twenty Governors, in the one hundred and twenty Provinces that belonged to it: And above these he set a Triumvirate, or three Princes to be supervisors to them, and to take their accounts both of Tribute and Affairs. Daniel's knownness in Babylon, which was newly taken for his divine and wonderful wisdom and spirit, bringeth him to be one of these three: and that promotion and his singular carriage in it bringeth him into envy, and that into the Lions Den, &c. This occurrence may be conceived to have been presently after the conquest of Babel, even in the compass of that year upon these grounds.

• 1. Because Darius it is like would form the Government of his Monarchy as soon as he had it, and Daniel would not be long unenvied when promoted.
• 2. It is very probable that Darius reigned but a little beyond this year.
• 3. The writing of this Chapter in the Chaldee Tongue, may be some argument that this occurrence befell Daniel while he was in Chaldea.

DANIEL VIII.

THE first and second Verses of this Chapter plainly show, that Belshazzar reigned but three years, for it telleth that in the third year of Belshazzar, Daniel was in Shushan, the royal City of Persia. It cannot be imagined that he was there in Belshazzar's life time, for his preferment and residence was in Babylon till Babylon fell; but his coming thither was by the transporting of him thither by the Persian Monarch after he had conquered Babylon, who as it appeareth by verse. 27. had preferred him there, and interested him in the Kings employment.

This is called the third year of Belshazzar, purposely that we might learn to give the first year of Cyrus its proper date. Belshazzar was dead and gone, and Darius had fashioned the Babylonian Monarchy into another Government: Daniel had been cast into the Lions Den in Babylon, and was now removed to the Court of Persia: Cyrus and Darius had ruled all for a certain space, and yet is this Chapter and the occurrences in it dated by this, that it was the third year of Belshazzar; partly that we might learn to reckon the first of Cyrus and Darius, not the very year that Babylon fell, but the year after; and partly, that we might observe how in the very year that the Medes and Persians destroy Babel, the Lord revealeth to Daniel the destruction of the Medes and Persians, and the two Monarchies after them.

All the Chapters in Daniel, from Chap. 2. verse. 4. to the beginning of this Chapter are written in the Chaldee Tongue, and from the beginning of this Chapter to the end of the Book he writeth in Hebrew; for the affairs that fell under the Chaldean Monarchy he hath registered in the Chaldean Tongue; but now that Kingdom is destroyed, he will have no more to do with that Language, but thence forward he applies himself to write his own native Tongue the Hebrew, seeing that God would not have the Persicke, under which Language he now was, to be the original of any part of Scripture.

DANIEL IX.

DANIEL knowing from Jeremiah's Prophesy, that the seventy years of Captivity were now fully expired, addresseth himself to God by prayer for their return: He receiveth not only a gracious answer to his desire, but a Prediction of what times should pass over his people till the death of Christ; namely, seventy weeks, or seventy times seven years, or four hundred and ninety. This space of time the Angel divideth into three unequal parts.

• 1. Seven sevens, or forty nine years, to the finishing of Jerusalem's Walls.
• 2. Sixty two sevens, or four hundred thirty four years, from that time till the last seven.
• 3. The last seven in the latter half of which Christ Preacheth, viz. three years and an half, and then dieth, &c.

The twenty seventh Verse therefore is to be read thus: He shall confirm the Covenant with many in the one week, and in half that week he shall cause Sacrifice and Oblation to cease, &c. So that from this year to the death of Christ are four hundred ninety years; and there is no cause, because of doubtful Records among the Heathen, to make a doubt of the fixedness of this time, which an Angel of the Lord hath pointed out with so much exactness.

The Book of the LAMENTATIONS.

UPON this sad misery befallen Jerusalem, Jeremy composeth the sad ditty of his Lamentations, bewailing its case most dolefully, but withal most elegantly. For all the Chapters in this Elegiack Book, the fifth or last excepted, are alphabetical, or every verse beginning in order with the Letters of the Alphabet, and the third Chapter doing it three times over: Only in all the Alphabets, but that of the first Chapter, there is a dislocation of the two letters 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain and Pe: For whereas Ain should properly be set before, according to the constant method of the Hebrew Alphabet, it is not so here, but Pe set before, and Ain after. The Prophet by this alteration of the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain, which in numbers denoteth seventy, aiming, as it may be well supposed, to hint the seventy years that this desolation of Jerusalem, to which it was now come, should last.

JEREMY XL. to verse. 9.

NEBUZARADAN bringeth all his captives to Ramah [then was a sad voice heard there of lamentation, weeping and mourning, as Chap. 31. 15. Matth. 2. 18.] and from thence he enlargeth Jeremy from his Manicles [not which he had put on him but which the Jews had put on him in the Court of the Prison] and dismisseth him to go to Gedaliah, or else whither, as he pleased. Then the Word of the Lord cometh to him, and directeth him to go to Gedaliah.

2 KING. XXV. verse. 20. 21. And JEREMY LII. verse. 26, 27, 28, 29.

THE continuance and connection of the Story here is to be conceived thus: That Nebuzaradan when he fired the Temple, and captived the City, in his return towards his Master maketh a Rendez-vouz at Ramah, as in the Sections preceding, and there disposeth of some of his Prisoners, particularly of Jeremy for enlargement, and then he goeth forward to his Master to Riblah; whither when he bringeth his Captives, Nebuchad-nezzar slayeth seventy two of them. This number is considerable by reflection upon the seventy two that were first chosen, Numb. 11. 26, 27. And because we may the rather observe this, there is a difference of the account of the Book of Kings from Jeremy. The Book of Kings saith that Nebuzaradan took away from Jerusalem, Seraiah, Zephaniah, three Porters, a chief Officer over the Army, and the chief Secretary of the Army; five men that were near the King, and sixty men of the Land; that is, five out of the Temple, two out of the City, five out of the Court, and sixty out of the Country, and brought them to Riblah, and there the King of Babel slew them. Now Jeremy agrees exactly in all the account but this, that he saith, he took away seven men that were near the King; which he did indeed, but slew but five of them, for the other two Jeremy and Ebedmelech were delivered: Now of their Story the Penman hath given you account before, and therefore when he saith here, that all these were taken at Jerusalem, and slain at Riblah, he himself had been the interpreter there how to understand it suitable to the relation in the Book of Kings.

Jeremy in verse. 28. 29. reckoning the men that Nebuchad-nezzar carried away captive, saith in his seventh year, they were three thousand and twenty three Jews, and in his eighteenth three thousand and thirty two from Jerusalem; in which if the Reader ruminate well upon the matter, he will find a great deal of difficulty: For,

1. He never mentioneth in this reckoning either the Captivity in the fourth of Jehoiakim, which was the first Captivity, not the Captivity of Jeconiah, in which the most people were carried away: And.

2. There is no mention else-where of Nebuchad-nezzars carrying away into captivity from Jerusalem either in his seventh year, or in his eighteenth; but of his doing so in his eighth there is mention, 2 King. 24. 12. and in his nineteenth, Jer. 25. 12.

Now for answer; 1. To the First, The Prophet doth not here speak simply of the persons that were captived, but of persons that were captived and put to death, for that was the very tenor of his speech in the verse immediately before: And for the confirming of this, it is observable, that in these two verses he mentioneth only the Captives that were caused by an open Rebellion, Jehoiakim’s and Zedekiahs, and upon those followed slaughter upon cold blood: but in the fourth of Jehoiakim, when Daniel and his fellows were captived, and when Jeconiah was captived with 18000 more, there was no such slaughter because there was no such rebellion: And by this very consideration we may learn what was the end of Jehoiakim, against whom Jeremy threatened the burial of an Ass, although the Scripture hath not clearly expressed it else-where.

To the second we have given some piece of an answer before, more fully now: Nebuchad-nezzars first year was properly in Jehoiakim’s third, for then is the first news you hear of him, Dan. 1. 1. but withal, his first year is counted with Jehoiakim’s fourth, in which the seventy years Captivity began, for then he had captived Jerusalem, and according to these two reckonings the Scripture reckons; sometime by the first, as Nebuchad-nezzars first year properly: some-time by the second, as being his first year over Israel, and of the seventy of Captivity, after which matter the Scripture looketh with special notice.

Now Jehoiakim’s Captivity was in Nebuchad-nezzars eighth according to the first date, but it is said to be in his seventh according to the second, and the rather because Jeconiah was captived the same year, and so the one is distinguished from the other. And so Zedeliahs captivity was in Nebuchadnezzar's nineteenth, according to the first date and propriety, but said here to be in the eighteenth, according to the second; and the rather to include in the number of the captived, and slain, those whom Nebuchad-nezzar caught of the Jews when he marched away from the siege of Jerusalem the year before, when the King of Egypt raised it; for then it is not imaginable but he caught some, and how he would deal with them they being in open rebellion we may well suppose.

JEREMY XL. from verse. 7. to the end. And XLI. all. 2 KING. XXV. verse. 22, 23, 24, 25.

THE dispersed Captains and Companies that had fled for their safety up and down for fear of the Chaldean Army, do ralley and come together to Gedaliah the Governor for protection. Jeremy amongst these reckoneth Jonathan, and the Sons of Ephai the Netophathite, which the Book of Kings omitteth; either for that these were slain with Gedaliah by Ishmael, as Jer. 41. 3. and never came to Egypt; whither the Book of Kings and Jeremy bringeth those rallied Captives and People after Gedaliahs death: Or that Jonathan came as an inferior to Johanan his brother, and that these sons of Ephai the Netophathite came under the colors of Seraiah the Netophathite, and so the Book of Kings reckons only the Colonels or chief Commanders.

In the seventh Month, Ishmael, some younger brother of the Royal blood, and ten Nobles of the Court, envying Gedaliahs promotion, do traitorously murder him. This was a very solemn month in itself; for the Feast of Trumpets expiation and Tabernacles that should have been in it; and in this month of old had Solomon kept the dedication of the Temple, and sent the people home with joyful hearts afterwards, but how is the matter altered now?

Ishmael also killeth seventy Samaritan Proselytes, such as were coming to the Feast of Tabernacles, and casteth them into a trench that Asa had made to be a stop betwixt the Samaritans and himself; then made to keep off Samaritans, enemies to their Religion, now filled with Samaritans, friends to it. The little dealing that the Jews had with the Samaritans, and the flying about of the Chaldean Troopers, had made such interception of intelligence, that these poor men knew not of the firing of the Temple, though it were in the fifth month, till they be upon the way towards it, and then understanding of it, they rent their clothes, &c.

JEREMY XLII. & XLIII. And 2 KING. XXV. verse. 26.

THE Captains and people upon the death of Gedaliah go into Egypt, though they had promised to be ruled by the voice of the Lord; and though the Lord had flatly forbidden them to go thither, and so had done of old, that they should never return to Egypt. Poor Jeremy is carried along with them; and when he comes there, he prophesieth both against Egypt and them.

[World 3421] [Captivity 20] The Jews are now settled in Egypt, and in time they fall to a common and open Idolatry, for which Jeremy reproveth them, and threateneth them very sore. In verse. 9. he seemeth to give a close touch upon the Idolatry of Solomon's wives, the first original of Idolatry to the Kings of Judah. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . The wickednesses of the Kings of Judah, and the wickednesses of his wives; which indeed may be well construed of everyone of their wives: But the quaintness of the phrase seemeth to hint some such a particular thing; and it may the rather be so understood, because he is here taxing the present Idolatry of the Jews wives in Egypt, and ripping up the sore to the very head, which indeed was first those wives of Solomon.

Observe in verse. 25. how the Hebrew Syntax seemeth to twit these men's base uxoriousness, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 using the Verb in the feminine Gender, though he speak to the men.

Now in the 45 Chap. of this Book of Jeremy, verse. 1. It is said, that Baruch had written these words in a Book at the mouth of Jeremy, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, what these very last words mentioned before. But this is very unlikely, for these last speeches appear to be uttered upon emergency; the meaning of it therefore is, that Jeremy in the fourth of Jehoiakim had uttered Prophesies to this purpose, that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and the Land left desolate, and the people captived, and mischief and misery following them: which is cleared to be accomplished in the story of these Chapters, and therefore this 45 Chapter is laid here though the story of it was nineteen or twenty years ago, to show, and to record the truth of those things which that wretched King Jehoiakim would not believe, but burnt the Book in the fire: And these are the subject of the other Copy that Baruch wrote when the first was burnt.

EZEKIEL XXXIII.

THIS twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar, and of the first Captivity, was the twelfth year of Ezekiel's Captivity with Jeconiah: And on the tenth month of this year, and on the fifth day of that month Ezekiel hath intelligence that Jerusalem was fired, verse. 21. Temple and all: It is almost a year and an half since the thing was done, and yet intelligence comes but now: The evening before these tidings came to him, his mouth is opened again to Prophesy to his own people, which he had not done since the day that Nebuchad-nezzar first laid siege to Jerusalem three years ago, whereof one year and a half was taken up in that siege, and one year and somewhat above an half, since the City was taken. Compare Chap. 24. verse. 1. & 26, 27. In this space of time though Ezekiel were dumb to Israel; yet was he not to other Nations, for he Prophesieth many sad things against other Countries, as is apparent by the Chapters taken up before.

EZEKIEL XXXII.

IN the same year, viz. the twelfth of Ezekiel's and Jechonias Captivity, he hath a Prophesy against Egypt in the last month of the year, on the first day of the month, and another on the fifteenth day of the same month, verse. 27. Now the dislocation of this Chapter is easily seen, for the three and thirtieth Chapter that followeth it, is dated in the tenth month of this twelfth year, and this, in the twelfth month: But the reason of this transposition is almost as easily seen; namely, because there are divers Prophesies against Egypt, and other Countries before, and this is also brought thither to them that it may lie with them.

EZEKIEL XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX.

[Captivity 21] ALL these Chapters of Ezekiel fall not under any expressed or determinate [Captivity 22] date; the fortieth Chapter does under the date of the five and twentieth year of Jechoniahs captivity; therefore we are to conceive at large of the time of these Chapters, that they were delivered between the twelfth year of that Captivity, by which the three and thirtieth Chapter is dated, and the five and twentieth, by which the fortieth.

JEREMY LII. verse. 30.

[World 3424] [Captivity 23] IN the three and twentieth year of Nebuchad-nezzar, or the three and twentieth of the first Captivity, for these run parallel, Nebuzaradan Captain of the Guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty five persons; it may be this was in revenge of the base usage of Gedaliah, and the Chaldeans that were with him: And here is the last blow of the Jews given by the Babylonian, and now is Judea and Jerusalem in full and complete Captivity.

PSAL. CXXXVII.

AND here it may not be impertinent to take in the 137 Psalm, which describeth the posture and sorrow, and soorn of these captived ones, as they sat in Babel.

1 CHRON. II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX.

[Captivity 24] NOR may it be unproper in this place to read and view again these [Captivity 25] Chapters of the first of Chronicles: It is true indeed, that they and [Captivity 26] their Texts broken in pieces might be laid to be read in other places, as was [Captivity 27] said before, as those Genealogies and Stories that are recited else-where in [Captivity 28] Scripture, to be laid with those places where they are mentioned; and those [Captivity 29] that are not mentioned again in Scripture to be laid with the Stories of such [Captivity 30] times as the best evidence or probability will tell when they came to pass, or [Captivity 31] were in being: Those Texts that tell of Plantations of Cities or Countries, [Captivity 32] to be laid in that place in the Book of Joshua that relateth the dividing of the Land, as was done there: Those that draw long Pedegrees to conclude in some famous man, as the Pedegree of Korah to Samuel, Chap. 6. these to be brought in at the Story of that famous man. Thus might these Genealogies and Chapters be taken up: But since, Chap. 9. 1. telleth that these Genealogies were written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah that were captived; and since divers places in these Chapters speak of the Captivity, and of these latter times; and since the reading of these Chapters after the Story of Jerusalem's Captivity, is as it were a short review of the planting, and settling, and growing of that Nation in that Country, out of which the Story of the Captivity hath told the Reader they were now removed; it may be very methodical and proper upon these considerations, and very profitable to take in these Chapters, and to read them here again.

EZEK. XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV, XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII.

[World 3434] [Captivity 33] THIS thirty third year of the first Captivity, and of Nebuchad-nezzar, [Captivity 34] was the five and twentieth of the Captivity of Jeconiah and Ezekiel. And now the Lord showeth the Prophet a new Temple, bigger then all the old Jerusalem, and a new Jerusalem bigger then all the Land of Canaan; by these very dimensions showing that these things cannot literally, but must spiritually be understood.

EZEKIEL XXIX. from verse. 17. to the end. And XXX. to verse. 20.

[World 3436] [Captivity 35] THIS seven and twentieth year of his Captivity Ezekiel hath another Prophesy against Egypt, and this is the last we have of this Prophet; and it is laid here, though it should have been last in the Book, that all the Prophesies against Egypt might come together. Nebuchad-nezzar had lately taken Tyrus, and it had cost him very dear; and this year he taketh Egypt, as the pay of his Soldiers for that service: And now is Babylon entire Monarch of all the World, and Nebuchad-nezzar become the golden head; Egypt the only Kingdom that opposed him being subdued.

DANIEL II, III, IV.

[World 3437] [Captivity 36] NEBUCHAD-NEZZAR now come to his height, hath a dream of the four Monarchies, of the tree cut down, &c. grows proud, and will be worshipped for a God. The three Princes of Judah live in the fire; they were now at the least 40 years old, and therefore improperly, but commonly called the three children.

This year is called the second year of the Kingdom of Nebuchad-nezzar, Dan. 2. 1. not of his first being King, but of his entire Monarchy, when Egypt, the only potent Prince and Nation that stood against him, was now subdued. So the first year of Cyrus is to be understood, Ezr. 1. 1. not the first year of his being King, but the first year of his universal Monarchy, as the very next verse explaineth it, The Lord God hath given me all the Kingdoms of the Earth.

• Some part of this year is Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 37] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 38] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 39] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 40] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 41] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 42] Nebuchad-nezzar mad.
• [Captivity 43] [Captivity 44] Nebuchad-nezzar restored to his wits and Kingdom again.

[Captivity 45] 2 KINGS XXV. verse. 27, 28, 29, 30. JEREMY LII. verse. 31, 32, 33, 34.

[World 3446] NEbuchad-nezzar dieth, and Evil-merodach reigneth. This is the thirty [Captivity 46] seventh year of the Captivity of Jeconiah. On the five and twentieth [Captivity 47] day of the twelfth month Evil-merodach bringeth him out of [Captivity 48] prison, and on the seven and twentieth day he promoted him above all the [Captivity 49] Kings of Babel, and feedeth him all his life; it may be Nebuchad-nezzars seven [Captivity 50] years madness and misery had wrought some humility and gentleness upon [Captivity 51] this his Son. Jeconiah was now fifty five years old, and had endured seven [Captivity 52] and thirty years imprisonment, and now the Lord releaseth him, and he nameth [Captivity 53] Salathiel as his next heir to David's Throne and Principality, for Jeconiah [Captivity 54] had no heir of his own: The time of the three Babylonian Kings, that [Captivity 55] took up the whole space of that Monarchy, are easily to be collected by the [Captivity 56] Scripture; namely, Nebuchad-nezzar to have reigned five and forty years current, [Captivity 57] Evil-merodach three and twenty current, and Belshazzar three. The [Captivity 58] first is plain by this, that the seven and thirtieth of Jeconiah is called Evilmerodachs [Captivity 59] first. The last will be made plain by and by, and the apparency of [Captivity 60] the second will result from both these. Evil-merodach by the Septuagint in [Captivity 61] Jer. 52. is called Ulamadachar; but he is called far nearer to his own name by [Captivity 62] them in 2 King. 25. Josephus calleth him Abilamaridochus Antiq. lib. 10. cap. 12. [Captivity 63] There is a general silence in Scripture of anything done in his time, besides [Captivity 64] his enlarging of Jeconiah; whereas there are very wondrous and remarkable [Captivity 65] matters mentioned and recorded to have been done in Babylon in the time of [Captivity 66] Nebuchad-nezzar his father and of Belshazzar his Son.

[World 3468] [Captivity 67] Belshazzar reigneth three years.

DANIEL VII.

IN this first of Belshazzar Daniel seeth the Vision of the four Kingdoms that troubled the World, but especially the Church, from the first rising of Nebuchad-nezzar, till the coming of the everlasting Kingdom of Christ in the Gospel, viz. Babylonian, Mede-Persian, Grecian, and Syrogrecian; All the time of the Kingdoms before the Babylonian is not meddled withal, because handled before along in the Bible, and all the times of the Roman State, after the coming of Christ is not meddled withal neither, but left to be treated of by a beloved Disciple, as these are by a beloved Prophet, viz. in the Revelation.

The dislocation of this Chapter will easily be spied by any eye that looketh but upon the two Chapters next before it; for the fifth speaks of Belshazzar's end of reign, and this of his beginning; and the sixth speaks of matters done in Darius his time, which was after Belshazzar's death, and this of matters done in the first of Belshazzers reign; but the reason of this dislocation is almost as conspicuous as the dislocation itself; and that is, because the Historical things of this Book are set by themselves first, and the visionary or prophetical things afterward.

[Captivity 68] [Belshazzar 2] In this second of Belshazzar there is no particular occurrence mentioned.

DANIEL V.

[World 3470] [Captivity 69] [Belshazzar 3] BABYLONS Sins are now come to the full, Belshazzar toppeth them up, by abuse of the Vessels of the House of God at a drunken and Idolatrous Feast, to the despite and scorn of him that owed them, and to the grief of those that had concernment in them.

Hereupon that Divine hand that had written the two Tables for a Law to his people, writeth the doom of Babel and Belshazzar upon the wall, viz. the ruin of these his enemies: This turneth the night of the Kings pleasure into fear unto him, as Isaiah had Prophesied of him long ago, Isaiah 21. 4. and Jeremy, Jer. 50. 43. The Wise Men of Babylon are become fools, and cannot read this writing though it were in their own Language; Daniel readeth and interpreteth it, and that both in an Hebrew and a Chaldee construction, for the words were both Languages, Mene, Mene, He hath numbered and finished; Tekel, in Chaldee. He hath weighed. In Heb. Thou art too light; Parsin, in Heb. The Persians; Paresin, in Chaldee. Dividing: and Daniel interprets it according to the extent of the words in both Tongues, for both Hebrews and Chaldeans were concerned though differently in the issue of the matter.

Presently the enemy that lay about the Town began to storm, and the Sentinels and Watch-men in the Watch Towres give the Alarm; Arise ye Princes, and anoint the Shield, see Isaiah 21. 5. And one Post runs to meet another, to show the King of Babylon that his City is taken at one end, Jer. 51. 31. and that night is Belshazzar slain. And Darius the Median took the Kingdom, being sixty two years old; and so it appears he was born in the year of Jehoia • ims and Jehoiachins captivity; and thus did the Lord provide, that in that very year when the Babylonian was most busy to captive and destroy, the captiver and destroyer of Babylon should be born. The Reader will here observe in the Chronicle in the Margin, that the third of Belshazzar proves but the sixty ninth year of the Captivity, and not the seventy. But if he do but withal observe, that part of Jehoiakim’s third was properly the beginning of those seventy years, he will also see that part of Belshazzar's third was in the like reckoning some of the seventieth year, and the rest of that year was taken up in Cyrus and Darius settling the Monarchy before the Decree for building Jerusalem come forth.

Cyrus the Persian was joined with Darius the Median in the expedition against Babel, and so in the rule of the Monarchy when they had obtained it; and therefore the Prophet Isaiah describeth the enemies of Babel, by a Chariot with a couple of Horse-men, a Chariot of Asses, and a Chariot of Camels, Isaiah 21. 7. 9. and Daniel interprets the hand-writing on the wall, that the Babylonian Monarchy should be divided betwixt the Median and the Persian: But Darius only carrieth the name here, because he was far the older man, and because indeed he was Cyrus his Grand-father: If we may conjecture anything from the Heathen Writers. They speak of Astyages the Median King, who had one only Daughter, called Mandane, and she the Mother of Cyrus by Cambyses the King of Persia, vid. Xenoph. Herod. Justin. Now this being the general consent of all the Writers of the best repute among the Heathen, that there was no King of Media at that time but only Astyages, Cyrus his Grand-father; we may very well conclude that this Darius and their Astyages were all one, and that Darius because of his Grand-fathership did bear the name of the Royalty, though Cyrus in this conquest had equal share with him, and was for other victories a Conqueror beyond him. Not to insist upon those mixtures of fabulousness that the Heathens have invented for the inhancing of the credit of Cyrus, as they were used to do about men that were the first raisers of a Kingdom; as that his Grand-father Astyages delivered him to Harpagus a Noble Man, as soon as he was born to be made away: that Harpagus afraid of such a Fact, delivered him to the Kings chief Shepherd for such a purpose; that he laid and left the infant in a wood: that it was there nourished by a Bitch: that the Shepherds wife took it home and nursed it, and exposed an infant of her own instead of it, &c. To omit these things which were invented only for the honor of the beginning of the Persian Empire; we may safely take up that relation which is unanimously given by all their Historians, and in which there can be no flattery at all suspected, and that is of the Pedigree and descent of Cyrus, and the names and qualities of his Parents, and so they give him for the son of Cambyses the King of Persia, and of Mandane the Daughter and only child of Astyages King of Media, and so was he heir to both the Kingdoms.

Now upon the conquest of Babylon, Darius, or Astyages plat-forms the Government of that Monarchy under one hundred and twenty Governors, in the one hundred and twenty Provinces that belonged to it: And above these he set a Triumvirate, or three Princes to be supervisors to them, and to take their accounts both of Tribute and Affairs. Daniel's knownness in Babylon, which was newly taken for his divine and wonderful wisdom and spirit, bringeth him to be one of these three: and that promotion and his singular carriage in it bringeth him into envy, and that into the Lions Den, &c. This occurrence may be conceived to have been presently after the conquest of Babel, even in the compass of that year upon these grounds.

• 1. Because Darius it is like would form the Government of his Monarchy as soon as he had it, and Daniel would not be long unenvied when promoted.
• 2. It is very probable that Darius reigned but a little beyond this year.
• 3. The writing of this Chapter in the Chaldee Tongue, may be some argument that this occurrence befell Daniel while he was in Chaldea.

DANIEL VIII.

THE first and second Verses of this Chapter plainly show, that Belshazzar reigned but three years, for it telleth that in the third year of Belshazzar, Daniel was in Shushan, the royal City of Persia. It cannot be imagined that he was there in Belshazzar's life time, for his preferment and residence was in Babylon till Babylon fell; but his coming thither was by the transporting of him thither by the Persian Monarch after he had conquered Babylon, who as it appeareth by verse. 27. had preferred him there, and interested him in the Kings employment.

This is called the third year of Belshazzar, purposely that we might learn to give the first year of Cyrus its proper date. Belshazzar was dead and gone, and Darius had fashioned the Babylonian Monarchy into another Government: Daniel had been cast into the Lions Den in Babylon, and was now removed to the Court of Persia: Cyrus and Darius had ruled all for a certain space, and yet is this Chapter and the occurrences in it dated by this, that it was the third year of Belshazzar; partly that we might learn to reckon the first of Cyrus and Darius, not the very year that Babylon fell, but the year after; and partly, that we might observe how in the very year that the Medes and Persians destroy Babel, the Lord revealeth to Daniel the destruction of the Medes and Persians, and the two Monarchies after them.

All the Chapters in Daniel, from Chap. 2. verse. 4. to the beginning of this Chapter are written in the Chaldee Tongue, and from the beginning of this Chapter to the end of the Book he writeth in Hebrew; for the affairs that fell under the Chaldean Monarchy he hath registered in the Chaldean Tongue; but now that Kingdom is destroyed, he will have no more to do with that Language, but thence forward he applies himself to write his own native Tongue the Hebrew, seeing that God would not have the Persicke, under which Language he now was, to be the original of any part of Scripture.

DANIEL IX.

DANIEL knowing from Jeremiah's Prophesy, that the seventy years of Captivity were now fully expired, addresseth himself to God by prayer for their return: He receiveth not only a gracious answer to his desire, but a Prediction of what times should pass over his people till the death of Christ; namely, seventy weeks, or seventy times seven years, or four hundred and ninety. This space of time the Angel divideth into three unequal parts.

• 1. Seven sevens, or forty nine years, to the finishing of Jerusalem's Walls.
• 2. Sixty two sevens, or four hundred thirty four years, from that time till the last seven.
• 3. The last seven in the latter half of which Christ Preacheth, viz. three years and an half, and then dieth, &c.

The twenty seventh Verse therefore is to be read thus: He shall confirm the Covenant with many in the one week, and in half that week he shall cause Sacrifice and Oblation to cease, &c. So that from this year to the death of Christ are four hundred ninety years; and there is no cause, because of doubtful Records among the Heathen, to make a doubt of the fixedness of this time, which an Angel of the Lord hath pointed out with so much exactness.

DANIEL X, XI, XII.

DANIEL mourning for the hindrance of the Temple, seeth Christ as John did in Patmos: And hath a Revelation of the condition of his own people, under their powerful Enemies, till the madness of Antiochus Epiphanes was over: He should violate the Sanctuary, and cause Religion and Moses Law to lie in the dirt for a time, two Times, and half a time, or three years and an half, or one thousand two hundred and ninety days; But he that waiteth and liveth to see five and forty days more, or till those one thousand two hundred and ninety days be made up one thousand three hundred and thirty five days, he should see an end of Antiochus.

Artaxerxes Ahasuerus.

[World 3474] [Artax. Ahasuerus 1] The building of the Temple lieth forgot and forlorn by the command of Artaxerxes Ahasuerus the present King of Persia: Hereupon divers of the Jews that had gone up to Jerusalem in the first of Cyrus, return back again in this Kings reign, to their old residence in Babylonia or in Persia again.

[Artax. Ahasuerus 2] The building of the Temple lieth still quite forlorn.

EZRA V. verse. 1. And HAGGAI I.

[World 3489] [Artaxerxes Ahasuerus 2] IN this second year of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, Haggai beginneth to Prophesy, and checketh the people's not caring to build the Temple; especially those hireling Jews that are spoken of, Ezra 4. 5. that were bribed by the Enemy, to give council against the building, and that were still saying, The time is not yet come that the house should be built.

On the twenty fourth day of the same month, the preparation for the building begins; with the twelfth verse of Hag. 1. read Ezra 5. verse. 2.

HAGGAI II. to verse. 10.

IN the seventh month, on the twenty one day of the month, Haggai foretells the glory of this second Temple; and speaketh this to divers that had seen Solomon's Temple standing.

ZECHARY I. to verse. 7.

IN the eighth month Zechariah begins to prophesy.

HAGGAI II. from verse. 10. to the end.

IN the ninth month, on the twenty fourth day of it, they begin to lay stones in the Temple wall, and to raise the building: For from the twenty fourth day of the sixth Month they had only prepared materials. On this day Haggai hath two Prophesies.

ZECHARY I. from verse. 7. to end. And CHAP. II, III, IV, V, VI.

IN the eleventh month, on the fourteenth day, Zechariah seeth Christ riding on a Horse, and Angels like Horses attending him: He seeth a vision of four horns, that should seek to scatter Judah, Rehum, Shimshai, Tatnai, Shether Bosnai, and four carpenters to break those horns, Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah: He seeth Jerusalem ready to be measured, but let alone because the compass of it should be boundless: He seeth the garments of the High Priesthood tattered and poor, but new ones found out by the Lord, in figure of a glorious Ministry under the Gospel; Christ the corner stone with seven Eyes. The Church, seven golden Candlesticks; and the ministry of the Church of Jews and Gentiles, two Olive Trees, emptying themselves into those Candlesticks; A flying roll of the length and breadth of the porch of the Temple, full of curses; wickedness in an Ephah [the greatest measure in use settled in Babylon, &c.

EZRA V. from verse. 3. to end. And VI. to verse. 14.

[Artaxerxes Darius 3] THE Enemies of the Jews under a pretended officiousness to the King, but upon an intent malice against the Temple, by Letters to Darius, seek to hinder it, but by a special providence it proves occasion of the more advancing of it: Hitherto had the Jews built only upon the encouragement of the Prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, now they have a Commission from the King.

ZECHARY VII, VIII.

[World 3491] [Artaxerxes Darius 4] IN the fourth year of Darius, in the ninth month which is Chisleu, on the fourth day of the month, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , The Congregation in Babel sent to Jerusalem to inquire concerning their Fasts, whether they should continue them, now the Temple was begun, and was so forward in building, or lay them down.

They used these several Fasts:

First, In the fourth month, because then the City broken up, Jerem. 52. 6.

Secondly, In the fifth month, because in that month the Temple was fired, 2 King. 25. 8.

Thirdly, In the seventh month, because in that Gedaliah was slain, and all the Jews with him scattered, Jer. 41. 1.

Fourthly, In the tenth month, Zech. 8. 19. because in that month the siege began about Jerusalem, 2 King. 25. 1.

So that by the intent and occasion of all those solemn Fasts, which referred all of them to the last and final stroke and ruin of Jerusalem by the Babylonian, and nothing at all to the first Captivity of Jehoiakim, or Jeconiah, it is apparent that the seventy years mentioned to have been the length of these solemn days and duties are to be understood and reckoned from the very same time and occasion, as was observed before.

[Artaxerxes Darius 5] The Temple goeth well forward, and the work receiveth no interruption, but prospereth.

EZRA CHAP. VI. from verse. 14. to the end.

[World 3493] [Artax. Darius 6] IN the sixth year of Darius, on the third day of the month Adar, the Temple is finished, and the Dedication of it solemnly kept.

EZRA VII, VIII.

[World 3494] [Artax. Darius 7] ON the first day of this seventh year of Darius, Ezra setteth up from Babylon to go to Jerusalem, Ezra 7. ver. 9.

On the ninth, tenth, and eleventh days he musters his Company, and keeps a Fast at the River Ahava, Ezra 8. ver. 15, 23.

On the twelfth day he beginneth to march, ver. 31.

On the fourteenth day the Passover is solemnly kept at Jerusalem.

Ezra cometh to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, or the month Ab, and on the fourth day delivereth out upon weight all the Gold and Silver that he had brought with him for an Offering, from the King, from his Princes, and from Israel in Babel.

Ezra was Uncle to Joshua that was now High Priest, Chap. 7. 1. with 1 Chron. 6. 14. His father Seraiah was slain at the sacking of Jerusalem, 2 King. 25. 18. seventy five years ago. Ezra was then very young, if so be he were then born.

EZRA IX, X.

REST and prosperity, which the returned Jews have a little enjoyed, hath bred corruption amongst them, by making mixed Marriages with the Nations amongst whom they lived. This, Ezra reformeth, and causeth them to put away their Wives; which were a great multitude; only four men opposed the business, two Levites, and two others: and to such a sense is verse. 15. of Chap. 10. to be read; Only Jonathan the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah the son of Tiknah, stood against this matter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Meshullan and Shabbethai helped them, weigh verse. 16. and it enforceth this translation.

The meeting about this matter was on the twentieth day of the ninth month, and then they chose Elders to see the work carried on: they begin to sit upon it the first day of the tenth month, and have finished the business by the first day of the first month, Chap. 10. 14, 16, 17.

This matter was done in the seventh year of Darius, or Artaxerxes, the same year that Ezra came to Jerusalem, as the Text seemeth to carry it on, unless by the strange writing of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 verse. 16. the Holy Ghost would hint Darius his tenth. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : Let the learned judge.

ZECHARY IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV.

[Artax. Darius 8] FROM this action of Ezra, of reforming their mixed Marriages, which [Artax. Darius 9] most likely was in Darius his seventh, there is a silence of anything [Artax. Darius 10] done till Darius his twentieth, and then Nehemiah begins to stir. In this [Artax. Darius 11] time therefore, which was the space of twelve years, we may very well conceive [Artax. Darius 12] that Zacharias was prophe • ying among the people, and helping forward the [Artax. Darius 13] Reformation: and since there is no date to direct us otherwise we may [Artax. Darius 14] very well take up his 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Chapters, in which he Prophesieth [Artax. Darius 15] very plainly and fully of many things concerning Christ, and the [Artax. Darius 16] time of his coming: as of the Conversion of Paul, and the Gospel beginning [Artax. Darius 17] at Hadrach and Damascus, and of Antioch in Hamath, entertaining the [Artax. Darius 18] Gospel of Christ riding into Jerusalem upon an Ass, Chap. 9. 1, 9. of his [Artax. Darius 19] confounding the three Shepherds the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Esseans: his being • old for thirty pieces of Silver, Chap. 11. 8. 12. his Disciples scattered, Chap. 13. 7. divers of Jerusalem mourning over him whom they pierced, Chap. 12. and the rest, and their City and Temple perishing through unbelief, Chap. 11. 1. &c.