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INTRODUCTION.
CHRISTIAN READER, GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son. The whole mythology of the gentile world is built upon the tradition, that God has spoken to men. The wide diffusion of science, and the discoveries made by universal travel, have established the common sentiment, that the Egyptians, the Brahmins, the Chinese, all expected a Messiah, and expected him from heaven. Hence he is denominated LIGHT by the Egyptians, and VISHNOO by the Hindoos.
God is a being supreme in power, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love; and how much soever he may hide things not essential for mortals to know, yet he cannot see a world of intelligent beings, grovelling in darkness, groaning in anguish, guilt and death, without extending the compassion essential to his nature. He who has taught all parents to give the best advice in their power to their children, could not assuredly send Adam, his first-born son, into a world of woes, of pains and deaths, without a covenant, without his promised presence, without the hopes and earnests of a future world.
And if so, to whom should he give that revelation, but to the great fathers of the human race, who could not but have paternal regards for the happiness of posterity. At what time should he give it, but in the early ages, that it might be conveyed by the wandering families to every part of the earth, and be everywhere attested, by traditions, by altars, and by monuments of piety and devotion.
All those altars are demonstrations of a divine revelation. They exhibit a satisfaction for sin, to propitiate an offended Deity; for man, burdened with guilt, could never think of burning a lamb, or of slaying a son for his sin, if some notions had not been given him by revelation, that propitiatory sacrifices must be offered, and his soul purified by the washing of water, and the sprinkling of atoning blood. Nay more: however dark and degenerate the wicked might be, devout men have understood from the beginning, that “the ritual law was a shadow of good things to come.” Creation is the grand mirror which reflects the perfections of the invisible God. His wisdom shines in all his works; his overflowing goodness and love are seen in providing food for every creature, and in clothing adapted to every clime. Yet, strange to tell, while he is blessing all, men are cursing one another; while, as a divine parent he is preserving all, the nations are destroying one another, by revengeful wars and with ingenious malice far beyond that of the wild beasts. The great theatre of universal history exhibits a world in full revolt against the laws of heaven, and in every possible form of crime.
Is it then contrary to the laws of nature, which attach appropriate pains to intemperance; to the operations of providence, which reveal the anger of God against sin; to the laws of criminal justice, which have ever claimed divine authority, that God should require a satisfaction for the sin of the world, a satisfaction which becomes the grandeur of his perfections, and which manifests his infinite abhorrence of moral evil.
And what scheme of satisfaction was ever presented to the world like that arising out of the Mediatorial glory of Christ? The Redeemer clothed with our flesh, and suffering for man! The divinity dwelling in him to give dignity to his person, and merit to his passion! If our ruin was by one, our recovery is by another. If our fall was without our fault, our redemption is without our help. He bore the curse he died the death he burst the tomb he ascended in triumph to heaven he inspired the apostles to preach to the gentiles he formed churches to nourish the converts he has opened a fountain for the ablution of crimes he regenerates the heart he prepares a heaven for the weary pilgrims. Could the poor fishermen of Galilee reason out so fine a scheme, and justify the ways of God to man?
St. Paul remarks, and remarks with emphasis, that when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman. There was no other age but that of the Roman power, in which the Saviour could have come with equal advantage. The nations were lost in ignorance, abandoned to superstition and crime; their governments were tyranny, their habits revenge and war.
Was it then by chance, that heaven prepared the way of the Messiah by the Roman conquests, which levelled the mountains and exalted the vallies? Was it by chance, that those conquerors were the most tolerant of all nations to temples of every description? Was it by chance, that the Hebrew prophets spake of the Messiah's sufferings, and represented him in more than forty tragic characters; and against the prejudices of the priests, who contended that their expected King must reign in Jerusalem? Was it by chance, that they spake of the conversion of the gentiles, and all the glory of the latter day? Was it by chance, that the Romans burned Jerusalem, and dispersed the surviving Jews? Was it by chance, that God sent the christian law out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem; that the gospel was like the sun, enlightening the world at once, and that no imperial persecutions could suppress it? Was it by chance, that providence thus gave the comment on prophecy, commanding all men everywhere to repent and embrace the Saviour? If any man want clearer evidence, let him subdue his passions, and devoutly ask it in prayer; for “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.”
The holy Scriptures being the fountain of life, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, and the divine wisdom contained in them a treasure above the wealth of worlds, their preservation has been a subject of divine care, which providence has ever associated with the preservation of the church.
Moses engrossed the Pentateuch, containing the five first books, with his own hand. To this was added by some holy man a postscript, stating the circumstances of his death. Copies of the pentateuch were made for the kings of Israel, for reading in the temple, and in all the synagogues. And when the book of the law had been concealed in the temple, to preserve it from the sacrilegious hands of idolatrous princes, and was found again in the reign of king Josiah, it afforded unspeakable joy to all good men.
The like care of providence in the preservation of the sacred volume has appeared in all the dispersions of the Jews; for though the law and all the sacred books in the temple were burned by the Chaldeans, yet Tobit had a copy in Nineveh, and in his peregrinations among the Medes; for he reminds the Jews of the words of Amos, who says, “Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; for I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:10-12.
The Samaritan Pentateuch holds a rank of coëqual authority with the copy preserved by the Jews. The variations are few; and in some places the LXX have followed the Samaritan in preference to the Hebrew. The characters of the Samaritan Pentateuch are very splendid, and are said to be those used by the hand of God in writing the awful sentence against the Babylonian empire over against king Belshazzar, as in the fifth chapter of Daniel, which accounts for the inability of the wise men to read the inscription.
The Psalms, chiefly composed by David, but some of them the production of holy men from the time of Moses till the return of the Jews from captivity, contain the finest copies of the human heart, and the happiest language of faith and piety. Many of them are martial odes, praying for victory, while others excite the church to forget her troubles, in the sublimest effusions of sacred song.
The holy Prophets composed their own books, in a style of loose, easy, flowing poësy; but many parts are purely prosaic. Assuredly, when we consider the holiness of their lives, the grandeur and dignity of their ministry, their unwearied labours to save their country, and their divine wisdom and learning, they were the most illustrious order of men that ever adorned human nature. They were stoned and martyred by the idolaters; but when providence had accomplished their predictions, posterity built them monuments of marble.
It could not however be expected, that treasures so great as those in the Hebrew scriptures, respecting the creation of the world, the order of patriarchal society, the deluge of Noah, and the glorious beams of divine revelation, should remain concealed in the Hebrew tongue. They were designed to illuminate the darkness of a benighted world, and to shew us the path of life.
The Greek version of the LXX has at all times ranked in authority next to the Hebrew text, being a version authorised by the great Sanhedrim in Jerusalem. Of this version, Eusebius in his Preparation of the Gospel, a work now before me, (ed. à Paris, 1528) gives the following abridged account in a letter from Areteas to his brother Philocrates. He there reports, that Demetrius Phalereus, librarian to Ptolemy Philadelphus, being charged to enrich the king's library at Alexandria with every book in the world, had apprised the king that the Hebrew laws merited a place in his collection; to which Ptolemy replied, that he should hold him alone responsible to see it executed. Demetrius said he must first translate them, those laws being written in a character and in a language unknown to the Egyptians. On hearing this, the king wrote to the high priest, accompanied with a suite of valuable presents, and presents connected with the liberation of all the Hebrew slaves then in Egypt, for whose emancipation the king paid ten drachms each.
The question, whether the LXX translated only the law, as stated in the letter of Areteas, or whether they translated the whole of the Old Testament, remains in doubt. The general opinion is, that they did not translate the whole. Be that as it might, 170 years before the birth of Christ, the whole Greek version was read in the synagogues of the Hellenistic Jews, and under the name of the Seventy.
The sacred books which rank among the Jews next to the holy scriptures are the Targums, or Chaldaic paraphrases. When the people returned from Babylon, having been widely dispersed in the provinces of that empire, they had very much forgotten their own language; and even before their captivity, the language of the law of Moses was become less colloquial. When the law therefore was read, an interpreter stood by the reader, and gave the sense in the vulgar tongue.
The most approved of these oral interpretations or paraphrases were gradually noted down, and collections of them were made from time to time. Much diversity of opinion prevails as to the dates which ought to be assigned to the several Targums. Of the ten paraphrases now extant on different parts of the Old Testament, eight of them at the least have been compiled since the christian era. The date of the Compilation, however, does not necessarily affect the antiquity of the Readings or Exposition; all the Targums containing many glosses and interpretations of high antiquity, and which had long been in use in the Synagogues.
The Targum of ONKELOS, on the pentateuch, is the most ancient, classical and pure. It renders the Hebrew text word for word; and in style closely resembles that of Daniel and Ezra, in the Aramæan dialect. On these accounts Onkelos is supposed by some to have flourished near the time of the Babylonish Captivity; by others he is asserted to have been a proselyte to the Jewish Religion, about 50 years before Christ.
The next we shall notice is the Targum of JONATHAN ben UZZIEL on the prophets; that is (according to the Jewish classification of the sacred writings) on Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, called the former prophets, and on Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 minor prophets, styled the later prophets. He is thought to have been a distinguished rabbi in the school of Hillel, and to have flourished a little before our Saviour's time. But on these subjects, learned men load us with volumes of opinions and conjectures, which oftener embarrass than relieve research. His style, though not so pure as that of Onkelos, is free from the numerous foreign and barbarous words which disfigure the later Targums. He writes as a man of sense, and repudiates legendary tales.
The Targum on the Pentateuch, falsely ascribed to Jonathan ben Uzziel, and usually called the PSEUDO-JONATHAN, abounds with idle Jewish legends. Although many of the interpretations have doubtless some claim to antiquity, the style is very impure, and it bears evident marks of having been compiled not earlier than the 7th century.
The Targum of JERUSALEM derives its name from the vulgar tongue in which it was composed. It is a paraphrase on select portions of the pentateuch, in very corrupt Chaldee, containing numerous Greek, Latin, and Persian words. It is thought to be a compilation by several authors, in the 7th or 8th century, and follows the Pseudo-Jonathan in fabulous and legendary tales.
The other Jewish Targums are not entitled to notice here, for want of antiquity. But the Targums written before the christian era are to the unbelieving Jews, like the letters of Bellerophon, letters of their own condemnation; for all those paraphrases speak of the Messiah, and of his kingdom, in the true sense and spirit of the prophets.
Aquila, of Synopè in Pontus, of Hebrew descent, about the year of grace 128, after the labour of twelve years, translated the Hebrew scriptures into Greek. His version is very literal, and often relieves the readings of the LXX, from Hebrew manuscripts, to which he had access. It was allowed to be read in the synagogues; but much of it is now lost.
Symmachus, a Samaritan, ran the career of religious opinions, being successively a Jew, a Christian, an Ebionite. He made a Greek version of the old Testament, less servile than that of Aquila.
Theodotion, a native of Ephesus, and contemporary with Symmachus, made a Greek version with great exactness and purity. His work has been called a version of the LXX. Origen in his Hexapla, or Polyglot Bible, containing six perfect copies, made use of Theodotion to correct the Septuagint. Theodotion's version was allowed to be read in the churches, the language being more modern than that of the LXX, and also of Symmachus. From a copy in my possession, I find the English version, as indeed most others, is verbatim from Theodotion. It is a matter of regret that so little of it now remains.
With a view to correct and guard against numerous errors, arising partly from the negligence of transcribers and partly from marginal readings and glosses being suffered to creep into the sacred text, the indefatigable Origen compiled his Hexapla, so called from the six principal versions therein collated. After completing this great work, however, and before its publication, he put forth his Tetrapla, or four copies in parallel columns, containing the Hebrew text, the version of Aquila, of Symmachus, and of Theodotion. Those works demonstrate the divine repute which the sacred volume has sustained in every age. The following is the order of his columns.
THE HEXAPLA.
Colossians 1. Hebrew text written in Hebrew characters. Colossians 7. The fifth version found at Jericho. Colossians 9. A few books of the seventh version. Colossians 6. The Version of Theodotion. Colossians 2. Hebrew text written in Greek characters. Colossians 3. The Version of Aquila. Colossians 4. The Version of Symmachus. Colossians 5. The Version of the Seventy. Colossians 8. Some books of the sixth version found at Nicople.
THE TETRAPLA
Colossians 4. The Version of Theodotion. Colossians 1. The Version of Aquila. Colossians 3. The Version of the Seventy. Colossians 2. The Version of Symmachus.
The Hexapla, so far as it has escaped the ravages of time, has been printed by Count Montfaucon. It is a work of inconceivable labour, and of incomparable merit. It became the standard work from which all christians took their copies, and made their translations.
But from the first age of christianity, the scriptures were translated into the Syriac, the Egyptian, the Persic, the Armenian, and the Latin languages. It was Papal Rome alone that denied the Bible in the vulgar tongue. The Copts of Egypt had the scriptures in their tongue, which is said to be a compound of the Greek and the old Egyptian languages.
Of the numerous Latin versions Jerome says, every one translated according to his pleasure, adding or subtracting as he pleased. When he entered on the great work of the Vulgate, or authorised latin version, his first care was to correct the errors of former copies, which had slipped in, either by ignorance or by negligence. In the Hebrew language he had been instructed by learned Jews, and he made the Hexapla of Origen the basis of his work. The variations of many readings in the versions, prompted him to give the latin church a well-collated version in purity of style.
His extensive learning, his unwearied application, his superior judgment, and the advantages he enjoyed, then a resident at Rome, of consulting learned jews and christians, gave his translation a character which ultimately commanded universal approbation. Yet in his preface he complains of the enemies which rose up against him. Some were jealous of his reputation, some accused him of corrupting the sacred text, others said he had preferred the acceptations of the jews in certain texts to those of the apostles. Under these circumstances, it was some time before prepossessions yielded to merit, and allowed the Vulgate to be generally read in the churches.
Since the invention of printing, the Bible has found its way into all christian languages; and now the British and Foreign Bible Society, the most illustrious of all christian societies, has almost completed its grand scheme of causing the sunbeams of divine revelation to shine in all the dialects of the heathen world. The Bible restores to those poor benighted isles and nations, and the wanderers on earth, the religion of their patriarchal fathers made perfect in Christ. it supersedes moral evil by a divine code of injunctions, to love their neighbour, to abstain from revenge, and to overcome evil with good. It uplifts the veil of futurity, and chases afar the gloom of death by demonstrations of life and immortality. It reveals a God in all his moral grandeur, a Mediator in all his glory, and shews the human kind their pristine excellence, their present misery, and the way to regain more than they have lost. In a word, the Bible presents us with a religion every way worthy of God to reveal, and of man to embrace. Reader, says Jerome, love the holy scriptures, and wisdom will love thee. After the infinite cares of Origen in the east, of Jerome at Rome, and Montanus in Spain, to give us correct and purified copies of the holy scriptures, all objections about the various readings of the sacred text can have but small weight. They are very much superseded by those great and standard editions to which the church can with confidence appeal. It is a fact, if all the various readings of either verbs or nouns were expunged from the sacred volume, the suppression would not affect a single doctrine of revelation.
The Author begs to close this address by stating, that the present work is the result of his study and labour for about forty years. Favoured with health, and a biblical library, he has spent his mornings in reading the original scriptures, with versions and comments. His favourite authors have been Jerome, Chrysostom, and Theophylact of Bulgaria. Of the reformers and catholics, he has studied Munster, Valla, Lyranus, Vatablus, Drusius, Castellio, Clarius, Calvin, Beza, Scaliger, Casaubon, Cameron, Cappelus, Grotius, Gagæus, Estius, Sa, Menochius, Tirinus, Heinsius, Gorannus, Lightfoot, Marlorat, &c. &c. &c. From these, the first and best of authors, he professes to have culled honey, like the bee, leaving the particular flowers less distinguished; but all their names appear as authorities of criticism.
To English commentators his references are few, lest he should be a plagiarist from others, which real industry has no need to be. He conceives it to be the duty of a commentator, treading a beaten path, to give ancient truths the drapery of living language, like the renovated verdure of the year.
Regarding revelation as the healing remedy for the evils under which we groan, his first aim has been to aid the devout christian in the duties of the closet, and to assist his progress in divine attainments.
But as the labouring class of men are now supplied with bibles without either note or comment, the biblical reader is exposed to painful darkness with regard to ancient geography, manners and customs of the east, primitive names, and historic events. Not having a local knowledge of Judea, of its adjacent deserts and climate, he loses much of the fine apostrophes of the prophets, and the sublime and beautiful in their descriptions. A commentary to such a man is like the star of Bethlehem, which guides him to the Saviour, and enriches his mind with the collective wisdom of past ages. It is a treasure of covenant grace, which he gives in charge to his children.
Another devout aim of the author has been to assist the candidate for the sanctuary to the utmost of his power; for the conscious mind, called to save souls, and defend the truth, is worthy of all the aid that science can afford.
A copious index is added, which may serve as a biblical dictionary, and supply places where comments were not thought essential.
JOS. SUTCLIFFE. BRIGHTON, January 1 st, 1834.
TO THE READER.
I have now in my seventy fourth year, and amidst a multitude of other avocations and duties, completed this Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. If I may confide in the numerous testimonials which the work has received in the course of publication, from learned and judicious friends, it will prove neither a superfluous offering to the christian public, nor an unwelcome guest in pious families.
Standing now on the verge of a protracted life, when the opinions of men fade away as the declining shadow on the dial, the truths of this blessed book constitute my only hope and confidence. I do more than believe these truths. I have long tested and proved them a sufficient support, under all the vicissitudes of life, and often in the more searching light of an approaching eternity. The recondite studies of the critic and the commentator are nothing in comparison of that eternal life which the scriptures reveal; and which the Holy Spirit, ever answering to the word of God, opens as a fountain of living water in the soul of the believer.
In discussing these subjects I have often poured forth the fulness of my heart; and happy will the reader be, if in the perusal he shall find his heart to glow with corresponding sentiments. Then shall HE who put it into my heart thus to labour, supersede all my defects, and supply all my lack of service, by the illuminations of his own Spirit on the mind of the reader.
Having now been favoured with life and health to close this work, what more can I ask or desire on earth, but to follow the blessed who have died in the Lord. I now see the ministry, in which I have laboured for fifty years, crowded with younger men, the strength and rising hope of the church; and all that my heart can suggest, of blessing, thanksgiving and prayer, is poured out for them. But in the enfeebled efforts of age, and when gleanings become scanty in the hand, the heart holds a trembling balance between the church on earth and the church in heaven.
I often pause to recollect names which appear new to me here; but I never forget the names of WESLEY, VALTON, CROSSE, and a cloud of others; some of whom were fathers to me in my early ministry, and others the companions and friends of more mature and manly labours in the vineyard of the Lord. These are still my dearest friends. I recount their names with strong emotion. Our love was too holy, too heavenly and divine, to admit of separation. Neither life nor death can dissolve the union. They have crossed the flood before me, and I faintly hear their shouts of victory and songs of triumph. But if they triumph, I shall triumph also. Of one heart and one soul, our sorrows and our joys are the same; our hope, our confidence, and our conflicts the same. We laboured often in the same field, and fought under the same standard. It cannot be but that we shall be crowned together in the day of the Lord. Reader! this is the faith that shall qualify thee also to join that general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.
I cannot conclude without acknowledging the high obligation I feel to the Rev. J. W. Morris of Bungay, for kindly undertaking to edit the work, and for his judicious attentions in the revision of the manuscript. Without his valuable assistance in superintending the press, the Commentary could not have been presented to the public in the form which it now assumes.
ROCHESTER, January 14 th 1836.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE BIBLE,
ACCORDING TO CALMET, HELVICUS, AND OTHERS.
(Synchronisms of the Antediluvian Patriarchs are given at the end of Genesis.)
FROM THE TIME OF ABRAHAM TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
Before Christ
1992 Abram born, son of Terah, Genesis 11:27
1982 Sarai born, afterwards wife of Abram
1917 Abram called out of Ur of the Chaldeans
Terah dies at Haran, aged 205 years
Abram called from Haran, & settles at Sechem
1916 Abram goes into Egypt, & Sarai is ensnared
1908 Lot is taken captive by the invasion of Sodom Abram delivers Lot & vanquishes the invaders Melchizedek blesses Abram on his success
The Lord enters into covenant with Abram
1907 Hagar becomes a second wife to Abram
1906 Ishmael born, son of Abram and Hagar
1893 Circumcision instituted, Genesis 17:10
Abram entertains three angels unaware
Sodom & Gomorrah burnt by fire from heaven
1892 Abram leaves Mamre & retires to Beersheba
Isaac born, the son of Abraham and Sarah
1885 Abraham dismisses Hagar & her son Ishmael
1867 Abraham about to offer up his son Isaac
1856 Kingdom of Argo rounded by Inachus
1852 Abraham sends for a wife for Isaac
1850 Abraham marries Keturah
1842 Shem dies, the son of Noah, Genesis 11:10-11
1833 Rebekah continues barren for nineteen years
1832 Jacob & Esau born, Isaac being 60 years old
1822 Memnon the Egyptian, the inventor of letters
1817 Abraham dies, aged 175 years, Genesis 25:7
1813 Heber dies at the age of 464 years, Genesis 11.
1800 Covenant of Abraham renewed to Isaac
1792 Deluge of Ogyges, which desolated Attica
1769 Ishmael dies, aged 137 years, Genesis 25:17
1755 Jacob marries Leah and Rachel
1754 Reuben born, son of Jacob and Leah
1753 Simeon born, son of Leah, Genesis 29.
1752 Levi born, son of Leah
1751 Judah born, son of Leah
1741 Joseph born, son of Jacob and Rachel
1735 Jacob leaves Laban and returns to Canaan
1727 Dinah, Jacob's daughter, defiled by Shechem
Benjamin born, son of Rachel, Genesis 35.
1724 Joseph sold into Egypt, aged seventeen
1714 Joseph falsely accused and sent to prison
Shepherds expelled from Egypt
1713 Joseph interprets dreams in prison
1712 Isaac dies, aged 180 years, Genesis 35.
1711 Joseph made governor of Egypt
Beginning of the seven years of plenty
1710 Manasseh born, son of Joseph
1709 Ephraim born, second son of Joseph
1704 Beginning of the seven years of scarcity
1703 Joseph's ten brethren go to Egypt to buy corn
1702 Joseph reveals himself to his brethren
Jacob goes down to Egypt at the age of 130
1698 End of the seven years of famine
1695 Jacob dies in Egypt, aged 147 years
1573 New king in Egypt who knew not Joseph
Job lived about this time, in Arabia
1570 Aaron born, afterwards the highpriest
1567 Moses born, the brother of Aaron
1556 Cecrops founded the kingdom of Athens
1527 Moses kills an Egyptian & flees into Midian
1503 Deluge of Deucalion in Thessaly
1493 Cadmus builds the citadel of Thebes
1487 The Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush
Moses returns to Egypt and meets Aaron
1487 Moses & Aaron demand the liberation of Israel
Pharaoh refuses to let the people go
Miracles fail to convince Pharaoh
Ten plagues inflicted on Pharaoh & his people First, water changed into blood, Exodus 7. Second, frogs sent over all the land
Third, a plague of gnats or lice, Exodus 8. Fourth, of all sorts of flies
Fifth, a murrain upon the cattle
Sixth, boils and sores, Exodus 9.
Seventh, hail, thunder, and fire from heaven Eighth, locusts to devour all the verdure Ninth, a darkness that might be felt
Tenth, death of all the firstborn of Egypt The passover instituted the same night Israel departs from Rameses to Succoth From Succoth to Etham, Numbers 13. Pharaoh overtakes Israel at the Red sea The waters divide and Israel pass over
Pharaoh and his army are drowned in the sea Moses sweetens the bitter waters of Marah Manna sent in the desert of Sin, Exodus 16.
Moses smites the rock at Rephidim
The Amalekites slay the feeble among them Joshua goes forth against the Amalekites Moses meanwhile lifts up his hands in prayer In the third month they arrive at mount Sinai They encamp at mount Sinai above a year Moses ascends the mount to receive the law The people not suffered to approach
Moses continues in the mount forty days Descends with the law writ on two tables Finds the people worshipping a golden calf He destroys the calf & slays 23,000 people God writes his law again on tables of stone
Moses again descends the mount, Exodus xxxiv
His face shines with a divine radiance Moses proposes to erect a tabernacle The people numbered, to 603,550 men
Each taxed half a shekel for the tabernacle
1487 Tabernacle erected first day of the second year Levites consecrated to serve the tabernacle Jethro comes to the camp before it leaves Sinai Israel departs from Sinai & comes to Taberah From thence to Kibroth, three days' journey Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp
Quails sent in great abundance, Exodus 16:13
Aaron and Miriam murmur against Moses
Israel enters the wilderness of Paran
Twelve men sent to examine the promised land
After forty days they bring an evil report They perish in the desert for their unbelief Israel repelled by the Amalekites & Canaanites From Kadesh-barnea they come to the red sea Sedition of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
Israel wanders in the deserts of Arabia 37 yrs Return to Kadesh 39 yrs. after leaving Egypt King of Edom refuses a passage thro' his land Miriam dies at Kadesh, aged 130 years
Moses smites the rock to procure water
He and Aaron forbidden the promised land
Moses raises the brazen serpent at Zalmonah
1447 Sihon refuses a passage to the Israelites
Moses conquers him and the Amorites Og king of Bashan opposes, and is slain Israel encamps in the plains of Moab
Balak king of Moab consults with Balaam
Israel seduced to idolatry at Baal-peor
War against the Midianites, Deuteronomy 4. The covenant with Israel renewed by Moses Five books of Moses written in land of Moab Moses dies at the age of 120 years
Joshua succeeds him, & sends spies to Jericho Israel pass the Jordan on 10th of the 1st month Circumcision and the passover restored
The cloudy pillar and the manna cease
Jericho taken, after sounding with rams' horns Altar erected at mount Ebal by Moses' order Gibeonites make a league with Joshua
1447 Joshua commands sun & moon to stand still
1446 War with the kings of Canaan for six years
Joshua divides their country among the tribes
1441 Gives Caleb the portion the Lord promised
1440 The ark and the tabernacle fixed at Shiloh
Cadmus took 16 letters to Greece, built Thebes
1439 Joshua renews the covenant of God with Israel
Joshua dies at the age of a hundred and ten After him the elders governed nearly 20 years Micah set up a domestic idol and priest
The twelve tribes war against Benjamin
1420 Odin introduces letters into Scandinavia
1409 Israel enslaved 8 yrs. by king of Mesopotamia
1401 Othniel delivers them, & judges them 40 yrs
1339 Israel in servitude to Eglon king of Moab
Third servitude of Israel, under the Philistines
Shamgar effects their deliverance
1281 Fourth servitude, under the king of Hazor
Deborah and Baruch deliver them
1248 Fifth servitude, under the Midianites
1241 Gideon delivers & governs them for 9 years
1232 Abimelech, son of Gideon, slain at Shechem
1228 Tola governs Israel twenty three years
1205 Jair governs Israel twenty two years
1201 Sixth servitude, under Philistia & Ammon
1184 Troy taken, after a siege of ten years
1183 Jephtha delivers the Israelites beyond Jordan
1177 Jephtha dies, and is succeeded by Ibzan
1170 Ibzan dies, Elon succeeds him
1160 Elon dies, Abdon succeeds him
1152 Eli the high priest becomes judge of Israel
Forty years servitude under the Philistines
1151 Samuel the prophet born, 1 Samuel 1.
1139 The Lord begins to manifest himself to Samson
1132 Samson resists the Philistines
He defend the Israelites twenty years
1113 Perishes in the ruin of the temple of Dagon
1112 Ark of the Lord taken by the Philistines
Eli the highpriest falls from his seat & dies
1104 Beginning of the kingdom of Lacedæmon Philistines send back the ark with presents Samuel governs Israel nearly forty years
1091 Saul anointed king over Israel, Acts 13:21
1089 War of the Philistines against Saul
Jonathan obtains a victory over them
1081 Birth of David, the son of Jesse, 1 Samuel 14.
1070 Saul at war with the Amalekites
Kingdom of Athens ends with death of Codrus
1059 Samuel anoints David at Bethlehem
1058 David encounters Goliath the Philistine
1057 Saul from envy seeks to destroy David
1056 David retires into the land of Moab
Saul slays Abimelech and other priests
1055 David flees into the wilderness of Ziph
1054 David spares Saul when he entered the cave
1053 Samuel dies, aged 98 years, 1 Samuel 25.
David retires into the wilderness of Paran
Marries Abigail the wife of Nabal
1051 Saul consults witch of Endor in his distress Defeated by the Philistines and kills himself David recovers the captives of Ziklag
David proclaimed king in Hebron
1044 The Ionians emigrate & settle in Asia minor
1043 Jerusalem taken from the Jebusites
1041 David brings the ark to Jerusalem
1040 Desires to build a temple to the Lord
War with the Philistines for about six years
1033 War with the Syrians and the Ammonites
1031 David's misconduct in the matter of Uriah
1030 Nathan's reproof brings him to repentance
1029 Solomon born, son of David and Bathsheba
1026 Absalom kills Amnon in revenge for Tamar
1019 Absalom's rebellion, he is killed by Joab
1017 Destruction of Gibeonites avenged by famine
1013 David numbers the people & displeases God
Pestilence sent as a punishment for his sin
1012 David prepares for building the temple
Rehoboam born, son of Solomon
1011 Adonijah aspires to the kingdom
1011 Solomon proclaimed king by all Israel
1010 David dies, aged 70, having reigned 40 years Abiathar superseded by Zadok the highpriest Joab slain in the temple for treachery
1009 Solomon marries a daughter of king of Egypt
The Lord gives him extraordinary wisdom
1008 Hiram king of Tyre helps to build the temple
Solomon lays the foundation on May 2nd
1004 Tyre rebuilt, Isaiah 23; Joshua 19.
1000 Dedication of Solomon's temple, 2 Chronicles 8.
988 Solomon visited by the queen of Sheba
974 Jeroboam rebels and flees into Egypt
971 Solomon dies, aged fifty eight years
Rehoboam succeeds him, 1 Kings 11:43
He insults the people, & the ten tribes revolt
KINGS OF JUDAH REIGN 388 YEARS.
Before Christ
971 Rehoboam reigns in Jerusalem seventeen years
970 The pious priests flock to him from Samaria
968 Rehoboam and the people forsake the Lord
967 Shishak king of Egypt plunders Jerusalem
954 Rehoboam dies, and is succeeded by Abijam
953 Abijam defeats Jeroboam with great loss
951 Abijam dies, and Asa succeeds him
947 Asa suppresses idolatry in Judah
945 Jehoshaphat born, son of Asa, 2 Chronicles 22.
937 Asa defeats Zerah king of Ethiopia
936 Asa engages Benhadad to invade Israel
920 Jehoram born, son of Jehoshaphat
910 Asa dies, having reigned forty one years
907 Homer and Hesiod, the Greek poets, flourish
906 Jehoshaphat abolishes the idolatry of Asa
903 Ahaziah born, grandson of Jehoshaphat
892 Jehoshaphat goes with Ahab to Ramoth Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped in battle He equips a fleet for Ophir, with Ahaziah
Jehoshaphat is invaded by the Ammonites
Elijah translated in a fiery chariot
885 Jehoshaphat dies, and Jehoram succeeds
884 Jehoram introduces the worship of Baal
Lycurgus becomes the lawgiver of Lacedæmon
883 Jehoram smitten of God with a mortal disease
882 Jehoram dies, having reigned four years
881 Ahaziah succeeds, and reigns only one year
880 Athaliah kills all the royal family but one
Jehoash is secretly preserved in the temple
874 Jehoash placed on the throne by Jehoiada
869 Carthage in Africa is built by Dido
853 Jehoash repairs the temple of the Lord
836 Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, killed by Jehoash
835 Hazael makes war upon Jehoash
Jehoash dies, and is succeeded by Amaziah
823 Amaziah wars against Idumea
822 Amaziah is defeated by Joash king of Israel
Uzziah born, the son of Amaziah
814 Kingdom of Macedonia commences
806 Amaziah king of Judah dies
797 Kingdom of Lydia rounded by Lydus
779 Jotham born, son of Uzziah
754 Isaiah begins to prophesy, Isaiah 6.
Uzziah dies, and his son Jotham succeeds
KINGS OF ISRAEL REIGN 254 YEARS.
Before Christ
971 Jeroboam, son of Nebat, first king of Israel
970 Jeroboam sets up the golden calves
953 He loses 500,000 men in war with Abijam
950 Jeroboam dies, his son Nadab succeeds him
946 Nadab dies, and is succeeded by Baasha
936 Baasha builds Ramah, a fortified town
Benhadad of Damascus invades Samaria
926 Elah succeeds his father Baasha
925 Zimri kills Elah, and takes the kingdom
Omri besieges Zimri in Tirzah
921 Omri reigns alone in the 31st year of Asa
920 Omri builds Samaria, the capital of Israel
914 Omri dies, and is succeeded by Ahab
904 Elijah destroys the prophets of Baal
897 Benhadad king of Syria besieges Samaria
896 Returns to the siege and is defeated at Aphek
895 Ahab unjustly seizes Naboth's vineyard
893 Ahab killed in battle at Ramoth-gilead
892 Ahaziah succeeds, and dies in two years
890 Jehoram succeeds, makes war upon Moab
881 Samaria besieged by Benhadad of Syria
880 Seized with a panic they fled in the night Elisha foretels the death of Benhadad Predicts that Hazael shall be king of Syria Jehoram dangerously wounded in battle
Jehu rebels, and kills Jehoram
Jehu reigns 28 years over Israel
852 Jehu dies, his son Jehoahaz succeeds him
835 Jehoahaz dies, and Joash succeeds him
Elisha the prophet dies about this time
832 Hazael dies, Benhadad succeeds him
822 Joash defeats Amaziah king of Judah
819 Joash dies, after a reign of 41 years
Jonah, Hosea, & Amos prophesied at this time
778 Zachariah succeeds to the throne
768 Shallum kills Zachariah and takes the throne
767 Shallum is killed and succeeded by Menahem
Pul, king of Assyria, invades Israel
757 Menahem dies, his son Pekaiah succeeds
755 Pekaiah is assassinated by Pekah
746 Nineveh besieged by Arbaces and Belesus
743 After a siege of three years Nineveh is taken Sardanapalus burns himself in his palace Arbaces is acknowledged king of Media
KINGDOM OF JUDAH.
Before Christ
754 Isaiah and Hosea continue to prophesy
753 Rome built on the twentieth of April
748 Hezekiah born, son of Jotham
739 Kings of Israel and Syria invade Judah
738 Jotham dies, Ahaz succeeds him
Rezin and Pekah still at war with Judah
Isaiah foretels to Ahaz the birth of Christ
737 The two kings return and spoil the country
736 Idumeans and Philistines invade Judah
Ahaz offers a subsidy to Tiglath-pilezer
732 Syracuse built by a Corinthian colony
722 Ahaz, king of Judah, dies
Hezekiah restores the temple worship
721 Tithes again collected for the priests
First eclipse of the moon on record, Mark 1 9th
718 Gyges succeeds to the throne of Lydia
KINGDOM OF ISRAEL.
Before Christ
743 Belesus becomes king of Babylonia Belesus is called Baladan or Nabonassar Babylonian empire is founded by Belesus Ninus succeeds Sardanapalus in Nineveh Ninus is in scripture called Tiglath-pileser Assyrian empire much reduced under Ninus
736 Tiglath-pileser defeats Rezin king of Damascus
Tiglath invades Israel and makes captives
735 Hoshea slays Pekah, and takes the kingdom
724 Salmanezer succeeds Tiglath in Nineveh
721 Hoshea forms alliance with the king of Egypt
720 Salmanezer besieges Samaria
717 Possesses Samaria, after three years' siege Carries the remaining tribes into captivity Transports them beyond the Euphrates Tobit is carried away to Nineveh, Tobit 1. Kingdom of Israel continued 254 years
KINGDOM OF JUDAH ALONE
Before Christ
710 Hezekiah revolts from the Assyrians
710 Leagues with Egypt against Sennacherib
709 Sennacherib takes several cities of Judah Hezekiah's memorable sickness, Isaiah 38. Isaiah foretels and prescribes his cure
The sun's shadow reclines on the dial of Ahaz
Sennacherib besieges Lachish
Sends Rabshakeh to insult Hezekiah Thousands of his army smitten by an angel Sennacherib retires in disgrace to Nineveh He is put to death by his own sons
708 Esar-haddon succeeds Sennacherib
King of Babylon congratulates Hezekiah Sends also to enquire about the miracle Micah and Nahum begin to prophesy
707 Esar-haddon goes to war with Egypt & Philistia
694 Hezekiah dies, and Manasseh succeeds him
677 Esar-haddon becomes master of Babylon
He unites Assyria and Chaldea into one empire
661 Manasseh is taken and carried to Babylon
658 Byzantium built by a colony of Athenians
653 Holofernes is slain in Judea by Judith
639 Manasseh returns and dies in Jerusalem
Ammon succeeds him, and reigns two years
637 Ammon dies, and is succeeded by Josiah
Zephaniah prophesies during his reign
630 Josiah restores the temple worship
624 Jeremiah begins to prophesy
The Scythians invade Asia minor
623 Draco establishes his laws at Athens
620 Hilkiah finds the book of the law in the temple Josiah collects money for repairing the temple Huldah foretels the calamities of Judah
619 Josiah's magnificent passover
606 Joel prophesies in the reign of Josiah
Josiah opposes the expedition of Necho
Josiah wounded in battle, and dies in Jerusalem
606 Jeremiah wrote Lamentations on his death
Nineveh is taken by Cyaxares
607 Jehoahaz is set on the throne by the people
Is dethroned by Necho king of Egypt
Necho appoints Jehoiakim, son of Josiah
605 Habakkuk prophesies under Jehoiakim
602 Nebuchadnezzar takes Carchemish Invades Palestine and takes Jerusalem Compels Jehoiakim to pay a large tribute Daniel and his friends led into captivity
601 Jeremiah begins to write his prophecies
598 Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream
596 History of Susannah at Babylon, apocryphal Jehoiakim revolts against Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar ravages Judea with an army Carries away more jews to Babylon
Cyaxares expels the Scythians from Asia
595 Cyrus born, son of Cambyses
Jehoiakim revolts a second time
Is taken, killed, and cast to the fowls of the air
594 Jeconiah succeeds Jehoiakim Nebuchadnezzar besieges him in Jerusalem He is taken and carried away to Babylon Mordecai is among the captives now taken
Zedekiah, Jeconiah's uncle, is left at Jerusalem
Zedekiah reigns eleven years
He sends ambassadors to Babylon
Jeremiah writes to the captives there
591 Zedekiah sends Seraiah and Baruch to Babylon
590 Ezekiel begins to prophesy in Chaldea He foretels the retaking of Jerusalem Zedekiah meditates a revolt against
Chaldea He negociates an alliance with Egypt
589 Solon and Æsop contemporary with Ezekiel
586 Nebuchadnezzar marches against Jerusalem Quits the siege to repel the king of Egypt Returns to the siege against Zedekiah Jeremiah prophesies during the siege
The siege is continued nearly three years
Ezekiel describes the same siege in Chaldea
584 Jerusalem taken on the ninth of June In the eleventh year of Zedekiah Zedekiah makes his escape by night
Taken and brought before Nebuchadnezzar
His eyes are put out, and he carried to Babylon Jerusalem and the temple are both destroyed More of the jews are carried into captivity
Many of them transported beyond the Euphrates
The poorer classes only left in the land
Thus ends the kingdom of Judah.
584 Seventy years foretold by Jeremiah: 25.
Gedaliah slain, governor of Jerusalem
583 Jeremiah carried into Egypt by the jews
Jeremiah prophesies while in Egypt
Ezekiel in Chaldea prophesies against Judah
581 The siege of Tyre by Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar wars with Ammon & Idumea Obadiah prophesies against Idumea
577 Jeremiah the prophet dies about this time
568 Tyre taken by Nebuchadnezzar
567 Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon
566 Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great tree
565 He is changed into the appearance of an ox
557 His return to his former condition, Daniel 4.
556 He sets up a golden statue for worship Three Hebrews cast into the fiery furnace Nebuchadnezzar dies in the 43rd of his reign He was the son of Nabonassar
Evilmerodach succeeds Nebuchadnezzar
555 Belshazzar his son succeeds Evilmerodach
Daniel's vision of the four animals, chap. 7.
554 Cyrus begins to liberate the Persians
Cyrus soon takes the title of king
552 Belshazzar's impious feast and tragic death
551 Darius the Mede succeeds Belshazzar
Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks, chap. 9.
550 Darius himself affects to be a god
550 Forbids any prayer to be made but to himself
Daniel is cast into the lion's den
Cyrus meditates the acquisition of empire He overcomes Astyages, king of the Medes Gives Astyages the province of Hyrcania
545 Cyrus marches against Darius the Mede
Makes war on Crœsus, king of Lydia
544 Attacks Babylon, and takes it
543 Permits the jewish captives to leave Babylon
First year of his reign over all the east
The history of Bel and the Dragon
542 The jews return to build the temple
They renew the sacrifices in Jerusalem
539 The age of Pythagoras and Anacreon
525 Cyrus dies, aged seventy years Cambyses 2. succeeds him in Babylon Cambyses forbids the building of Jerusalem Samaritans are sent with this prohibition
522 Cambyses conquers Egypt after five years
Confucius flourished about this time
520 Cambyses assassinates his brother Smerdis
517 Cambyses dies, and a usurpation follows Artaxerxes forbids the building of the temple Darius, son of Hystaspes, is called Ahasuerus Ahasuerus becomes king of Persia
He marries Artossa, daughter of Cyrus
516 Haggai begins to prophesy at Jerusalem
He reproves the jews for not building the temple
515 The jews soon afterwards begin to build
Zechariah begins to prophesy about this time
513 Feast of Ahasuerus, Esther 1.
512 He divorces Vashti and espouses Esther
511 Second temple of Jerusalem dedicated
509 Consular government of Rome commence
505 Haman vows destruction to the jews
Procures an order from Ahasuerus for it
504 Esther obtains a revocation of the decree
Haman hanged instead of Mordecai
The jews punish their enemies at Shushan
490 The battle of Marathon
481 Ahasuerus dies, and is succeeded by Xerxes
Themistocles accused, flees to Xerxes
469 Xerxes dies, Artaxerxes succeeds him
463 He sends Ezra and others to Jerusalem
462 Ezra effects an extensive reformation
450 Nehemiah permitted to visit Jerusalem
He rebuilds the walls and the gates
Induces several families to dwell in the city
Renews the national covenant with Israel
445 Herodotus reads his history at Athens
437 Nehemiah returns to the Persian court
435 Comes a second time to Judea to reform abuses
Zechariah and Malachi prophesy at this time
431 Peloponnesian war begins, May 7th
War continued about twenty seven years
430 History of the old testament concludes
420 Nehemiah dies, governor of Judea
Eliashib the highpriest is succeeded by Joiada
Joiada is succeeded by Jonathan
Jonathan is slain in the temple by a brother
Jaddua next becomes the highpriest
414 Egypt revolts against the Persians
404 Age of Euclid, Lysias, Cebes and others
End of the Peloponnesian war
Athens conquered and ruled by thirty tyrants
401 Cyrus the younger killed at Cunaxa
The tyrants expelled from Athens
400 Socrates put to death for his religion
396 Age of Aristippus, Evagoras, and Xenophon
390 Rome is taken by the Gauls
388 Plato and other philosophers flourished
387 Greek cities of Asia tributary to Persia
377 Age of Isocrates and Diogenes
374 Artaxerxes invades Egypt with 20,000 Greeks
371 The Lacedæmonians defeated by Epamonidas
362 Governors of Asia minor revolt from Persia
360 Philip of Macedon defeats the Athenians
350 Artaxerxes Ochus conquers Egypt
340 Age of Aristotle, Xenocrates, Demosthenes
336 Philip of Macedon killed by Pausanias
332 Tyre and Egypt conquered by Macedonia
Alexandria built
329 Alexander the great enters Asia
328 He besieges Tyre in his way to Judea
Meets the highpriest coming from Jerusalem
Shows him respect, and favour to the jews
The Samaritans permitted to build their temple
327 Alexander conquers Egypt
Samaritans kill the governor Andromachus
Alexander gives part of Samaria to the jews
326 Codomanus dies, the last king of Persia
323 Reign of the Ptolemies in Egypt
319 Alexander dies on the 21st of April
His empire is divided into four kingdoms
316 Ptolemy, son of Lagus, conquers Syria
312 Seleucus takes Babylon
310 Antigonus retakes Judea from Ptolemy
308 Ptolemy, son of Lagua, reconquers Judea
307 Democracy is established at Athens
Judea becomes subject to the kings of Syria
301 Antigonus defeated and killed by Ptolemy
293 The first sundial erected at Rome
Time divided into hours by P. Cursor
291 Seleucus builds forty cities in Asia
Age of Euclid the mathematician
278 Gauls slaughtered near the temple of Delphi
Dionysius the astronomer flourished
269 Silver first coined at Rome
273 Septuagint version made about this time
257 Theos, king of Syria, begins to reign
Jaddua the highpriest dies, succeeded by Onias
Onias is succeeded by Simon the Just
235 Temple of Janus shut at Rome
229 Onias 2. succeeds to the priesthood
217 Ptolemy Philopater becomes king of Egypt
215 Onias dies, Simon 2. becomes highpriest
214 Antiochus wars against Ptolemy Philopater
213 Ptolemy gains a victory in Syria
Ptolemy tries to enter the temple at Jerusalem
His profanity prevented by the priests
213 Punishes the jews on his return to Egypt Orders them to be trod to death by elephants Singular interposition of heaven in their favour
212 The Egyptians rebel against king Ptolemy
200 Ptolemy Philopater dies
Ptolemy Epiphanes succeeds him
198 Antiochus the great conquers Judea
195 Onias 3. becomes the highpriest
194 Epiphanes retakes Judea from Antiochus
193 Antiochus is welcomed at Jerusalem
188 Ptolemy Epiphanes marries Cleopatra
185 Antiochus declares war with the Romans
Is defeated, and preserves only Syria and Judea
183 Antiochus dies, Seleucus is his successor Seleucus demands the treasure in the temple An angel prevents the sacrilege
172 Seleucus is assassinated by Heliodorus Heliodorus wishes to usurp the kingdom Antiochus junior returns from Rome
The Syrians receive him as a titular deity
He is distinguished by the name of Epiphanes
171 Jason buys the pontificate of Epiphanes
Several jews renounce judaism and turn greeks
169 Antiochus Epiphanes is popular at Jerusalem
He makes war against the king of Egypt
166 Menelaus wants to buy the pontificate
Offers Antiochus more than Jason gave for it
He obtains the grant from Antiochus
Menelaus not advancing the money is deprived He causes Onias the highpriest to be killed Antiochus prepares for war in Egypt
Prodigies seen in the air over Jerusalem
Antiochus is reported to have died in Egypt He kills 80,000 jews for circulating the report Plunders the city of Jerusalem
164 Apollonius sent into Judea by Antiochus
Breaks down the city walls, & oppress the people
Builds a citadel near the temple
Judas Maccabeus retires into the wilderness
163 Antiochus publishes a persecuting edict
163 Compels all to adopt the religion of the greeks
Temple sacrifices are interrupted Statue of Jupiter placed upon the altar Eleazer suffers martyrdom at Antioch
Seven brethren and their mother put to death
Mattathias retires into the mountains
Seven of his sons and others join him
162 Mattathias dies
He is succeeded by Judas Maccabeus
161 Antiochus goes to Persia for money for his army
His territories invaded during his absence
Judas Maccabeus repels the invader in Judea
160 Lysias is also beaten, and returns to Antioch Judas purifies the temple, entered by the gentiles Judas defeats the Syrian army
Antiochus Epiphanes dies in Persia
Is succeeded by his son Antiochus Eupator
Judas carries the war into Idumea
159 Conspiracy against the jews in Galilee Antiochus Eupator offers favour to the jews The Roman legates also promise their support Judas defeats a division of the Syrians
Attacks and defeats Georgias in Idumea Golden plunder found among the slain Antiochus Eupator invades Judea in person He takes Bethshur, and besieges Jerusalem
Wall of the city is demolished before the temple
158 Menelaus the priest succeeded by an intruder Demetrius is acknowledged king of Syria Alcimus negociates with him for the pontificate
157 Alcimus enters Jerusalem and is repulsed Judas kills 5000 men, and gains the victory Judas Maccabeus is at last slain in battle
He perishes on a heap of enemies he had slain
Jonathan Maccabeus is chosen in his stead He is both the governor and the highpriest Jonathan is attacked, and swims across Jordan He collects an army and defeats his enemies
155 Jonathan judges the people at Michmash
Removes afterwards to Jerusalem
146 Alexander Balas becomes king of Syria
Jews and Samaritans dispute about their temples Apollonius wars with Jonathan Maccabeus Apollonius is put to flight
146 Ptolemy king of Egypt invades Syria
He dies in Syria, and Cleopatra is on the throne
140 Jonathan is treacherously taken by Tryphon
Tryphon afterwards put him to death
139 Simon Maccabeus succeeds Jonathan
Tryphon usurps the government of Syria
138 Syrian troops evacuate Jerusalem
Simon is owned highpriest and chief of the jews
King of Syria concedes to the jews their rights
134 He at length quarrels with and invades them
131 Simon Maccabeus is killed by treachery
Two of his sons perish with him
130 Hyrcanus succeeds his father Simon Antiochus of Syria besieges Jerusalem Hyrcanus finds money in David's tomb
127 Antiochus goes to war against the Persians
He is conquered and slain in battle
126 Hyrcanus is independent of the kings of Syria
Takes possession of several of their cities
125 Compels the Idumeans to be circumcised
123 Two kings of Syria at war with each other
106 Hyrcanus besieges and takes Samaria
105 Hyrcanus dies, after reigning 29 years
102 Three principal sects formed about this time
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes
Judas Aristobulus succeeds Hyrcanus
He seizes the diadem and reigns one year
Leaves his mother & brethren to starve in prison
101 Alexander Jannæus succeeds Aristobulus
He attacks Ptolemaïs, but fails
100 He raises the siege and wastes the country
99 Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, takes Ptolemaïs
98 Alexander forms an alliance with Cleopatra
Takes some places in Palestine
93 The jews revolt, but he subdues them
He sustains six years of civil war
93 Invites the aid of the king of Syria
Alexander is defeated by his own subjects
81 Antiochus Dionysius is king of Syria
He invades Judea but is beaten and slain
74 Alexander Jannæus dies at the age of forty six
Alexandra, his queen, succeeds him
She gains the pharisees to her party
67 Aristobulus 2. dislikes his mother's reign
66 Takes the principal places in Judea
Reigns one year till the queen's death
65 Hyrcanus her eldest son then takes the throne Battle between Hyrcanus and Aristobulus Hyrcanus is defeated at Jericho
Is afterwards highpriest for nineteen years
Survived his father Alexander 48 years
63 Catiline's conspiracy detected by Cicero
62 Peace concluded between the brothers Hyrcanus lives in retirement on his estate Aristobulus 2. keeps the throne for three years
61 King of Arabia tries to reinstate Hyrcanus
Aristobulus takes refuge in the temple
The temple besieged by Aretas king of Arabia Aristobulus implores the aid of the Romans They threaten to overwhelm Aretas
Aretas is compelled to raise the siege and flee
Aristobulus pursues and overcomes him
60 Pompey advises the two brothers to live in peace
58 Cicero is banished from Rome
59 Aristobulus entrenches himself in Jerusalem Pompey besieges and takes both city & temple Aristobulus is taken prisoner
Hyrcanus is made both prince and pontiff Judea compelled to pay tribute to the Romans Alexander, son of Aristobulus, makes his escape He returns to Judea, and raises soldiers
Here ends the kingdom of Syria.
Before Christ
59 The emperor Augustus born
55 Cæsar passes the Rhine and invades Britain
53 Alexander is defeated by the Roman commander
He surrenders, with all his strong places
52 Aristobulus escapes from Rome to Judea
52 He tries to fortify himself in Judea
Is defeated, and sent a second time to Rome
51 Alexander, son of Aristobulus, ravages Judea
Defeated by the Romans at mount Tabor
50 Civil war between Cæsar and Pompey
Crassus assumes the government of Syria
49 Comes to Jerusalem and robs the temple
Marches against the Parthians, slain in battle
48 Cassius brings Roman army over the Euphrates
Takes thirty thousand jewish captives Prevents the ravages of Alexander Civil war between Cæsar and Pompey
47 Alexandria is taken by Cæsar
46 This is called the year of confusion
Great alterations are made in the calendar
45 Julius Cæsar makes himself master of Rome
Restores Aristobulus to liberty
Sends with him two legions into Syria
The adherents of Pompey poison Aristobulus Scipio slays Alexander, son of Aristobulus Antipater is governor of Judea
The library of Alexandria is burnt
44 Cæsar is assassinated
43 Antipater is allied to the Roman army Assists in reducing Egypt to Cæsar Cicero is put to death
Age of Diodorus Ciculus and Nepos
Cæsar ends the war in Egypt and enters Syria He confirms Hyrcanus in the pontificate Vitruvius the architect flourishes at this time Antipater makes Phazael governor of Jerusalem Herod is made governor of Galilee
42 Herod is called to account for his conduct
42 To avoid conviction he retires
Hillel and Sameas flourish about this time Jonathan Uziel, author of Chaldee paraphrase He was the disciple of rabbi Hillel
Cæsar passes into Africa
Cato commits suicide at Utica
41 Hyrcanus renews alliance with Cæsar
The alliance is very advantageous to the jews
40 Jews of Asia are confirmed in their privileges
39 Cassius demands a large tribute from Judea
Antipater is killed by poison
Herod puts Malichus to death
38 Felix makes an attack on Phazael
Phazael shuts him up in a tower
Spain is now subdued to king Augustus
Herod and Phazael made tetrarchs of Judea
37 Antigonus 2. invades Judea with an army
Herod gives him a complete defeat
Mark Antony enters Bithynia
Herod forms an alliance with Antony
Antony gives liberty to the jews at Ephesus
36 The Parthians make Antigonus king of Judea Deliver Hyrcanus and Phazael into his hands Pompey the younger defeated in Sicily Phazael beats out his own brains
Antigonus cuts off the ears of Hyrcanus Then transports him beyond the Euphrates Herod flies to Rome for assistance
The senate confirms his appointment
35 Herod takes Joppa, then goes to Massada Slays some concealed bandit in Galilee Marches against Jerusalem
Season too far advanced for a siege Herod goes with troops to Samosata Assists Antony in the siege of the place
34 Herod's brother meanwhile attacks Antigonus
Roman forces join in a descent upon Judea
33 After several battles Jerusalem is taken Antigonus surrenders himself to the Romans Is carried prisoner to Antioch
33 Antony orders him to be beheaded
End of the reign of the Asmoneans.
32 Hyrcanus permitted to return to Judea
Herod makes Ananel the highpriest
31 Bestows that honour also on Aristobulus
Æra of the Roman emperors begins here
30 Egypt reduced to a Roman province Herod orders Aristobulus to be drowned Ananel is made highpriest a second time
Herod called to account for death of Aristobulus
War between Augustus and Mark Antony
27 Herod goes to war with the Arabians Title of Augustus given to Octavius A great earthquake felt in Judea Augustus defeats Antony in battle
Herod seizes Hyrcanus and puts him to death
26 Herod appears at court before Augustus Is confirmed in the government of Judea Antony and Cleopatra kill themselves
End of the kings of Alexandria.
25 Emperor Augustus visits Palestine
Herod receives him with great magnificence
Egyptians adopt the Julian period
Age of Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Livy, Strabo
24 Herod puts to death his wife Mariamne
22 Salome, his sister, separates from her husband
21 Augustus visits Greece and Asia
Plague and famine rage in Judea
18 Herod opposes the religion of the jews
17 Visits Agrippa, Augustus's favourite
Secular games celebrated at Rome
16 Lollius defeated by the Germans
15 Herod rebuilds the temple of Jerusalem
12 Visits Rome to commend himself to Augustus
12 The Pannonians conquered by Tiberius
10 Herod invites Agrippa to visit Jerusalem
9 Discord prevails in Herod's family
8 Cæsar Augustus corrects the calendar
7 Herod impeaches two sons before Augustus
Cæsarea built and dedicated to Augustus
6 Tiberius retires to Rhodes for seven years
5 Augustus favours the jews of Alexandria
Herod searches David's sepulchre for treasure
New disturbances in Herod's family
3 Herod makes war in Arabia
Is accused of killing several Arabs
2 An angel appears to Zachariah the priest
A son promised to Elizabeth his wife
1 The angel appears to the virgin Mary Incarnation of Christ announced to her Herod condemns and slays two of his sons Antipater, son of Herod, aims at the throne Herod sends Antipater to Rome
His stratagems are discovered
John the baptist born, son of Zachariah
JESUS born at Bethlehem, 6 months afterwards
FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY THE ROMANS.
1 Jesus born in Bethlehem-Judea Circumcision on the eighth day Antipater returns from Rome convicted Having attempted to poison Herod
Wise men come from the east to worship Jesus
Jesus presented in the temple
Joy of Simeon and Anna on the occasion Flight into Egypt, with the child Jesus Massacre of the infants at Bethlehem Antipater put to death by order of Herod Herod dies five days after Antipater Herod appoints Archelaus his successor Joseph and Mary return from Egypt
They go with Jesus to dwell at Nazareth
Archelaus visits Augustus at Rome
Is confirmed in the government of Judea
An impostor assumes to be the son of Herod
2 Archelaus gives the pontificate to Eleazar
9 Archelaus is banished to Vienne in Gaul
10 Second enrolment by Cerenius in Syria
Revolt of the chief of the Herodians
12 Jesus visits the temple in his twelfth year
Continues three days unknown to his parents
13 Marcus Ambivius is governor of Judea
17 Cæsar Augustus dies in the 58th yr of his reign
Tiberius succeeds, and reigns near 23 years
23 Tiberius expels all jews from Italy
31 Pilate is made governor of Judea
Attempts to bring Roman eagles into Jerusalem
He is strongly opposed by the jews
32 John the baptist begins to preach
33 Jesus is baptized of John in Jordan
Jesus immediately retires into the desert
After forty days Jesus returns to John
33 He calls four disciples to follow him Performs his first miracle at Cana in Galilee Jesus comes to Capernaum
Attends the first passover at Jerusalem Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night Jesus retires to the banks of Jordan Herod Antipas marries Herodias
She is the wife of his brother Philip
John baptist reproves the conduct of Herod
Herod shuts up John in prison
Jesus withdraws into Galilee
Talks with the woman of Samaria at the well Preaches in the synagogue at Nazareth Leaves Nazareth to dwell in Capernaum
While there he calls four more to follow him
Several miracles wrought in Capernaum
34 Second passover at Jerusalem
Our Lord's sermon on the mount
John in prison sends a message to Jesus
35 Apostles commissioned to preach in Judea John beheaded in prison by order of Herod This happened in the 17th year of Tiberius Our Lord feeds five thousand by miracle The third passover at Jerusalem
Christ preaches through Judea and Galilee Heals all manner of sickness and disease The transfiguration on the mount
Mission of the seventy disciples Jesus attends the feast of pentecost Attends also the feast of tabernacles
36 Lazarus is taken ill and dies
Jesus comes from beyond Jordan to Bethany
He raises Lazarus from the grave Retires to avoid the malice of the jews Attends his last passover at Jerusalem Lord's day, Mar. 29, he arrives at Bethany Sups there with Simon the leper
Monday, Mar. 30, enters into Jerusalem
Is hailed by the multitude with joy
36 Tuesday, Mar. 31, comes again to Jerusalem Curses the barren figtree on his way Wednesday, Apr. 1, the jews hold a council They arrange means to apprehend him Thursday, Apr. 2, Jesus goes to mount Olivet Sends to the city to prepare the passover
In the evening eats it with his disciples
Institutes the Lord's supper
After supper he retires to Gethsemane
Judas betrays him, and the soldiers seize him
He is conducted to Annas in the night Friday, Apr. 3, brought before Pilate Condemned, and crucified on Calvary
Towards evening is taken down from the cross
He is laid in a new sepulchre
The sepulchre is sealed and guarded
He continues in the tomb all Friday night
All Saturday also and Saturday night
Rises from the dead on Lord's day morning Pious women watch near the sepulchre Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene
She mistook him for the gardener
The Lord next appears to Peter
Then to two disciples going to Emmaus
Then to the disciples met together at Jerusalem
All this on the day of his resurrection Eight days after he again visits them Thomas is present this time and convinced The apostles return into Galilee
Jesus appears to them on several occasions
They return to Jerusalem after 28 days
Jesus appears to them in Jerusalem, May 14
Leads them to the mount of Olives
Ascends to heaven in their presence
Feast of Pentecost is ten days afterwards
The Holy Ghost descends on the apostles
37 Seven deacons chosen by the church Stephen, one of them, suffers martyrdom Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
37 Pilate informs Tiberius of the death of Christ
James the less presides at Jerusalem Philip baptizes the eunuch of Candace General dispersion of the first believers
38 Agrippa leaves Judea in debt
39 Arrives at Rome and is attached to Caius
40 Displeases Tiberius and is sent to prison
Pilate is ordered into Italy
Tiberius dies, and Caius Caligula succeeds
Agrippa enlarged, and promoted to honour
The apostle Peter visits Antioch
Disciples first called christians at Antioch
41 Paul escapes from Damascus by a basket
He then comes to Jerusalem
Barnabas introduces him to the brethren Paul goes to Tarsus his native city Caligula makes Agrippa tetrarch of Judea The miserable Pilate commits suicide
42 Flaccus is banished by order of Caligula
43 Caligula wants to have his statue in the temple
Agrippa diverts him from his purpose
The jews at Alexandria appeal to Caligula
44 Philo, their leader, obtains an audience Tumults arise in Alexandria and Chaldea Queen Helena and her son embrace judaism Caligula assassinated by Chæreas
Claudius succeeds to the empire
He enlarges Agrippa's dominions in Judea Agrippa makes Simon Cantharus pontiff Transfers the dignity from Simon to Matthias
46 Agrippa deposes Matthias from the priesthood
Claudius makes a descent upon Britain
47 Agrippa orders St. James to be beheaded
Peter is imprisoned at his command The apostle is liberated by an angel Agrippa smitten to death by an angel Paul and Barnabas visit Antioch
The church at Antioch send them out to preach
48 A great famine prevail in Judea
Paul and Barnabas travel as missionaries
48 At Lystra they are offered divine honours
49 Mark's gospel written about this time
Tiberius Alexander is procurator of Judea
51 Cumanus succeeds Alexander in Judea
52 Troubles arise under his presidency
54 Judaizing teachers begin to corrupt the gospel Converted gentiles not bound by jewish law Peter is reproved by Paul at Antioch Separation between Paul and Barnabas
Luke and Timothy itinerate with Paul
55 Paul passes out of Asia into Macedonia
56 Paul visits Athens and Corinth Claudius expels the jews from Rome Felix procurator of Judea
57 Paul leaves Corinth after eighteen months Visits Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem Apollo preaches Christ at Ephesus
Paul goes from Jerusalem to Antioch
Passes into Galatia and Phrygia
Returns to Ephesus and stays three years Emperor Claudius poisoned by Agrippina Claudius is succeeded by Nero
Nero puts to death his mother Agrippina
58 Paul's epistle to the Galatians
59 First epistle to the Corinthians
60 Uproar at Ephesus occasioned by Demetrius
Paul compelled to leave Ephesus
Paul goes into Macedonia
Second epistle to the Corinthians
61 Paul writes his epistle to the Romans
Carries contributions into Judea
Paul is seized in the temple at Jerusalem
62 Sent a prisoner to Cæsarea
Ishmael made highpriest instead of Ananias
Disturbances excited in Cæsarea
63 Porcius Festus procurator of Judea
Paul appeals to the emperor
Put on shipboard and sent to Rome
Paul is shipwrecked at Malta
64 Arrives at Rome, a prisoner for two years
64 Agrippa wishes to overlook the temple The jews build a wall to prevent it Ishmael the highpriest deposed
First persecution against the christians
65 Epistles to the Phillippians and Colossians Martyrdom of James the less of Jerusalem Seneca, Lucan and others put to death
66 Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews Albinus succeeds Festus in Judea Jewish priests divided about tithes A strange cry heard in Jerusalem Woe to the city Woe to the city
The cry continues till the city is besieged
Age of the British queen Boadicea
Of Pliny the elder, and Josephus
67 Paul comes from Italy into Judea
Writes his epistle to Timothy and Titus Agrippa gives the priesthood to Matthias Florus succeeds Albinus in Judea
Nero sets fire to the city of Rome Falsely accuses christians of the fact Several of them are cruelly put to death
68 Peter writes his second general epistle
Several prodigies appear at Jerusalem
Seen especially at the time of the passover
Paul is imprisoned at Rome
Writes his epistle to the Ephesians
Also his second epistle to Timothy
69 Peter and Paul suffer martyrdom
Clement is pastor of the church at Rome Mark becomes a martyr at Alexandria Cestius, of Syria, comes to Jerusalem
He enumerates the jews at the passover Disturbances at Cæsarea and Jerusalem Florus puts several jews to death
The jews join in a general revolt
Kill the Roman garrison at Jerusalem
The jews are massacred at Cæsarea
All the jews of Scythopolis slain in one night
Cestius, governor of Syria, comes to Judea
69 Besieges the temple at Jerusalem
Is defeated by the jews
Christ's followers foresee the approaching war Leave Jerusalem and flee beyond Jordan Vespasian appointed by Nero to conduct the war Josephus made governor of Galilee
Vespasian sends his son Titus to Alexandria
Prepares meanwhile a numerous army
70 Vespasian enters Judea, subdues Galilee
Josephus besieged in Iotapata
Josephus surrenders to Vespasian
Tiberius and Tarichea submit to Vespasian
Troubles and divisions in Jerusalem
Zealots commit violence in the city & temple Theophilus is deposed from the priesthood Phannias is ordained in his stead
Three contending parties in Jerusalem The zealots send for succour to Idumea The Idumeans retire from Jerusalem
71 Nero the emperor dies, Galba succeeds Vespasian invades Judea and Idumea All the strong places are invested
72 Galba dies, Otho is declared emperor Otho dies, and Vitellius succeeds Vespasian is elected emperor by the army He is acknowledged as such in all the east Josephus the jew is set at liberty
73 Titus marches against the city of Jerusalem
Arrives a few days before the passover
The factions unite against the Romans
The army besiege and reduce the outer wall
Conquest of the lower city
They surround Jerusalem with a wall
The city distressed and reduced by famine
Conquest of the tower of Antonia
An assault on the temple
The daily sacrifice ceases, July 17
Conquest of the outer court of the temple
The Romans set fire to the galleries
Titus wished to preserve the temple
73 A Roman soldier dares to set it on fire
Burning of the lower city
Conquest of the upper city
Romans become masters of the place
They offer sacrifice to their gods
74 Titus totally destroys the temple
He also demolishes the city of Jerusalem
Titus returns in triumph to Rome
THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED GENESIS.
GENESIS, Γενεσις, generation, so called by the LXX, because it recites the Generation or Creation of the Heavens and the Earth; of Man, and of the animal and vegetable kingdom. The Hebrews give no distinctive title to their sacred Books, but distinguish them, as we do psalms and hymns, by the first word, phrase or sentence. The Genesis they call בראשׁית BERESHITH, In the Beginning; this being the initial word of the book. In the Arabic it is called “The Book of God.” In addition to the account of the creation, it details the fall of man, the promise of redemption, the depravity and destruction of the antediluvians, the preservation of Noah, the introduction of idolatry, the call of Abraham; and brings down the history of the world to the death of Joseph; comprising the whole of the Patriarchal dispensation, which extended to the year of the world 2369 and before Christ 1635 years. It comes down to us undisputed as the most ancient of all records. The Egyptians, the Chinese, the Siamese, the Hindoos, have nothing that can rival its antiquity.