THis Tribe of Gad possest halfe the Countrie of the Ammonites, who together with the Moabites, held that part of Arabia Petraea called Na∣bat 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as well within as without the mountaines of Gilead: though at this time when the Gadites wan it, it was in the possession of Sehon and Og, Amorites: and therefore Moses did not expell the Ammonites, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Amorites, who had thrust the issues of Lot ouer the mountaines Tracbones or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as before. After the death of Othoniel the first Iudge of Israel, the Ammonites ioyned with the Moabites against the Hebrewes, and so continued long. Iephta Iudge* 1.1 of Israel had a great conquest ouer one of the Kings of Ammon, but his name is o∣mitted. [unspec 20] In the time of Samuel they were at peace with them againe.
Afterward wee find that cruell King of the Ammonites, called 〈◊〉〈◊〉: who be∣sieging* 1.2 Iabes Gilead, gaue them no other conditions but the pulling out of their right eyes. The reason why he tendred so hard a composition, was (besides this desire to bring shame vpon Israel) because those Gileadites vsing to carrie a Target on their left armes, which could not but shadow their left eyes, should by losing their right, be vtterly disabled to defend themselues: but Saul came to their rescue, and deliue∣red them from that danger. This Nahas, as it may, seeme, became the confederate of Dauid, hauing friended him in Sauls time, though Iosephus thinkes that this Na∣has* 1.3 was slaine in the battaile, when Saul raised the siege of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who affirmeth that* 1.4 [unspec 30] there were three Kings of the Moabites of that name.* 1.5
Hanun succeeded Nahas: to whom when Dauid sent to congratulate his establish∣ment, and to confirme the former friendship which he had with his Father, he most contemptuously and proudly cut off the Ambassadours garments to the knees, and* 1.6 shaued the halfe of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But afterward notwithstanding the aydes receiued from the Aramites subiect to Adadezer, and from the Reguli of Rehob, and Maacah, and from Istob, yet all those Arabians, together with the Ammonites, were ouer-tur∣ned: their chiefe Citie of Rabba, after Philadelphia, was taken, the Crowne which weighed a talent of gold was set on Dauids head, all such as were prisoners, Dauid ex∣cuted with strange seueritie; for with Sawes and Harrowes hee tare them in pieces, [unspec 40] and cast the rest into Lime-kills.* 1.7
Iosaphat gouerning Iuda, they assisted the Moabites their neighbours against him,* 1.8 and perished together. Osias made them Tributaries, and they were againe by 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.9 inforst to continue that Tribute, and to increase it, to wit, a hundreth talents of* 1.10 siluer, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley: which the Am∣monites* 1.11 continued two yeeres.
The fift King of the Ammonites, of whose name we reade was Baalis, the confede∣rate of Zedechia: after whose taking by Nabuchodonosor, Baalis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ismael of the bloud of the Kings of Iuda, to slay Gedaliah, who serued Nabuchodonosor. [unspec 50]