The history of the world

§. VII. [unspec 40] Of BVSIRIS the first oppressor of the Israelites: and of his successor Queene THER∣MVTIS that tooke vp MOSES out of the water.

ANd heerein (if I may presume to coniecture) Busiris, who was after∣wards king, is like to haue dealt with him, as Ieroboam did with the sonne of Salomon. For that Busiris himselfe was much addicted to magnificent workes, it well appeared, by the drudgerie wherewith he wearied the children of Israel in his buildings: If therefore he were em∣ployed by the great Sesostris, as Ieroboam was by Salomon, in the ouersight of those businesses, he had good opportunitie to worke his greatnesse with the king by indu∣strie: [unspec 50] and afterward with the people by incensing them against their new king: as Ie∣roboam did. For what the multitude will endure at one Princes hands, they will not at anothers: vnlesse hee haue either an equall spirit, or a surer foundation. If moreouer he sought to deriue all the paine and labour of publique workes from the

〈◊〉〈◊〉, to the Israelites: hee surely did that which to his owne people was very plausible: who (as appeares in Exodus) were nothing slack in fulfilling the kings cru∣eltie.* 1.1 Now that Orus the 2. or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was the king that first oppressed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and made the Edict of drowning the Hebrew children, which (saith Cedrenus) lasted tenne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is a common opinion of many great & most learned writers; who also thinke that hereupon grew the fable of Busiris sacrificing strangers. It is also a common in∣terpretation of that place, Ex. 1. that the King who knew not Ioseph, was a king of a new family. That Busiris was of a new familie, Reineccius doth shew: who also thinks him Author of the bloudie edict. Neuerthelesse, true it is, that Busiris, according to all mens computation, began his reigne 5. yeeres after the birth of Moses; before whose [unspec 10] birth it is most manifest, that the Law was made, and much more that the persecu∣tion began: which Bunting thinkes to haue lasted 87. yeeres, ere the departure out of Aegypt. Let vs therefore consider, besides the blindnesse of Sesostris the second, how great the power of the Regents or Viceroyes in Aegypt was: and how great confidence the kings did put in them: seeing Ioseph ruled with such full power, that he bought all Aegypt, & all the Aegyptians for bread; giuing at the same time the best of the land to his owne father & brethren, for nothing: seeing also that when the Aegyptians cried out vpō Pharaoh, for bread: Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, Go to Ioseph: what he saith to you, do ye. If to a stranger borne lately fetcht out of prison, a king well able to haue gouerned himselfe, would giue such trust, and soueraigne authoritie: it is not vnlikely [unspec 20] that a blind Prince should do it to a man of especial reputation. For God often pros∣pers, not only the good (such as Ioseph was) but wicked men also, as his instruments against the day of wrath. Therfore perhaps the king did (as many haue done) resigne his kingdom to him, though his reign was not accounted to haue begun, till the death of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But whether Busiris did vsurpe the kingdom, or protection of the land by violence: or whether the blind king resigned it, keeping the title: or whether 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were onely Regent, whilst the king liued, and afterwards (as is acknowledged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all) king himselfe: it might well be said that Pharaohs daughter tooke vp Moses, and that Pharaoh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Israel: seeing he both at that time was king in effect, and shortly after king in deed and title both. It were not absurd for vs to say that the blind king 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [unspec 30] the second oppressed Israel: but forasmuch as it may seeme that the wicked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shewed his euill nature euen when he first arose: I thinke it more likely, that Busiris did it, vsing at first the power of a king, and shortly after the stile. Thus of the 122. yeeres which passed betweene the beginning of Sesostris his reigne, and the departure of Israel out of Egypt, 47. being spent: the 75. which remaine, are to bee accounted to Busiris or Orus the second, and his children. Busiris himselfe reigned 30. yeeres, according to Eusebius: whom very many iudicious authors heerein approoue. After him his daughter, who tooke Moses out of the water, is saide by all that I haue read, to haue reigned 12. yeeres: Her name was Thermutis Phareis, or Muthis according to Cedrenus: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cals her Acencris: and out of Artabanus his Historie Me∣ris: [unspec 40] Iosephus cals her both Acenchere, & Thermutis, Epiphanius in Panario saith that she was honoured afterward of the Egyptians, by the name of Thermutis the daughter of Amenoph, the son of Pharaoh. Of this last title question might be made & much spo∣ken: for the Scriptures call her not Pharaohs sonnes daughter, but Pharaohs daughter. Amenophis indeed is placed next before Busiris or Orus the second by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and o∣thers: but whether hee were a king or onely a Regent I cannot coniecture. For Hero∣dotus, Dtodorus, and the ancient Historians name the sonne of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Pheron. Per∣haps his name was Pharaoh Amenophis: and his daughter by the Aegyptians called ra∣ther the neece or grandchilde, then the daughter of Pharaoh, because of the glory of Sesostris, and the disreputation of his sonne. If so, and if that Busiris or Orus the se∣cond [unspec 50] marrying her pretended any title by her, then is our coniecture strengthened, and then was she both daughter, grandchild, and wife vnto Pharaoh: and suruining him, Queene of the land, 12. yeeres. But if she were the daughter of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 2. & sister of Athoris, or Rathoris, as many thinke, to whose coniecture I will not oppose mine,

then may it seeme, that either her brethren were degenerate, or too yong to rule, when her Father died.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 1.