The history of the world

§. VII. The beginning of AMAZIA his reigne. Of IOAS King of Israel, and ELISHA the Prophet.

AMAZIAS, the sonne of Ioash, being twentie fiue yeeres old when his father dyed, tooke possession of the Kingdome of Iuda, wherein he la∣boured so to demeane himselfe, as his new beginning raigne might be least offensiue. The Law of Moses he profesled to obserue; which howsoeuer it had beene secretly despised since the time of Iehoram, by [unspec 19] many great persons of the Land, yet had it by prouision of good Princes, yea and of bad ones (in their best times) imitating the good, but especially by the care of holy Priests, taken such deepe roote in the peoples hearts, that no King might hope to be very plausible, who did not conforme himselfe vnto it. And at that pre∣sent time, the slaughter, which the Aramites had made of all the Princes, who had with-drawne the late King from the seruice of God, being seconded by the death of the King himselfe, euen whilest that execrable murther, committed by the King vp∣on 〈◊〉〈◊〉, was yet fresh in memorie, did serue as a notable example of Gods justice against Idolaters, both to animate the better sort of the people in holding the Re∣ligion of their fathers, and to discourage Amazia from following the way, which led [unspec 20] to such an euill end. He therefore, hauing learned of his father the arte of dissimu∣lation, did not only forbeare to punish the Traytors that had slaine King Ioas, but gaue way to the time, and suffered the dead bodie to be interred, as that of Iehoram formerly had beene, in the Citie of Dauid, yet not among the Sepulchres of the Kings of Iuda. Neuerthelesse, after this, when (belike) the noise of the people ha∣uing wearied it selfe into silence, it was found that the Conspirators (howsoeuer their deede done, was applauded as the handie-worke of God) had neither any mightie partakers in their fact, nor strong maintayners of their persons, but re∣sted secure, as hauing done well, seeing it was not ill taken; the King, who perceiued his gouernement well established, called them into question, at such a time, as the [unspec 30] heate of mens affections, being well allayed, it was easie to distinguish betweene their treasons and Gods judgement, which, by their treasons, had taken plausible ef∣fect. So they were put to death without any tumult, and their children (as the Law did require) were suffered to liue; which could not but giue contentment to the people, seeing that their King did the office of a iust Prince, rather than of a re∣uenging sonne. This being done, and his owne life the better secured, by such ex∣emplarie iustice, against the like attempts; Amazia carried himselfe outwardly as a Prince well affected to Religion, and so continued in rest, about twelue or thirteene yeeres.

As Amazia gathered strength in Iuda by the commoditie of a long peace, so Ioas [unspec 40] the Israelite grew as fast in power, by following the warre hotly against the Ara∣mites. He was a valiant and fortunate Prince, yet an Idolater, as his Predecessors had beene, worshipping the Calues of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. For this sinne had God so plagued the house of Iehu, that the ten Tribes wanted little of being vtterly consumed, by Hazael and Benhadad, in the time of Iehu and his sonne Iehoahaz. But as Gods be∣nefits to Iehu, sufficed not to with-draw him from this politique Idolatrie; so were the miseries, rewarding that impietie, vnable to reclaime Iehoahaz from the same im∣pious course: yet the mercy of God beholding the trouble of Israel, condescended vnto the prayers of this vngodly Prince, euen then when hee and his miserable sub∣jects, were obstinate in following their owne abominable wayes. Therefore in [unspec 50] temporall matters, the ten Tribes recouered apace, but the fauour of God, which had beene infinitely more worth, I doe not find, nor beleeue, that they sought; that they had it not, I finde in the words of the Prophet, saying plainly to AMAZIA, The* 1.1 Lord is not with Israel, neither with all the house of EPHRAIM.

Whether it were so, that the great Prophet Elisha, who liued in those times, did fore-tell the prosperitie of the Israelites vnder the Raigne of Ioas; or whether Iehoa∣haz, wearied and broken with long aduersitie, thought it the wisest way, to dis∣charge himselfe in part of the heauie cares attending those vnhappy Syrian warres, by laying the burthen vpon his hopefull sonne; we finde that in the thirtie-seuenth* 1.2 yeere of IOAS, King of Iuda, IOAS the sonne of IEHOAHAZ began to raigne ouer Is∣rael in Samaria, which was in the fifteenth of his fathers raigne, and some two or three yeeres before his death.

It appeares that this yong Prince, euen from the beginning of his Rule, did so well husband that poore stocke which hee receiued from his Father, of ten Cha∣riots, [unspec 10] fiftie Horse-men, and ten thousand Foot, that he might seeme likely to proue a thriuer. Among other circumstances, the wordes which he spake to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Pro∣phet, argue no lesse. For Ioas visiting the Prophet, who lay sicke, spake vnto him thus; O my father, my father, the Chariot of Israel, and the horse-men of the same: by* 1.3 which manner of speech hee did acknowledge, that the prayers of this holy man had stood his Kingdome in more stead, than all the Horses and Chariots could doe.

This Prophet who succeeded vnto Elias, about the first yeere of Ioram the sonne of Ahab King of Israel, dyed (as some haue probably collected) about the third or fourth yeere of this Ioas, the Nephew of Iehu. To shew how the Spirit of Elias was [unspec 20] doubled, or did rest vpon him; it exceedeth my facultie. This is recorded of him, that hee did not onely raise a dead child vnto life, as Elias had done, but when hee himselfe was dead, it pleased God that his dead bones should restore life vnto a car∣casse, which touched them in the graue. In fine, hee bestowed, as a legacie, three vi∣ctories vpon King Ioas, who thereby did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Israel in a faire way of recouering all that the Aramites had vsurped, and weakning the Kings of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in such sort, that they were neuer after terrible to Samaria.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 25. 7.
• * 1.2

  2. Kings 13. 10.
• * 1.3

  2. Kings 13. 14.