The history of the world

§. II. Of the Kings of the ten Tribes from IEROBOAM to ACHAB.

OF the first Kings of Israel, I omit in this place to speake: and reserue it [unspec 30] to the Catalogue of the Kings of Iuda: of whom hereafter.

Touching the acts of the Kings of the ten Tribes, but briefly, be∣ginning after the diuision from Iuda and Beniamm, now it followeth to speake. The first of these Kings was Ieroboam, the sonne of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, who being a man of strength and courage, was by Salomon made ouer-seer of the buildings of the Millo or Munition in Hierusalem, for as much as be∣longed to the charge of the Tribes of Ephraim and Manasse: and so many of them as wrought in those workes. During which time as he went from Hierusalem, hee en∣countred the Prophet Ahijah: who made him know that he was by God destinied to be King of Israel: and to command ten of the twelue Tribes. After this fearing that [unspec 40] those things might come to Salomons knowledge, hee fled into Aegypt to Shishak, whom Eusebius calleth Osochores, whose Daughter hee married: the Predecessour of which Shishak (if not the same) did likewise entertaine Adad the Idumaean, when he was carried yong into Aegypt from the furie of Dauid, and his Captaine Ioab; which Adad, the King of Aegypt married to his Wiues sister Taphnes; vsing both him and Ieroboam as instruments to shake the Kingdome of Iudaea; that himselfe might the* 1.1 easilier spoile it, as he did: for in the fifth yeere of Rehoboam, Shishak sackt the Citie of Hierusalem, and carried thence all the treasure of Dauid and Salomon, and all the spoiles which Dauid tooke from Adadezer of Soba, with the presents of Tohu, King of Hamath, which were of an inestimable value. [unspec 50]

This Ieroboam after the death of Salomon became Lord of the ten Tribes: and though he were permitted by God to gouerne the Israelites, and from a meane man exalted to that state: yet preferring the policies of the world before the seruice and honour of God (as fearing that if the Tribes vnder his rule should repaire to Hierusa∣lem

to doe their vsuall Sacrifices, they might bee drawne from him by degrees) he erected two golden Calues, one in Dan, and another in Bethel, for the people to wor∣ship (an imitation of the Aegyptian Apis, saith S. Ambrose, or rather of Aarons Calfe* 1.2 in Horeb) further he made election of his Priests out of the basest and vnlearned peo∣ple. This King made his chiefe seate and Palace at Sichem: He despised the warning of the Iudaean Prophet, whome Iosephus calleth Adon, and Glycas Ioel: His hand there-after withered, and was againe restored: but continuing in his Idolatry, and hardened vpon occasion that the Prophet returning was slaine by a Lyon, Ahijah makes him know, that God purposed to roote out his posteritie.

He was afterward ouerthrowne by Abia King of Iuda, and died after he had go∣uerned* 1.3 [unspec 10] two and twenty yeeres; whom Nadab his sonne succeeded: who in the se∣cond* 1.4 yeere of his reigne, together with all the race of Ieroboam was slaine, and roo∣ted out by Baasha, who reigned in his stead: so Nadab liued King but two yeeres.

Baasha the sonne of Ahijah, the third King after the partition, made warre with Asa King of Iuda: hee seated himselfe in Thersa: and fortified Rama against Iuda, to restraine their excursions. Hereupon Asa entertained Benhadad of Damascus against him, who inuaded Nephtalim, and destroyed many places therein: the meane while Asa carried away the Materials, with which Baasha intended to fortifie Rama; but being an Idolater, he was threatned by Iehu the Prophet, that it should befall his* 1.5 [unspec 20] race, as it did to Ieroboam: which afterward came to passe: He ruled foure and twen∣tie yeeres and died.

To Baasha succeeded Ela his sonne, who at a feast at his Palace of Thersa, was in his cups slaine by Zambris after he had reigned two yeeres: and in him the prophe∣cie of Iehu was fulfilled.

Zambris succeded Ela, and assumed the name of a King seuen dayes; But Am∣bris in reuenge of the Kings Murther, set vpon Zambris, or Zimri; and inclosed him* 1.6 in Thersa, and forst him to burne himselfe.

Ambris or Homri succeeded Ela, and transferred the Regall seate from Thersa to Samaria: which he bought of Shemer, built, and fortified it. This Ambris was also* 1.7 [unspec 30] an Idolater, no lesse impious than the rest: and therefore subiected to Tabremmon, King of Syria; the Father of Benadad according to Eusebius, Nicephorus, and Zonaras: but how this should stand, I doe not well conceiue; seeing Benadad the Sonne of Tabremmon was inuited by Asa King of Iuda, to assaile Baasha King of Israel, the Fa∣ther* 1.8 of Ela who forewent Ambris. This Ambris raigned twelue yeeres, sixe in Ther∣sa, and sixe in Samaria, and left two children, Achab and Athalia.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1. Reg. 14.
• * 1.2

  Ambrose vpon the 1. Chap. of the Epistle to the Romanes.
• * 1.3

  1. King. 11. 12. 13. 14.
• * 1.4

  15. Chron. 13.
• * 1.5

  1. Kin. 15. & 16
• * 1.6

  1. King. 16.
• * 1.7

  1. King. 16.
• * 1.8

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. King. 15.