The state of Israel and Iudah vnto both their Captiuities, (which befell at different times) diuersly altered. Iudah vnited to Israel: and lasty, both vnto Rome. CHAP. 23.
NOr wanted there Prophets in Iudah (that lay vnder Ierusalem) in all these successions: Gods pleasure was still to haue them ready, to send out either for prediction of euents, or reformation of maners. For the Kings of Iuda did of∣fend God also (though in farre lesse measure then Israel) and deserued punish∣ment, both they and their people. All their good Kings haue their due commen∣dations. But Israel had not one good King from thence, but all were wicked, more or lesse. So that both these kingdomes, (as it pleased God) had their reuo∣lutions of fortune, now prosperous, now aduerse, through forraine and ciuill warres, as Gods wrath, or mercy was mooued: vntill at length, their sinnes prouoking him, he gaue them all into the hands of the Chaldaeans, who led most part of them captiues into Assyria, first the tenne Tribes of Israel, and then Iu∣dah also, destroying Ierusalem, and that goodly Temple: and that bondage lasted 70. years. And then being freed, they repaired the ruined Temple, and then (al∣though many of them liued in other nations) yet was the land no more diuided, but one Prince onely reigned in Ierusalem, and thether came all the whole land to offer and to celebrate their feasts at the time appointed. But they were not yet secure from all the nations, for then (a) came the Romanes▪ and vnder their subiection must Christ come and finde his Israel.
L. VIVES.
THen (a) came] Pompey the great quelled them first, and made them tributaries to Rome. Cicero and Antony being consulls. And from that time they were ruled by the Romane Presidents of Syria, and Prouosts of Iudaea. That they paied tribute to the Romanes, both pro∣phane histories and that question in the Ghospell (Is it lawfull to giue tribute vnto Caesar?) doe witnesse.