Graphautarkeia, or, The Scriptures sufficiency practically demonstrated wherein whatsoever is contain'd in Scripture, respecting doctrine, worship or manners is reduced to its proper head, weighty cases resolved, truths confirmed, difficult texts illustrated and explained by others more plain.

CHAP. XLIV. Of the Kings of Israel and Judah: How they came to their Power and Office. (Book 44)

GIdeon had judged Israel: he had seventy sons. Abimelech one of the sons of Gideon by his servant (by subtilty with the men of Shechem, that it was better one should reign than all the seventy sons), procures mo∣ney, hires vain and light persons, and kills all his brethren (except Jotham the youngest, who hid himself). Abimelech by the men of Shechem and the house of Millo, made King. After a few years he was slain by a piece of mil∣stone a woman threw down on him: after whom Judges governed a long time, till Samuel, Judges 9.

Israel by the Elders came to Samuel, and said, Make us a King to judg us, like all the nations: and though God was displeased at it, and said, They had rejected not Samuel, but God himself, that he should not reign over them: yet he bids Samuel hearken unto them, and make them a King, 1 Sam. 8.

Samuel, before Saul came, was told of God of his coming: and that he should be the man whom he should ano•…•…nt king. Samuel anoints him king accordingly, 1 Sam. 9. chap. 10.

According to this afterwards, all the people went to Gilgal: and there they made Saul king before the Lord, 1 Sam. 11. 14, 15.

Samuel said to Saul, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel, &c? Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath rejected thee from being king, 1 Sam. 15. 17, 23.

Samuel, by Gods special direction, anointed David the son of Jesse to be king (although Saul was yet living): and the spirit left Saul, and came upon David, 1 Sam. 16. 1, 12, 13, 14.

And after Sauls death, the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over Judah: but Abner made Ishbosheth the son of Saul king over all Israel, 2 Sam. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9.

After the death of Ishbosheth (being slain), came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, &c. And all the Elders of Israel came, &c. and king David made a league with them: and they anointed David king over Israel, 2 Sam. 5. 1, 2, 3.

Adonijah, David his son, being about to set up himself, David sets up Solomon, 1 Kings 1. 5, 6, &c.

God s•…•…id to Solomon, Thou hast not kept my covenant, &c. I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant, &c. Ahijah the Prophet told Jeroboam, That God would give ten tribes unto him, and take the kingdom out of the hands of Solomons son, and give ten tribes unto him: Solomon died, Rehoboam reigned in his stead, 1 Kings 11. 9, 10, 11, 12, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 43.

All Israel came to Shechem to make Rehoboam king; the people proposing ease, and Rehoboam refusing to grant it, (the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform what he had said), ten tribes fell off from him. And when all Israel had heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and cal∣led him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. When Re∣hoboam intended by sorce to reduce them, God forbid it, and said, This thing is from me: only Judah subjected to Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12. 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

Go tell Jeroboam, thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I ex∣alted thee from among the people, and made thee Prince over my people Is∣rael, and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it unto thee, &c. Jeroboam died, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Rehoboam died, and Abijam his son reigned in his stead over Judah, 1 Kings 14. 7, 8, 20, 31.

Abijam died, and Asa his son reigned over Judah. Asa died, and Jehosha∣phat his son reigned in his stead over Judah. Baasha conspired against Na∣dab king of Israel, and smote him, and reigned in his stead over Israel, 1 Kings 15. 8, 24, 26, 27, 28.

The word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hananiah against Baasha, saying, Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee Prince o∣ver my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam: Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, &c. Baasha died, Elah his son reign∣ed in his stead. Zimri, one of Elah his servants, conspired against him, and smote him, and killed him, and reigned in his stead over Israel. But when Israel being in the Camp, heard of it, they made Omri the Captain of the Host, king that day in the Camp of Israel. Zimri is burnt. Then half the people followed Tibni to make him king: and half followed Omri. Tibni died, and Omri prevailed and reigned: he died, and Ahab his son reigned in his stead, 1 Kings 16. 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 16, 18, 21, 22, 28.

God appointed Elijah to anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Is∣rael (Ahab being then alive), 1 Kings 19. 16.

Ahab the king of Israel was slain in the battel, and Ahaziah his son reign∣ed in his stead over Israel. Jehoshaphat king of Judah died, and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead over Judah, 1 Kings 22. 34, 35, 40, 50.

Ahaziah the king of Israel died, and Jehoram reigned in his stead over Israel, because he had no son, 2 Kings 1. 17.

Joram (otherwise Jehoram) the king of Judah died, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah, 2 Kings 8. 24, 25.

Elisha sent one of the children of the Prophets to Jehu the Captain of

the host of Israel, to anoint him king over Israel (Jehoram the king being yet living in Jezreel, and wounded): when the young man anointed him, he said, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel: and thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge, &c. Then the army proclaimed him king: then Jehu killed Jehoram king of Israel, &c. and also Ahaziah the king of Judah was slain by Jehu, 2 Kings 9. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 24, 27.

And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which was right in mine eyes: and hast done unto the house of Ahab according unto all which was in my heart, thy children of the fourth genera∣ration shall sit on the throne of Israel. Jehu died, and Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead, over Israel, 2 Kings 10. 30, 35.

—Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw her son was dead, she killed the blood-royal (except Joash who was hid) and reigned over Judah. Jehojada caused Jehoash (or, Joash) to be made king, and sit upon the throne, and Athaliah to be slain, 2 Kings 11.

Jehoash was slain by two of his servants who conspired against him; and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead over Judah, 2 Kings 12. 20, 21.

Jehoahaz dyed, and Joash his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Joash dyed, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne over Israel, 2 Kings 13 9, 13. chap. 14. 16.

They made a conspiracy against Amaziah, and slew him. And the people of Judah took Azariah his son, and made him king over Judah. Jeroboam king of Israel dyed, and Zachariah his son reigned over Israel, 2 Kings 14. 19, 20, 21, 29.

Azariah king of Judah dyed, and Jotham his son reigned in his stead. Shallum conspired against Zachariah king of Israel, and slew him before the people, and reigned in his stead, 2 Kings 15. 7, 8, 9, 10.

Menahem smote Shallum king of Israel, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Menahem dyed, and Pekaliah his son reigned in his stead over Israel. Pekah, one of his Captains conspired against him, smote him, killed him and others, and reigned in his room over Israel. Hoshea made a conspiracy a∣gainst Pekah king of Israel, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. Jotham the king of Judah dyed, and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead, 2 Kings 15. 13, 14, 22, 25, 30, 38.

Ahaz king of Judah dyed, Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead over Ju∣dah, 2 Kings 16. 20.

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead over Judah, 2 Kings 20. 21.

Manasseh the king of Judah dyed, and Amon his son reigned in his stead. The servants of Amon king of Judah conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house. The people of the land slew the Conspirators, and made Josiah the son of Amon king in his stead: he reigned over Judah, 2 Kings 21. 18, 23, 24, 26.

Josiah is slain by Pharaoh king of Egypt; the people of the land took Je∣hoahaz the son of Josiah and anointed him, and made him king in his fathers stead. Pharoah puts Jehoahaz out, and set up Eliakim Jehoahaz his son in his stead, and called him Jehoiakim, 2 Kings 23. 29, 30, 33, 34.

Jehoiakim dyed, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead over Judah. Jehoiachin is carryed away captive to Babylon: and the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king in his stead, and called him Zedekiah, 2 Kings 24. 6, 15, 17.

Zedekiah the King, and all carryed captive, 2 Kings 25.

See Magistrates. Chap. 24.