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[Book II] CHAP. V. (Book 5)
Shewing the State of the Jews in the Captivity, and after their return out of it; with the Frame of the Jewish Commonwealth. (Book 5)
[Sect. 1] * 1.1WE left the Children of Israel upon a sad march, even into Cap∣tivity. What Orders had bin antiently observ'd by them during the time they were in Egypt (one of which, as has bin already shewn, was their seventy Elders) the same, so far as would be per∣mitted by the Princes whose Servants they were, continu'd in prac∣tice with them during the time of their Captivity, out of which the ten * 1.2Tribes never more return'd. The two Tribes, when seventy years were accomplish'd from the time that they were carry'd away by NE∣BUCHADNEZZAR, and in the first year of CYRUS King of Per∣sia, ••eturn'd the best part of them, not only with the King's leave and liking, but with restitution of the Plate and Vessels belonging to the Temple.
[Sect. 2] * 1.3 THE first Colony (as I may say) of the two Tribes, or those that return'd under the Conduct of ZOROBABEL Prince of Judah, a∣mounted to forty two thousand three hundred and threescore, among which there were about one hundred Patriarchs or Princes of Familys. To these, in the reign of ARTAXERXES, came sixteen or twenty Princes more with their Familys; among whom the Prophets HAG∣GAI, ZACHARIAS, and MALACHI were eminent. Som of * 1.4them could not shew their Fathers House and their Seed, whether they were of Israel. But these were few; for it is said of them in general, That they went every one to his own City, or to the Inheritance of his Fathers: In which you may note the restitution of the Balance of the Mosaical Commonwealth; tho to what this might com without fixation, the Jubile being not after the Captivity in use, I cannot say. However, for the present, plain it is that the antient Superstructures did also in∣sue: as in order to the putting away of the strange Wives, which the People in Captivity had taken, is apparent.
[Sect. 3] * 1.5THEIR whole progress hitherto is according to the Law of MO∣SES; they return every man to his Inheritance by direction of his Pe∣degree, or according to the House of his Fathers; they are led by Princes of their Familys, and are about to put away strange Wives: for what reason then should a man believe that what follows should not be according to the Orders of the same Lawgiver? Now that which follows, in order to the putting away of these foren Wives, is, * 1.6Proclamation was made throout Judah and Jerusalem to all the Children of the Captivity, that they should gather themselves to Jerusalem; and that whosoever would not com within three days, according to the counsil of the Princes and Elders, all his Substance should be forfeited, and himself se∣parated from the Congregation of those that had bin carry'd away. This plainly, by the penalty annex'd, is a Law for Banishment; of which kind there was none made by MOSES; and a Law made by the Princes and the Elders. What doubt then can remain, but these El∣ders were the Sanhedrim, or seventy Elders? But wheras neither the Sanhedrim, nor any other Senat of it self has bin found to make Laws, what others can these Princes be that are join'd with the Elders, than