The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

The Book of the PROVERBS. (Book Proverbs)

AMong the Stories of Solomons renown in other things, may be inser∣ted also and conceived his uttering of his Proverbs, three thousand in number, as is related, 1 King. 4. 32. and the making of his Songs, one thousand and five as is storied in the same place. Now it is no doubt but the most of these are lost, as also are his Books of Philosophy: But these that are now extant in the Book of the Proverbs, and the Song of Songs, we may very properly conceive to have been penned by him in some of those times that have been mentioned: The very exact time is uncertain, and there∣fore not curiously to be enquired after; but the time at large betwixt his Sons growing to capacity, whom he instructeth, and his own fall by the inticement of his Idolatrous Wives.

The Book of the Proverbs falleth under several divisions; As

• 1. From the beginning of the first Chapter to the end of the ninth: which whole piece seemeth to have been compiled by him, more especially for the in∣struction of his Son.
• 2. From the beginning of the tenth Chapter, to the latter end of the four and twentieth: wherein are lessons framed for the instruction of others.
• 3. From the beginning of the five and twentieth Chapter to the end of the twenty ninth, are Proverbs of Solomon, found in some Copy of his in the time of Ezechiah, as Moses his Copy of the Law was found in the days of Josiah.
• 4. The thirtieth Chapter is a script of Agur the Son of Jakeh, a man not to be certainly pointed out either who he was or when he lived, and therefore that Chapter must necessarily be taken up where it lies, because it is not possible to find out where else to lay it.
• 5. The last Chapter is some part of it, Batshebaes words to Solomon, and some part of it Solomons words in her commendation, and in commendation of all women like her: And the former part which are her words might very well be laid in her Story, and in Solomons minority, namely, after vers. 25. of 2 Sam. 12. but yet it is very properly laid here where it is, be∣cause the words of Solomon in commendation of such women as she, were delivered when he delivered his other Doctrines and Proverbs, and so the oc∣casion that drew out those words, is fitly joyned to the time of the words themselves.

Solomon is called Lemuel by his Mother, as alluding or tuning to Shemuel, or Samuel, a Son of his mothers vows, as Solomon is here averred by his mother to be of hers. She giveth him many excellent Lessons in his tender years toward the making him a good man, and a good King: for which when he comes to mature years, he highly commends and extols a good woman, such a one as his mother was in an Acrostick, or Alphabetical Oration.