2 CHRON. XXVI. ver. 5.
UZZIAH seeketh God, [World 3216] [Uzziah. 16] and prospereth, Zecha∣riah [Division 187] [Uzziah. 17] a Prophet is as it were his [Division 188] [Uzziah. 18] houshold Chaplain, and follow∣ing [Interregnum. 1] [Division 189] [Uzziah. 19] his directions it goeth well [Interregnum. 2] [Division 190] [Uzziah. 20] with him. There is mention in [Interregnum. 3] [Division 191] [Uzziah. 21] Esay 1. 2. in the times of Ahaz, [Interregnum. 4] [Division 192] [Uzziah. 22] of one of the same name, Ze∣chariah. [Interregnum. 5] [Interregnum. 6] [Division 193]
[World 3223] [Uzziah. 23] Esay beginneth to Prophesie [Interregnum. 7] [Interregnum. 8] [Division 194] in this three and twentieth year of Uzziah, when it was now threescore and five years to the captiving of the ten Tribes, for so seems that passage to be dated and understood, Esay 8. 8. with∣in threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken off that it be not a people: For to what other date can it be referred if it mean barely the ten Tribes captiving. Not from the time that Esay uttered that Prophesie in the time of Ahaz; for from the first year of Ahaz to the breaking of Ephraim was but twenty years, nor from the beginning of Amos his Pro∣phesying, as the Jews do cast it, for he began in Jeroboams time, and from Jeroboams last to the breaking of Ephraim was above seventy years, but it is to be counted from the time when Esay himself began to Pro∣phesie: He began in the days of Uzziah, and had continued all the time of Jotham, and now it was the reign of Ahaz, and the Lord fix∣eth him this term for Ephraims Kingdom; that count from the begin∣ning of his own prophesying, sixty five years forward, and then the ten Tribes should be captived. Now the Holy Ghost reckoneth from that date rather then from any other. 1. Because just now was the middle time betwixt the revolt of the ten Tribes, and the burning of the Temple, which whole sum and space was three hundred ninety years, so summed Ezek. 4. 5. and so shall the Reader see by them when we come there. If any will strictly have these sixty five years reckon∣ed from the time of Esays uttering the Prophesie in the time of Ahaz, we shall lend them a conjecture hereafter.