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.

2 CHRON. XXIX. XXX, XXXI.

[World 3282] [Ahaz 15] [Hezekiah 1] [Hoshea 4] [Division 253] HEZEKIAHS first year properly; and so is it reckoned, 2 King. 18. 9. 10. for his fourth year is said to be Hosheas seventh, and his sixth Hosheas 9. For though the beginning of his reign was somewhat coincident with the third of Hoshea, yet was it but a little time, and that year was soon out: therefore the Holy Ghost doth tell us, when it was that he began his reign at the very first: namely in Hosheas third: yet he rather counteth the beginning of his first year, from the first day of a new year, and from his entring

upon the work of reformation, then from the other date.

Hezekiah upon the first day of the year beginneth to cleanse the house of the Lord, and even in the life time of Ahaz casteth out those defilements that Ahaz had brought into the Temple, in eigh∣ty and eight days the Priests do cleanse the house and the Court, and by Sacrifices they make a new Dedication. In the second Month they appoint and keep the Passover, and Hezekiah and the Prin∣ces send throughout all the ten Tribes to invite them to come in to the true Religion: this overture of reconciliation to God, and to the house of David they have now before they be destroyed: some of them imbrace it, come and eat the Passover, but not purified: yet by Hezekiahs prayer all goes well with them. The people de∣parting from this Passover go abroad through the land, and break down Idols, not only in Judah but also in divers places of the Coun∣try of the ten Tribes. Hezekiah at Jerusalem restoreth the Priests to their courses, and the Tithes to the Priests.

In this purging and cleansing of the Temple, which Hezekiah per∣formed in the beginning of his reign it may well be supposed, that that Copy of Solomons Proverbs was found mentioned, Prov. 25. 1. and was transcribed by some of Hezekiahs servants out of the old Manuscript, which it is like was much soiled and spotted with time and neglect.