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.

NEHEMIAH all the Book, Chap. 13. vers. 7.

[World 3507] [Artax. Darius 20] IN the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Darius, in the month Chisleu, Ne∣hemiah understandeth the miserable case of Jerusalem, and in the month Nisan following he obtaineth leave of the King to go to Jerusalem, and a Commission and a Convoy. Here observe, that Chisleu the ninth month, and Nisan following which was the first month, are both in the twentieth year of Darius, Chap. 1. 1. and Chap. 2. 1.

[Artax. Darius 21] Nehemiah is twelve years governour of Judea, before he return again to [Artax. Darius 22] Persia to the King, in that time he builds the wall of Jerusalem, fills it, [Artax. Darius 23] and settles it with Inhabitants; brings the people into order, and into a [Artax. Darius 24] Covenant, and Jerusalem into habitableness in safety: And having finished [Artax. Darius 25] all that was needful for the constituting of the City, and the people in [Artax. Darius 26] peace and piety, he returneth at the end of twelve years, or in the two [Artax. Darius 27] and thirtieth year of the King, according as he had appointed, Chap. 13. [Artax. Darius 28] 6. and from that year if we count backward to the first of Cyrus, you [Artax. Darius 29] have the sum of seven times seven, or forty nine years, the term that the [Artax. Darius 30] Angel had pointed out for the building of Jerusalem, City and wall, Dan. [Artax. Darius 31] 9. 25. viz. of Cyrus three years, of Ahashuerosh fourteen years, and of this Darius thirty two. And thus far goeth the Old Testament in telling the years of the Story as it goeth along; and further then this thirty two of Darius it counteth not by named sums. And this very consideration doth confirm me in this reckoning of the years of these Persian Kings; for I can∣not but conclude, that the Holy Ghost naming the several years of these Kings hitherto, intendeth to continue the Chronicle till this time of Jeru∣salems compleating, and there to end the Annals.

In the seventh Chapter of this Book, which giveth account of the num∣ber, and the families of the people that planted Judea after the Captivi∣ty, you will find exceeding much difference from the Catalogue in Ezra 2. though this is said by the Text to be the same: for the fifth verse saith thus, I found a Book of the Genealogy of them that came up at the first, and found written therein, &c. but the matter is to be conceived and apprehended

thus: That Nehemiah found that List and Catalogue of those that came up in the first of Cyrus, as it was taken then; and that he called over the names of the Families as they lay in order there: He observed the order of that List in calling and listing them, but he took the number of them as they were now when he numbred them: Some Families were now more in number then they were when that first List was made, and some were less, and some that were in that List were not to be found now; for some had more of the same Stock come out of Babel since the first numbering, and some that had come up at first and were then numbred were now gone back, and so he observeth by comparing that List, and the present number, how the Plantation in Judea had gone forward or backward, increased or decayed since the first return.

[World 3519] [Artax. Darius 32] Nehemiah returneth to the King again, Chap. 13. 6. and here the Chroni∣cle of the Old Testament ends.

NEHEM. XIII. from vers. 7. to the end.

NEHEMIAH, after his absence from Jerusalem [which how long it was is uncertain] when he returneth thither again, findeth things exceedingly out of order, which he seeketh to reform: He lived after this to the times of Darius the last King of Persia, for he speaks of him, Chap. 12. 22. and of Jaddua the High Priest, who met Alexander the Great when he came to Jerusalem, and to whom Alexander shewed so great respect as Jose∣phus reporteth, Antiq. Lib. 11. Caput. ult.

Ezra liveth also near towards the times of Jaddua, for he wrote the Book of Chronicles in the time of Johanan, Jaddua's father, Nehem. 12. 23. and so he lived well towards the expiration of the Persian Monarchy: He was born at the least fifty years before Cyrus first; and from thence to Darius his thirty second, were forty nine years, an hundred in all within one: And after that he weareth out the time of one High Priest, namely, Joi∣ada, and writeth in the time of Johanan or Jonathan, the next High Priest after him: This consideration also helpeth to confirm that account of the times and Kings that we have given from Cyrus hither.