An institution of general history from the beginning of the vvorld to the monarchy of Constantine the Great : composed in such method and manner as never yet was extant / by William Howel ...

SECT. I. From the time of Phaleg, and the division of the Earth; to the departure of the Israelites out of Aegypt.

1. PHaleg being 30 years old, begat Reu, otherwise called Rehu and Ragau by the 70: Reu 32 years old, begat Sarug. He at 30 years of age, had a Son named Nachor. And Nachor, one (when he was 29) called Terah or Thare.

2. Terah being 70 years old begat Abram, Nachor, and Haran. Not that all these were born at the same time, or are to be accounted in age as we find them in order; priority in years not being constantly observed in Scrip∣ture; but rather that of piety and true worth. Haran is to be reckoned as the eldest; who died at Ur of the Chaldees, before his Father departed thence, and left 3 children, viz. one Son named Lot: and two Daughters, Milcah married to his Brother (and her Uncle) Nahor, and Sarai (or Iscah) to Abram. The second was Nahor, Father to Chesed (or Chased;) and so Abram the youngest; because he was born, not in the 70^th as hath been thought; but 130 year of his Father. For Terah lived in all(a) 205 year, and died in Charan. Abram, when he came out of Charran (which(b) Stephen saith, was after his Father's death) was(c) 75 years old; which being deducted out of 205, 130 years will remain. But if he was born in the 70 year of his Father; then, at his death, was he 135 years old; and having Isaac born to him, when 100, in the Land of Canaan, he must with him have returned back to Charran (which seemeth very incredible); or else he left it not at his Father's death, as Stephen must make us believe he did.

3. Abram therefore was born in the 130 year of his Father's life, and the 2008^th of the World; as is clear from the ages of all his Progenitors, taken at the births of their Sons, and laid together. About the 70 year of his age,

God commanded him to leave his Father's house, and come into the Land which he should shew him; promising to make of him a great Nation, to blesse him, and in him all the Families of the Earth. He, obeying this command, drew on his Father also with him, and so (together with Lot the Son of Ha∣ran, and Sarai Abram's wife) they came from Ur of the Chaldaeans to Charran and dwelt there. Dwelling there seemeth to intimate a longer stay than of one year; so that some probably think 5 years to have been there spent. For Terah, now very old, might detein them by his weaknesse; they being unwilling to leave him, till they saw him either recovered or dead: But after his death, mindfull of God's command, they left Charran, and came into the Land of Canaan. This journey from Ur to Charran, was the beginning of the 430 years of his, and his posteritie's, sojourning in a strange Land; the promise also made to him being so many years before the promulgation of the Law in Mount Sinai, as the Apostle Paul hath observed.

4. The first place of Canaan in which Abram made any stay, was Sichem; where God again appeared to him, and renewed his Promise; another of gi∣ving that Land to his Seed being added to it; and in this place he built the first Altar to the Lord. Thence he removed towards the hilly Country, and the Eastern tract of Luz, (afterwards called Bethel) where he built another Altar; and so proceeded into the Southern Coasts, whence a Famine drove him into Aegypt. There he sojourned, and taught the Aegyptians Astro∣logy, which Josephus saith, they were ignorant of, till he communicated to them the knowledge of it, and of Arithmetick. His wife being beautifull; for fear of his life, he counterfeited himself her Brother, so that Pharaoh began to cast his affections on her, till, plagued by God, he was constrained to dismisse them both in peace. Out of Aegypt then he returned to that place, between Hai and Bethel, where he built the second Altar: Now was he and Lot grown so rich, that no longer could they conveniently live together. Lot being departed to the Plains of Sodom, God again renewed his promise to Abram, which he more largely explained, both as to the gi∣ving of the Land, and the propagation of his Posterity. After this, as he was commanded, he went and viewed the Land; then pitch't his Tents in the Plain of Mamre neer Hebron, where he built another Altar to the Lord.

5. At this time 4 Kings about the River Euphrates, viz. Amraphel King of Shinar o•• Babylonia, Arioch King of Ellasar, (thought to be Arabia, because of a City upon the borders of that Country, called Ellas) Chedorla∣omer King of Elam (afterwards Persia) and ••idal King of Nations (thought to be many petty Kingdoms, adjoyning to Phoenicia and Palaestine) came and fought against the 5. Kings of the Pentapolis; viz. Bera of Sodom, Birsha of Gomorrah, Shinab King of Admah, Shemeber of Zebojim, and the King of Bela (afterwards called Zoar); all who, had 12 years served Chedorlao∣mer; and in the 1••^th rebelled. They overthrew these five petty Princes▪ led away much pillage, and many Captives, amongst which was Lot, who then sojourned in Sodom. Abram hearing this, armed 318 servants; and, pursuing them, recovered Lot, and all the prey, which he restored to the owners. In his return, Melchisedech (whom some improbably make Sem) King of Salem (or Jerusalem,) Priest of the most high God, brought forth Bread and Wine, and blessed him; to whom he gave the Tithes of all. In this storie Abram is first called an Hebrew by Moses (And there came one which had escaped and told Abram the Hebrew) which word in Scripture, is not found applied to any other before him.

6. Some(d) think he was so called from Heber the Son of Salah, and that this appellation onely was proper to his Family, because it kept the most antient or Hebrew tongue incorrupt. But(e) others finding the word to signifie one that cometh from beyond the water, or a Stranger; think it was given to Abram upon no other account, then because he came from beyond Euphrates. None of Heber's Posterity being called so but onely he, and some of his; they think, addeth much to their reason. They conclude, that

the Hebrew language was not appropriate to Heber as a reward of his piety, because those that descended of him used it not alwayes; and to others, be∣sides his posterity, it appeareth to have been natural. They instance that La∣ban spake Syriack, and the Canaanites and Philistins the Hebrew naturally; as the names of their men, places, rivers, &c. do shew. Therefore they judge it most probable that Abram speaking the Chaldaean language before (which onely differeth in dialect from the Hebrew) got both the name and language, after his arrival in the Land of Canaan. The Heathen(f) Writers thought them to have been called Hebrews from Abraham, as corrupted from Abrahaeans, out of ignorance of the language. Augustine also once inclined to this opinion, which he afterwards renounced.

7. Abram, after his victory over the Kings, received a more large pro∣mise from God, who ingaged to become to him a shield, and a sufficient re∣ward; and (for that it troubled him to go childlesse) to give him issue, from which should proceed an innumerable posterity, that, inhabiting a strange Land four hundred years, was to return and possesse this of Canaan, when the iniquity of the Amorites would be full, in the fourth Generation. This League made betwixt God and Abram was confirmed by Sacrifice; yet, Sa∣rai, seeing her self barren, perswaded her husband to go in unto Hagar her handmaid, of which he had a son born to him, and named Ismael, in the eleventh year after his coming into Canaan, the 86 of his Age and of the World, the 2094. In the 13th year after, God made another Covenant with him concerning the seed of Isaack, who was to be born the year following, and Circumcision was instituted as a seal thereof. Now, whereas his name before was Abram, or an High-father, it was changed into Abraham, or Father of a great multitude. And Sarai, which signifieth My Princesse, or Lady, (as of one family) was altered into Sarah, or a Princesse absolute; as of many Nations. Not long after, God made known to Abraham his pur∣pose to destroy Sodom, and the other Cities for their abominable wickednesse. He interceded hard for them; but there being not so many as five righte∣ous persons in Sodom, God having taken care for Lot and his family, rained fire and brimstone down upon the Cities, which together with the Plain were utterly destroyed; onely Bela was spared for Lot's sake, who fled thi∣ther. Of the rest the Dead Sea (into which the ground was converted) re∣remaineth a lasting Monument to this day. In this Sea (or Lake) no living Creature is bred, having nothing but a Sulphureous matter thence taken in great quantities. It is described to be 72 miles in length, and 19 in breadth. Nigh to it fair and pleasant Apples grow, which being touched, turn into a Sulphureous vapour: and a tradition remained amongst the Heathen of these Cities being destroyed with Thunder and Lightning from Heaven. Lot's wife, after she had got out of Sodom, looked back, and was turned into a Pillar of Salt. His two daughters, thinking all mankind to have perished, made their father drunk and lay with him; from which incestuous copulation came Moab and Ammon, fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites, two great and powerfull Nations.

8. A little after (in the same year) Abraham having continued in the Plain of Mamre about eighteen years, departed unto Gerar the Metropolis of the Philistins; where hapned the same thing concerning his wife, as for∣merly had done in Aegypt, Abimelech the King having taken her into his house, who therefore was plagued till he restored her with large gifts. The year being precisely finished, Sarah bare to him Isaac (so called because he laughed when God made mention of it to him) he being now an hundred years old, and she ninety; four hundred before the departure of his posterity out of Aegypt. At the weaning of Isaack, Sarah seeing Ismael mocking, procu∣red him and his mother to be banished the house, God bidding Abraham fulfill her desire herein, and promising to make of him a great Nation. When Isaack was grown up (though of what Age is not expressed, some gues∣sing thirty years; others (unprobably) ten, or twelve, because he must have been of sufficient strength to carry wood) God to try his father's faith, com∣manded

him to Offer him up for a burnt-offering on Mount Moriah, where afterwards the Temple of Solomon stood. He, out of obedience, went about to do it; but God accepting his will for a performance, renewed his pro∣mise to him. Sarah died aged 127 years, and after her death Abraham married another wife, called Keturah, by which he had other six sons. To those he gave gifts, and before his death sent them away from Isaack, the Heir of the promise.

9. When Isaack was fourty years old, his father procured him to wife, Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel, who was son to Nachor, the brother of A∣braham. She (married at fourteen years of Age, according to the tradition of the Jews) was barren twenty years; but then her husband beseeching God for her, she brought forth twins (Esau and Jacob) which strugled in her womb; the elder being, as God foretold, to serve the younger. Fiveteen years after Abraham died, being 175 years old, having sojourned in the Land of Canaan a hundred years; 22 after the death of Sem, four before that of Heber; in the dayes of Inachus King of the Argives, 1821 years before the Aera of Christ, in the 2183 year of the World. Of Abraham (be∣sides Artapanus and Charan before mentioned) Berosus the Caldaean had some knowledge, though he named him not. Hecataeus not onely made mention of him by the way, but wrote an History of him. Nicolaus Da∣mascenus in the fourth book of his Histories, related that Abraham, a certain stranger, reigned at Damascus; having come from a Countrey about Baby∣lon, said to be that of the Chaldaeans. That he departed thence with his people into the Land of Canaan, afterwards called Judaea, where his posteri∣ty grew very numerous; concerning which he should speak in another place. In Josephus his time the name of Abraham was famous at Damascenus; where was shewn a certain Village, called Abrahams dwelling.

10. After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaack, and made the same Covenant with him. In a time of Famine, he also sojourned in Gerar, where dissembling concerning Rebecca his wife, the same thing happened to them as formerly to Abraham and Sarah, from another Abimelech, which name was common to all the Kings of the Philistins. Some years after, Ishmael died, aged 137 years, 48 after his father, in the year of the World 2231. From his eldest son Nebaioth, descended the Nabathaeans, who(g) inhabi∣ted part of Arabia, from the River Euphrates to the Red-sea, called Arabia Petraea, from Petra the Metropolis of the Countrey; which, wanting fruits, abounded in Sheep and Cattel.(h) Diodorus describeth it to have lyen like a Wildernesse untilled, as without inhabitants; without Rivers or Foun∣tains. It was unlawfull with them to sow or plant, to drink wine or build houses, being extraordinary desirous of liberty, and judging these things but tempta∣tions, to such as were stronger, to inthral them. Some of them kept Ca∣mels, others Sheep; some used to convey Spices, brought out of Arabia the Happy, to the Sea. When they were invaded by an Enemy, they betook them∣selves into the Wildernesse, which being vast, and without water, affoarded them sufficient protection. Another son of Ismael, named Kedar, gave name to a place of Arabia the Desart, often mentioned in Scripture. It is thought that, though the Chusaeans, Madianites, and Ismaelites were of several Originals; yet they dwelt promiscuously together, and grew up into one Nation of the Saracens.

11. Fifteen years after this, Isaack being 138 years old and blind, sent his eldest son Esau to Hunt for Venison, that he might eat and blesse him before his death. But Jacob, by his mother's help, supplanted him, and got the blessing, having formerly bought his birthright for pottage. Hereat Esau inraged determined to kill him after his fathers death; which Rebecca know∣ing, sent him into Mesopotamia to her brother Laban, that he might thence also take a wife out of her own kindred, and not make his choice amongst the Hittites, of which Esau had married two wives. In his journey, God ap∣peared to him in a dream and blessed him; for which cause he changed the name of the place from Luz into Bethel. Coming to Laban, after a moneths

time, he Covenanted to serve him seven years for his youngest daughter Ra∣chel; which being ended, Leah, the eldest was given to him in her stead, and presently after Rachel; for which he agreed to serve him other seven years. Rachel, most beloved, continued barren, and Leah because neglected, ob∣tained favour of God to be fruitfull, which raised such emulation betwixt them, as Rachel first, and then Leah, gave her maid to his bed, accounting the Children begotten on them as their own. Within seven years he had by Leah seven sons, viz. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zabulon, and a daughter named Dinah; by Bilhah, Rachel's maid, two sons, Dan, and Naph∣tali; by Zilpah, Leahs maid, also two sons, Gad and Asher. Lastly, by Rachel her self one son, named Joseph, and born the fourteen year of his service end∣ing. Six years longer he served Laban for wages (being to have the Cattel of such and such a colour) which his hard master changed ten times; but could not withstand the providence of God in his growing rich.

12. Having served his father-in-law and Uncle twenty years, and obser∣ving what envy he had contracted from him and his sons, he stole away with all he had, and proceeded three dayes on his yourney, ere his departure was known. Then Laban with his friends pursuing, overtook him after seven dayes in Mount Gilead, which from the event of this meeting had its name. After several expostulations, they made a Covenant (Laban being warned by God not to hurt him) and, in Testimony thereof, laid together an heap of stones, which Jacob called Galead; but Laban, in his Syrian tongue, Je∣gar-Sahadutha. Jacob then, continued his journey towards Canaan, wrest∣ling with God's Angel in his way; from which he received a blessing, and the sirname of Israel. His brother Esau also met him, and lovingly received him contrary to his fears. The first place he stayed at was Succoth, so called because there he built an House, and made Booths for his Cattel. Thence he passed over Jordan, and came to Sichem, where he bought of Hamor, the father of Sichem, a Field, for a hundred Lambs, or so many pieces of money. How long he continued in either of these places is not expressed. Demetrius * and Alexander Polyhistor wrote that he abode ten years in Socot, saying nothing of Sichem; perhaps because he made little stay there. Indeed Dinah seemeth to have been ravished not long after their first coming thither; Ha∣mor speaking to his Citizens concerning them, as persons lately come; and her curiosity to see the women of that Countrey, probably may be thought to have proceeded, from the strangenesse of it. At the end of these ten years she was ravished, then sixteen years old; being born a little before Jo∣seph, and perhaps the same year. To be revenged upon Sichem, who com∣mitted the rape, her two brothers Simeon and Levi slew him, and put the whole Citie to the sword, coming upon them when they were yet sore by Circumcision, which he had procured them to admit of, that he might ob∣tain the maid for his wife.

13. Jacob much troubled hereat, was commanded by God to go to Bethel, having buried all the strange gods and the earings of his family under the Oake in Sichem. At Bethel he erected an Altar to the Lord, and here De∣borah the Nurse of Rebecca died. Thence he removed to Ephrath, being 107 years old, and when they had almost reached the place, Rachel died in Travel of Benjamin, having (as Demetrius and Alexander wrote) lived with her husband 23 years. Eleven years after Jacobs return into Canaan, when he was now 109 years old, Joseph being hated of his brethren, because he had brought to their father their evil report, and for his dreams (which presaged his preheminence over them) they sold him to the Ismaelites; who carried him down into Egypt, where Potiphar Captain of the Kings Guard bought him, being now seventeen years old. Ten years he lived with him: till re∣fusing to satisfie the wanton desires of his Mistresse, he was falsly accused by her of her own fault, and cast into prison. The year after, he interpreted the Dreams of the chief Butler and Baker of Pharoh, both which were in prison with him; and accordingly the Baker was hanged, but the Butler restored, who yet forgat Joseph.

14. At this time his Grand-father Isaac died, aged 180 years, in the 2288 year of the World. He was buried in Hebron, by his two Sons Esau and Jacob; the former having (as some think they have ground in charity to be∣lieve) reconciled himselfe to his Brother, and joyned himselfe to the Church; not being estranged from the Grace of God, but onely from the speciall and particular Covenant, as to the promised Seed; which they have the same reason to think concerning Ismael: The Funerall past, and the Goods divided betwixt them, being both exceeding rich, and therefore re∣quiring large room; Esau departed to his former possession of Mount Seir; Providence so ordaining it, that when the Israelites should afterwards come to inherit Canaan, his posterity might neither be destroyed, nor displaced. He was otherwise called Edom, and from him Idumaea took it's name, which seemeth from Strabo to have also included the Country of the Nabataeans. And likely enough it is, that he who married the Sister of Nebaioth, might joyn himself to them and praeside over them. This is the famous Heroe, from whom not onely Idumaea, but also the adjoyning Erithraean, Edomaean, or Red Sea, (all signifying the same thing) was so called; being known to the Greeks, by the name of Erythras, the same with Edom.

15. But two years after Joseph had interpreted the Dreams of the servants of Pharaoh, he was called up out of prison, to explain the meaning of one, which the King himself had dreamed. This, betokening 7 years of great plenty to come, and after them as many of famine; and it being necessary, as he hinted to Pharaoh, to chuse out some wise Man, who being set over the Land, should gather and preserve the fruits of the Earth, against the time of want; Pharaoh made choice of him, being about 30 years old, for this pur∣pose: he appointed him next to himself, and gave him in marriage Asenath the Daughter of Potipherah, Priest of On (or Heliopolis, where Strabo wri∣teth, that the Priests of old time had their habitation) on which be begat Ephraim and Manasses. According to his praediction, 7 most plentiful years ensued, wherein he gathered into store-houses the Corn that abounded; and after them came 7 other of famine, which praevailed sore both in Aegypt and the neighbouring Countries of Canaan and Arabia. Jacob amongst others, wanting provisions, in the 2d year of the famine, sent his Sons down into Aegypt to buy Corn. Joseph knowing them, though undiscovered, ac∣cused them for coming as Spies, cast them into prison, and dismissed them not, till Simeon (the eldest of those which conspired against his life) was bound, and left as an Hostage, for their bringing down of Benjamin; that so their story might be confirmed, of their being one Man's Sons, and that their youngest Brother was left behind. The next year, being pressed with famine, they returned and Benjamin with them, whom their Father was con∣strained to let go. Now, after some further terrifying of them, he made himself known, and sent for his Father down into Aegypt. Jacob understanding of his Son's life and promotion (whom he had given over of a long time, for dead) gladly went down, and with him 66 Souls, besides his Sons Wives; in the 3d year of the famine, of the World the 2298th, aged 130 years.

16. By Pharaoh's consent, Joseph placed them in the Land of Goshen, and there nourished them during the famine. He sold to the Egyptians the Corn formerly treasured up, and therewith purchased for the King all their Money, Goods, and Lands, except the Lands of the Priests, which were not alienated. The grounds he afterwards granted to the former owners, paying the fifth part of the profit to Pharaoh's use. After Jacob had lived in Aegypt 17 years, he adopted the two eldest Sons of Joseph; viz. Manasses and Ephraim, of whom the younger he preferred before the elder: He cal∣led his Sons together, blessed them, and told them apart what should befall them in their posterity. From Reuben his first born he took the prehemi∣nence, because he had defiled his bed, and gave it to Judah. He prophe∣cied of Christ's coming, commanded them to bury him in the Cave of Mach∣pelah, in the Land of Canaan, with his Ancestors, and then died at the age of 147 years, in the year of the World 2315. Joseph caused his servants

the Physitians to embalme Israel, and a mourning of 70 dayes (or 72), was observed for him, which number in that Country was onely proper to Kings; Then, obtaining leave of Pharaoh, he and his Brethren, with a great com∣pany of Courtiers, carried him into the Land of Canaan, and buried him there, according to his will, where they also mourned for him 7 dayes.

17. Being returned into Aegypt, Joseph forgave his Brethren the fault they formerly had committed against him (which now they feared he would revenge, after their Father's death,) and as long as he lived▪ he nourished them and their children. This space of time was 54 years after his Father's death, at the end whereof, having exhorted them to Unity and Concord, foretel∣ling them their departure out of Aegypt, and commanding them thence to carry his Bones, he dyed at the age of 110 years, when he had governed Aegypt; under severall Kings, the space of 80. Trogus Pompe••us (as ap∣peareth out of Justin his Epitomizer) wrote many things concerning him, partly taken out of the Sacred History, partly mixed with such Fables as the Heathen were not wanting to invent concerning the Jews. Abram, Moses, and Israel, are made by him Kings of Damascus, which City took it's name from their Predecessor. Israel had ten Sons, to whom he committed the Kingdom, and commanded them to call themselves Jews from Judah, who died before the division, and whose portion was divided amongst them all. The youngest of the 10 Sons was Joseph, whose excellent wit his Brothers fearing, they sold him to some Marchants that carried him down into Aegypt. Here learning the Magick Arts, he became very dear to the King, having skill in working Wonders, and interpretation of Dreams: moreover, no∣thing either Divine or Humane was beyond his reach; insomuch, that he foretold the barrennesse of the ground severall years before it hapned, and all Aegypt had perished with famine, but that the King, by his advice, caused Corn to be treasured up many years: finally, such was his knowledge, that his answers seemed rather the Oracles of a God, then the replies of a Man. Then followeth that Moses was his Son, who, being both wise and beautiful, became a leader to such Aegyptians as were infected with scab and itch, and so returned to Damascus, the Country of his Ancestors. Which lyes (with others hereafter to be mentioned) are to be attributed to the malice of the Aegyptians. With the life of Joseph endeth the first Book of Moses his history, called by the Greeks, Genesis, which containeth the account of 2369 years of the World. The next to it in order of time, the Book of Job is thought to be; of which Moses also is reputed Author, by the common con∣sent and opinion of the Hebrews.

18. After the death of Joseph, and all that generation, the Children of Israel increased abundantly, and grew exceeding mighty; so that the Land was filled with their numbers. But a certain King arising, which knew not Joseph; to keep them down, he pressed them with sore Labour; and lest they should increase, gave order to the Midwives to drowne all the Male Children in the River. At this time (58 years after the death of Joseph, and 41 after that of Levi) Aruram, the Son of Caath, and Grand-son of Levi, by Jochabed the Daughter of Levi (so called by an Hebraism, and not Caath's own Sister as some have thought) was made Father of a Son, whom for his beauty they hid 3 moneths, not fearing the Kings command, and when he could no longer be concealed, put him in an Ark of Bul-rushes, daubed within and without with Pitch, and laid him on the brinck of the River. Hither the King's Daughter (by Josephus called Thermutis) coming down to wash her self, found the Babe; and moved with compassion, sent for a Nurse, which was Jochabed her self, through the procurement of Miriam her Daughter, which had watched what would become of the Child, and unknown, had offered her selfe for a messenger. Being nursed up, she edu∣cated him as her own Son, and called him Moses, because she had taken him out of the water. Moy in the Aegyptian tongue, as Josephus saith, sig∣nifying Water, and Yses taken out, though Mosche in the Hebrew is no com∣pounded word, signifying drawn out, delivered, or rather a deliverer; not

without a mystery; he being a Type of that great Deliverer of Mankind. He was learned in all the Learning of the Aegyptians, and became mighty in words and in deeds.

19. But Moses being grown up, by Faith refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, and despised the pleasure of his Court; having, accor∣ding to Josephus his history, thrown down his Crown, sett upon his head when a Child, and trampled it under his feet; for which, as an ill omen, the Priest (who had foretold, that his Nativity would prove dysastrous to the Aegypti∣ans) would have had him slain; but he was spared through the affection of Thermutis. Being forty years old, he visited his Brethren the Israelites; and looking upon their burdens, when he saw an Aegyptian smiting one of them, he killed him, and hid his bodie in the sand. But this coming to Pharaoh's ear, he was forced to flye for his life, into the Land of Midian, where he kept the Sheep of Jethro, or Hebab, Priest of that Country, who gave him Zipporah his Daughter to wife. Forty years he continued with him, till the burthens of the Children of Israel were grown so intolerable, after above 80 years continuance, that God, being moved with their cries, called to him out of a burning Bush, as he was feeding Sheep, to send him on a message to Pharaoh, about their dismission. He laboured by all means to make excuse; but at length, confirmed by promise of Divine assistance by Miracles, and the company of his Brother Aaron, (3 years elder); he under∣took the employment.

20. This message was ill resented by Pharaoh, and greater burthens im∣posed on the people; no Straw being now allowed them, for the making of Brick, in which servile worke they were imployed. Many signs and wonders were wrought by Moses, in the King's presence, which little availed; Jannes and Jambres, Magicians, doing the same with their Enchantments. Ten Plagues also by the Ministry of Moses, God inflicted upon the Land. 1. The waters were turned into blood. 2. Frogs swarmed in the Land. 3. Lice. 4. Flies and other Insects. 5. A Murrain followed amongst the Cattell. 6. Ulcers in Man and Beast. 7. Thunder and Rain mingled with Fire, and Hail, that destroyed the Corn with the Trees of the field. 8. Locusts covered the face of the Earth, and consumed the fruits thereof. 9. Ensued Darknesse throughout the Land Aegypt, such as no Aegyptian could stir out of his house, yet the Israelites had light in their dwellings. 10. Last of all, the First-born were slain, from Pharaoh that sate upon the Throne, to the First-born of the Captive in the Dungeon, and the first-born of Cattell.

21. The Nine former Plagues Pharaoh's heart was so hardened as to with∣stand; but the Tenth forced him to let the people go. Upon the death of the First-born, he and his Subjects thrust them out with haste, out of the Land, and fogot the Jewells of silver and Jewells of gold, which they had lent them. For the Israelites were commanded by God, to borrow these things; and, the night before their departure, to kill a Lamb; with the blood of which they were to sprinkle the lintels of their doors, that the Angel appointed to do this execution upon the First-born, might passe by their houses, at the sight thereof. And, in memoriall of the thing, this they were to do every yeer on the tenth day of that moneth (thenceforth commanded to begin the year, being called Abib) eating a Lamb in a travelling posture, with their loyns girt, and staves in their hands. Thus left they Aegypt, 430 years after the first promise made to Abraham, and his leaving Ur of the Chaldaeans, 400 after the birth of Isaac, 210 after Jacob's descent into Egypt, in the 2508th year of the World. This their departure is also attested by Heathen Writers; but related to have been upon such grounds, as the Aegyptians themselves invented; who, as it seemeth, took occasion from the Plague of Ulcers, which they suffered in their own persons, to feign, that because of Leprosie they were forced out of the Land; as will largely appear in the History of Aegypt.

Notes

• Phaleg. Reu. Sarug. Nahor. Terah.
• Gen. 11.
• Abram.
• Vers. 26.
• What year of his Father he was born.

  De istis lege Ludov. Cap∣pellum. Chro∣nol. Sacra. notis ad Tabulam 5. Joh. Gerard. Vossii.

  Isagog. Chrono∣log. Dissert. 5. c. 6.

  Jacob. Cap∣pell. Hist. Sa∣cra & Exotica ad A. M. 2003, & mul∣tus alios.
• (a)

  Vers. 32.
• (b)

  Acts 7.••4
• (c)

  Gen. 12.4.
• A. M. 2008.
• SECT. I.
• Gen 11.12. Acts 7.
• He cometh from Ur to Canaan.
• A. M. 2078.
• Thence into Canaan.
• Gen. 12.
• Sojourneth in Aegypt.
• Chap. 13.
• Chap. 14.
• Recovereth Lot and the Booty from the 4 Kings.
• (d)

  Vide Bo∣chartum Pha∣leg. lib. 2. c. 10.
• Why called an Hebrew.
• (e)

  Lege Lu∣dov. Cappell. Chronol. Sacra. p. 111, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• (f)

  Artapanus apud Euseb. & Charax apud Stephanum.
• Retractat. l. 2. c. 16.
• Gen. 15.
• Chap. 16.
• Ismael born.
• Chap. 17.
• A. M. 2094.
• Abraham and Sarah.
• Sodom, &c. de∣stroyed.
• Vide John. Bistelium Je∣suetam, de Illu∣stribus ruinis.
• Lege Tacitum Histor. l 5.
• Gen. 20.
• A. M. 2108.
• Isaak born.
• Chap. 21.
• Chap. 22.
• Sarah dieth.
• Chap. 23.
• Isaac married.
• Chap. 24.
• A. M. 2148.
• Chap. 25.
• A.M. 2168.
• Abraham dy∣eth.
• Apud Joseph Antiq. lib. 1. cap. 7.
• Gen. 26.
• Ismael dieth.
• His posterity.
• (g)

  Strabo l. 16. p. 779. C.
• (h)

  Lib. 19. p. 722. A.
• Gen. ••7.
• Chap. 28.29.30.
• Jacob flieth from his bro∣ther into Me∣sopotamia.
• A. M. 2246.
• His issue.
• His return.
• Chap. 31.32. &c.
• A. M. 2266.
• Apud Euseb. praeparat. Evang. lib. 9. cap. 21.
• Dinah ravi∣shed.
• Rachel dieth.
• Chap. 38.
• Joseph sold.
• A.M. 2277.
• A. M. 2288.
• Isaac dieth.
• Edom.
• Vide Fulle•• Miscell. 4. c. 20.
• Gen. 41.
• A. M. 2290.
• Joseph advan∣ced.
• A. M. 2297.
• Chap. 42, 43, &c.
• Jacob goeth into Aegypt.
• A. M. 2298.
• Chap. 47.
• Chap. 48, 49.
• A. M. 2315.
• Dieth.
• Gen. 50.
• Joseph dieth.
• A. M. 2370.
• Lib. 36. c. 2.
• Exod. 1.
• The Israelites oppressed in Aegypt.
• Chap. 2.
• Vide Pererium in 2 Exodi.
• Moses born.
• A M. 2428.
• De nominibus Haebraeis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Jo∣sepho versis vid. Iacob. Cappellum Hist. Sacra & Exotica ad A. M. 1719.
• A. M. 2468.
• Exod. 3, & 4.
• Sent to Pha∣raoh.
• Chap. 5, & 7. &c.
• The ten Plagues of Aegypt.
• The Israelites depart.
• Exod. 12.
• A. M. 2508.