Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

The Preface to the READER.

Christian Reader,

WHat I prefixed by way of Preface before my Annotati∣ons upon the five books of Moses, may serve also for these upon the remaining Historicall part of the old Testament, these being carried on in the same manner, and with respect unto the same ends as the other were: Onely one thing I thought good to adde here, which is this, that there are some Expositions, which as I went along, I met with so often in so many severall places (such as that where men desperately wicked are termed children of Belial, and that where the Church is called the Lords portion, and the Lords inheritance, and some other of the like nature) that I was at last wearied with referring the Reader so often to those places where I had formerly given the grounds of those expres∣sions, and so resolved (to avoid the tedium of such reiterated references) rather to leave every man by himself to consider where the like expression was formerly used, which by the help of a Concordance at least may be easily found, that so there he might seek for satisfaction herein.

Further then this I have not at present to advertise you concerning these Notes; but am onely now to desire your favourable acceptance of what is here published. Indeed when the late Annotations came forth upon the whole Bible, composed by divers worthy Divines, authorized thereto by command of Parliament, I did at first question whether there would now be any need of these: But considering with my self, first, that those for the most part are very brief, as being at first intended onely for mar∣ginall notes: secondly, that there are very few Expositours that have

written upon this part of the Bible, and therefore a supply of further help herein could not be thought altogether uselesse: and thirdly, that I was in some sort already engaged by promise for these Annotations, which I former∣ly made known were then collected, I did at last in these regards determine to proceed in my former resolutions.

Whether I shall ever go on any further in this way, the Lord onely knows, the infirmities of age grow so fast upon me, that I may well fear I shall not. And besides, there is little encouragement for any work of this nature, in these contentious times. There are some we see risen up amongst us, that are not afraid to deny the Scriptures to be Gods word, which must needs be the ruine of religion, and open a doore to all profanenesse and Athe∣isme, should it be suffered in the land. But we trust the Magistrate whom God hath so highly honoured, will be so zealous for the honour of God, as ere long to stop the mouthes of such blasphemers; and in the mean sea∣son, none but those that are given up of God to believe lies, will ever a whit the more question these divine Oracles. Surely, the Scripture is the Churches Magna Charta, whereon all our priviledges and all our hopes depend as we are Christians, and therefore I hope none that professe themselves fellow-citizens of the saints, will suffer such a treasure as this to be taken from them: No, but the more violently Satan rageth against it, the more we should prize it, and the more diligently we should exercise our selves in the study of it. Now Reader if herein this which I send forth abroad for the good of the Church, shall afford thee any help, blesse God for it, and pray for him, who is

Thine in the Lord Jesus, ARTHUR JACKSON.