A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

NAHUM.

THIS Prophet Nahum gives a Narrative of the fatal and final fall of Nineveh after the History of Jonah.

Remark the First; His Name Nachum, Hebr. signifies a Comforter, for so he was in sundry places of his Prophecy (as chap. 1. ver. 7, 12, 13, 15, &c.) to God's Church, prophe∣sying that God would be good to her, a Sanctuary in Affliction, Deliverance from her old Assyrian Adversary, would give liberty to exercise their Religion, both ordinary and extra∣ordinary, and freedom from all fear of any farther Persecution from that Monarchy of Assyria, that Empress of the East for a long time, Nineveh being the Imperial Seat of the first of the four Empires, which she also held longest of any, even above thirteen hundred years, and therefore is call'd an old Fish-pool of stagnating and standing Water, Chap. 2.8. God's emptying of which was much ease to Israel. This is the purport of this Prophecy of Nahum, that Nineveh was now fully Ripe for its full Ruine, and God was just now going to scour that filthy Pond of Sin, and to do to her as she had done to his Church.

Remark the Second; Tho' Nineveh had before Repented at the Preaching of Jonah, as above, and therefore the Lord had likewise Repented of his Displeasure against that City, and suspended his Judgments he had threatned by Jonah to inflict upon those noto∣rious sinners at the end of forty Days: Yet after this Respit and Divine Remission, both that City, and the whole Assyrian Empire (whereof Nineveh was the Head) returned to a filthy Commission of their former sins, aggravating and encreasing them with a Re∣newed Persecution of the Church of God. Tho' the Ʋnclean Spirit seemed to be cast out of the City by Jonah's single Sermon; yet he returned soon after with seven worse, and so their last State was worse than the former, Matth. 12.45. The Bile of this People (being but half healed) breaks out again afterwards (as appeareth by this Prophecy) and proved to be

the Plague of Leprosie, Lev. 13.18, 19, 20. so shut them out from receiving any more Mercy. Those Apostates were turned aside to their crooked paths, therefore the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of Iniquity, Psal. 125.5. and God stirs up Nahum to tell them so; not only telling them of their sins, but also foretelling them of their punishments; upon this account Nahum's Prophecy is call'd the Burden of Nineveh, chap. 1. ver. 1. writ in a Book, sent to Nineveh; but Nahum himself went not to Nineveh, as Jonah had done; for now they were more sealed down in their Impenitency; And this same Reason is rendred by some Rabbins, N.B. why that Threatning Letter which Elijah wrote before his Translation, and left to be sent unto Jehoram King of Judah, 2 Chron. 21.12. by Elisha or some other Prophets who durst not shew themselves in Jehoram's presence because of his horrid Insolency, and hardened Impenitency.

Remark the Third; Nineveh's Preservation by their Repentance at Jonah's Preaching, pro∣ved but a Reservation for utter Destruction, according to Nahum's Prophecy. As Jonah had denounced Nineveh's Destruction to be but forty days off in case they had not Repented; which was the Condition of their Declared Doom at that time; So Nahum now is raised up of God to denounce his last and Irrevocable Decree for destroying them by the Chaldeans, &c. and that about forty years or less after Jonah; and then was Nineveh de∣stroyed indeed under that effeminate Emperor Sardanapalus (saith Dr. Lightfoot) so fa∣mous, or rather infamous in Heathen Histories.

Remark the Fourth; Nahum is generally believed to have lived and prophesied in the days of Hezekiah, and was one of those Prophets, who were commanded to be Com∣forters of Jerusalem against its Affrightments from Assyria, Isa. 40.1. And he plainly telleth what Evil Counsel Senacherib conceived against the Lord, and foretelleth Senacherib's Death in his Idol. Temple by his own Sons, as well as the prodigious Slaughter of his nume∣rous Army by the stroke of an Angel, Nah. 1.11, to 15. wherein is intimated, (1.) His Pestilent Counsel he gave to Jerusalem, that they should cast off God, as unable to de∣liver them out of his hands, 2 Kings 18.19, &c. 2 Chron. 32.15, &c. Isa. 36.15, to 20. (2.) Tho' Senacherib's Army was well disciplined, and likewise many for number, ver. 12. yet God by his Angel will cut, or shear them, Hebr. with as much ease as Men shear a Sheep, mow down a Meadow, or shave off the feeble Hair with a sharp Razour; allu∣ding to that phrase of Isaiah (with whom he was Contemporary) Isa. 7.10. 3. The breaking of the Assyrian Yoke, v. 13. no more Tribute to be paid by Hezekiah as had been in Ahaz's Time, &c. 4. The failure of Senacherib's Sons, ver. 14. He rebelled against his Father in Heaven, and his Sons rebelled against him their Father on Earth, and slew him in his Idol-Worship. This fact God is said to command, because he would have destroyed the true Worship of God; He lost his two Sons by whom he lost his Life; and tho' his Third Son succeeded him, yet soon after he lost his Life and Kingdom by the Chaldees; so all the Royal Race of Assyria was Routed out.

Remark the Fifth; Nahum's Graphical Description of Nineveh's Doleful Destruction for the Church's Comfort.

Mark 1. The Chief Efficient Cause of that Capital City's Ruine, together with the whole Assyrian Empire, (as Brand Mullerus maketh the Analysis) was the everlasting glo∣rious and omnipotent God taking Vengeance of his Enemies, and gave out the Command∣ment, that this dashing work should be done, and that sinful City and Empire be undone, chap. 1.14. and 2.13. and 3.5, 6. where the Lord of Hosts (Commander in Chief of all his Creatures, both his higher and lower Forces) is said to come against his Adversaries, and commands them to be destroyed. The great God need say no more, for what he saith shall be done, as in the Creation of the World. Hence Jeremy pray'd [Lord, be not thou my Ad∣versary, then shall I the better bear what will beside befall me from Men] Jer. 17.17. God's Administration is most paternal for pitying his Friends, but most powerful to punish his Foes.

Mark 2. The Meritorious procuring Cause of this Divine Displeasure, was their mani∣fold sins; as, beside their Persecution of God's Church, chap. 1.9, 11. they added Fraud, Rapine and Robbery, hence compared to a Lion's Den, and the feeding-place of young Lions, chap. 2.11, 12. greedy Lions they were that could never have enough, Isa. 56.11, 12. not enough to satiate them, but enough to sink them, and Woe is denounced by Nahum against Nineveh for being a bloody City, and all full of lyes, chap. 3.1. Her violence filled her so with fraudulency and falshood (which seldom are seen asunder; the Fox's Skin Eeking out the Lion's Hide) that there was no Truth in her private Contracts, and no Trust in her publick Transactions, &c. There were Whoredom, Witchcraft, and all kind of wickedness with a witness found in her, chap. 3, 4. and tho' she seem'd to repent of her Luxury, Cruelty, &c. at the Preaching of Jonah, yet now is she become as bad again, and worse than ever. N.B. Let Paris and Rome, yea London remember what was the Ruine of Nineveh.

Mark 3. The less Principal or Instrumental Cause of Nineveh's Destruction, for her In∣humanity against Men, and her Idolatry against God, were the Chaldeans, &c. who are described by their Arms, Apparel, Launces, Chariots and Horses, Chap. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. and 3.2. These the Lord of Hosts armed to dash her in pieces, and to burn that Rod wherewith he had scourged his own Church and Children, though the Assyrians knew not so much, Isa. 10.12, 13, &c. which Place explaineth, Nah. 2.2. God now (having no more use of the Rod of his Anger, the Assyrians to chastize Israel for their Sins, wherein they exceeded their Commission in Cruelty, Zach. 1.15.) sends the Maul of the whole Earth, Jer 50.23. the Chaldeans, to break Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire in pieces, as the great Hammer breaks the bardest Stones. N.B. Thus Cities, Countreys, Kingdoms and Empires have their Times and their Turns, their Rise, Reign and Ruine: All this here was done by the great God, and ought not to be ascribed to Blind Fate or Fortune, or any Necessity of Nature, as Pagan Politicians do dotingly Dream, &c.

Remark the Sixth, The Divine Decree for Nineveh's Destruction was inevitable, it could neither be averted nor avoided, the Assyrians were altogether unable to save themselves either in City or Countrey, with all that Power whereby they had conquer'd all Nations.

Mark 1. This old, great, and strong City, because Bloody, &c. was run down by an over-running Flood, Chap. 1.8. as effectually and universally as the old wicked World was by the General Deluge, for the stoutest of their Champions stumbled, Chap. 2.5. and none of their men of Might could find their Hands, as Psalm 76.5, 6. because God struck them with a Terrour upon the first coming of the Chaldees. So that when Asa••haddon (call'd Sardanapalus by Pagan Writers) King of Nineveh commanded his Captains, now or never to play the Men, seeing the Empire was at Stake; N.B. Yet so fearful and faint-hearted were they, as to flee away without looking back, Chap. 2.8. Their Hearts sank into their Heels, and they had more Mind to save themselves by a Cowardly Flight, than by a Couragious Fight. Yea their Martial Men in the midst of the City (where they should shew their Valour most, as Cocks on their own Dunghil) became Crest-faln, and weak as Women, Chap. 3.13.

Mark 2. The Execution of the Divine Decree, 1. In cutting off the King, and all the Royal Race, Chap. 1.14. his Posterity perished, which cannot but be grievous to proud Princes and Persons, who Promise themselves a kind of Immortality by their Posterity on Earth, Psalm 49.11. 2. In Captivating the Queen, Chap. 2.7. Huzzah with her St∣raglio of Women, or Maids of Honour, fall into the Hands of rude Soldiers, who hurried them away into a far Countrey sore against their Wills, which made them go Moaning and Groaning all along for the greatness of their Griefs. 3. In that Plenty of Plunder both Gold, Silver, and pleasant Furniture, the Chaldeans took in the City, when God gave them the Word of Command to fall on, Chap. 2.9, 10. where we have a most elegant Ag∣nomination, [Bukah, Ʋmbukah, Ʋmbyllakah, Hebr.] far above the reach of our English Translation for elegancy, rendring it only [empty, and void, and wast] for the Destructi∣on of it. 4. In the slaughter of all sorts of Persons, Princes and Peasants, Gentle and Sim∣ple, Chap. 3.3. The heaviness of Dead Carkases, Hebr. intimates, they lay so Thick, that the Earth seemed to groan under the heavy burden of them.

Mark 3. The Event and upshot of this Execution: The nakedness of Nineveh, God shewed to all Nations, Chap. 3.5, 6, 7. So that all Spectators abhorr'd her, and cast their scorn and contempt upon her, yea cast abominable filth (as Piss-pots, Rotten-eggs, and Dirt is cast upon carted Whores) so that she stank above ground like loathsome Carrion: The same dismal Fate that befel populous No (now call'd Alexandria or Scanderoon) shall befal thee Nineveh, saith Nahum, Chap. 3.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. all that look upon thee shall loath thee, and all that have been oppress'd by thee shall insult over thee, and rejoice at thy Ruine, ver. 19. they shall take up this Taunting Proverb against thee, saying, How is the Golden City ceased? &c. Isa. 14.4, 5, 6, 7. which most men look'd upon as impossible, and never look'd to have seen such a Day, but her wickedness was the cause of all this wretch∣edness: God make it a warning to all great Cities, &c.

THE fifth and sixth Prophets (saith Dr. Lightfoot) were both Joel and Obadiah, that Prophesy'd at the same time, the former against Jacob, and the latter against Esau: Thus God raised up a Generation of Prophets, far more than in former Ages at one time, and those continued in a Succession until the Captivity, leaving their Prophecies in Writing behind them, that nothing might be wanting on God's part to prevent their ruine.

The Second Part of 2 Kings Chapter 15th. concerns Jotham the Son of Ʋzziah, ver. 32, to ver. 38. whose History takes up the whole twenty seventh Chapter of the second of Chronicles.

Remark First, Concerning Jotham, he like a right-dutiful Son, did not thrust out his Father from his Title to the Throne, but ruled all under Ʋzziah, while he liv∣ed a Leper, as a Deputy only, and as a Substitute under him: This humble dutifulness of the Son, was doubtless some Comfort to the Disconsolate and Diseased Father. Ʋzziah Reigned still to make up his Reign of fifty two Years, though he was a Leper, his Leprosie in the Forehead (where it was most conspicuous) did not wholly re∣move his Crown from his Head: So (as hath been noted before.) N.B. If once we be of the Royal Generation, 1 Pet. 2.9. Our Leprosies of Sin may Deform us, but they shall not Dethrone us, we are kept in Christ, Jude v. 1. by the Power of God to Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5.

Remark the Second, This King Jotham did that which was Right in the sight of God, 2 Kings 15.34. and 2 Chron. 27.2. that is, both for Matter, Manner, Motive and End: For nothing is Recorded of him, that renders him so much as any suspected Hypo∣crite, much less an open Apostate, as Joash, Amaziah and Ʋzziah stand branded upon Scripture Record: Josephus accounts this Jotham a Just, Pious and a publick-spirited Prince, and one that wanted no Vertue; and Lavater saith the same [Probè & piè Reg∣navit]; some suppose his Mother promoted his Piety, being the Daughter of Zadok a Godly Priest, v. 33.2 King 15. N.B. For, in those times, as Priests married Kings Daughters, 2 Chron. 22.11. So Kings might marry Priests Daughters, which was more blest than the Daughters of Forreigners, as is done by Princes in our Days, &c.

Remark the Third, Though it be said of him [He did according to all that his Father Ʋzziah had done] ver. 34. yet this is restrained in 2 Chron. 27.2. (saith Piscator) on∣ly to that which his Father did right, for ver. 2. excepts the incroaching of the Priests-Office by his Father, the Son durst not enter into the Temple for any such end, though no doubt, He entred daily thither to serve God: N.B. And therefore the Hebrews say, he was without blame, not having his Name for nought, seeing Jotham in Hebrew signifies perfect.

Remark the Fourth, He is commended for his good endeavours, for while the Peo∣ple doated upon the High-Places (which Practices he disliked) he built the Highest Gate of God's Temple, ver. 35. and 2 Chron. 27.3. the Eastern Porch, saith Vatablus, call'd the New Gate, Jer. 26.10. and 36.10. sixty Cubits high (saith Sir Walter Raw∣leigh) and therefore call'd Ophel for its heighth: He was victorious against the Ammo∣nites, God prosper'd him, because he proved (as good at last as at first): His good ways blest his Wars with success, and then he died.

The Third Part of 2 Kings Chapter the 15th. gives an account of five Kings, that Reigned over Israel, from ver. 8, to ver. 31.

Remark the First, Zachariah the Son of Jeroboam the second succeeded, ver. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. who Reigned but six Months, so soon did God dispatch him out of the way, and with him all Jehu's Generation, because this fourth was as wicked as the first, all of them being Worshippers of the golden Calves: Long continuance in the same Sin of Fa∣ther, Grandfather, great-Grandfather, &c. is a great Aggravation of this Man's Sin, and did highly incense God's anger against him. So now, when God had made his Pro∣mise (Chap. 10.30.) good to Jehu, he suffers Shallum (some great Commander in the Army) to conspire against him, and to cut him off as the last of Jehu. N.B. I find La∣vater, and many learned Men say, that an inter-Reign cannot be denied in those Times of the Kings of Israel and Judah, to make the Scripture-Computation currant. See Dr. Lightfoot's Chronology.

Remark the Second, Shallum, of another Family, cuts of Jehu's Family, out of his ambitious Aspiring after the Crown of Israel, ver. 13, 14, 15. As this Zachary of Jehu's Race, had soon fill'd up the Measure of his Iniquity, Matth. 23.32. even in six Months Time; So this Shallum of another Race fill'd up his Ephah, Zech. 5.6. much sooner, even in one Month's Time, who (as Cluverius well observeth) lost his Kingdom the same way, that he had got it, and that before he was well warm in his Throne; for Menahem, another Cap∣tain of the Army, Retaliates upon him in the same kind, as he had done to Zacharias; Blood for Blood, writing his Sin upon his Punishment, even in legible Letters writ not with Black, but with Blood. N.B. Josephus saith, this Menahem was King Zacharias's Gene∣ral of the Army that besieged Tirzah, who hearing there of Shallum's murdering his Lord and Master, is said [to go up from the Siege, to Samaria, where he likewise mur∣der'd the Murderer, &c.]

Remark the Third, Menahem began his Reign in Blood, and carried it on in Blood, ripping ope the Women (with Child) of Tipsah, because their Men would not set ope their Gates to him, as he passed along to Tirzah, ver. 16. Though this barbarous Cruelty was acted by him to terrifie his Opposers whom he doubtless feared, because he came

to the Crown by Treason, Murther, and Usurpation; yet this Bloody Act did endan∣ger him the more, so that he was forced to call in a Foreign Force to confirm the Kingdom to himself, ver. 17, 18, 19, 20. raising a vast summ out of his rich Subjects (getting no less of Curses then of Coin) he hires Pul the King of Assyria to be on his side, whereby he Reigned ten Years, and then dies.

Remark the Fourth, His Son Pekahiah (thus brought by his Father into an Alliance with, and a Reliance on Assyria) makes a shift to Reign two Years more, ver. 23, 24, 25, 26. but Pekah one of his Captains slew him with the Assistance of Argob and Ari∣eh, &c. his fellow Conspirators, saith Vatablus, though Josephus affirms, they were on Pekah's side, and were slain with him: However the King is cut short by a Syllable, as call'd Pekah only, and no more Pekahiah.

Remark the Fifth, Now is Pekah King instead of Pekahiah, who Reigned twenty Years, but his Reign was troublesome, for the Assyrians now infested Israel as the Syri∣ans had done before, ver. 27, 28, 29. and at last as he had slain his Soveraign, so Hoshea (one of his Subjects) slew him, ver. 30. of whom more in Chap. 17.

Mark 1. In one Year's time there were four Kings in Israel one after another, and those dreadful Calamities (foretold by the Prophet Amos Chap. 7.9.) began to be fulfilled.

Mark 2. Ephraim is brought by Menahem to rest upon Assyria; this they did to their utter undoing, as the Prophet Hosea foretells them again and again, Hos. 5.13. and 7.11. and 8.9. and 9.3. and 11.5. Tiglathpileser, Hebr. signifies a Remover of Cap∣tives, as he was, Chap. 17.6. unto Israel, &c.