CONTENTS.

HE Introduction,

THE

CHAP. 1.

Page 11

The creation of the world. The fall of Adam and Eve, with their exclusion from Paradise, and the nature of their sin.

CHA P. II,

20

The murder of Abel, and punishment of Cain. Of the land of Nod. Of Seth, and his family. The translation of Enoch. Of the Antediluvian fathers, their chronology, religion, government, learning, and longevity.

СНАР. III.

30

The food, and Noah's ark. Noah's family, and covenant with God. Noah's sin, and the curse of Canaan.

CHA P. IV.

89

The confusion of languages; the dispersion of the children of Noah, and their settlement in different parts of the earth.

С НА Р. V.

47

God's choice, and separation of Abram and his seed to be his peculiar people. The travels of Abram and Lot. Of Melchizedeck. Abra ham's success and children. Destruction of Sodom, &c. Abraham's faith in offering up Isaac. Death of Sarah. Abraham's second marriage, and death.

CHAP. VI.

58

Of Isaac and his sons. Of Esau and his children. And of Jacob and his children.

CHAP. VII.

The history of Joseph. Jacob's settlement in the land of Coshen: His prophetic blessing of his children: His death, and pompous burial. The death of Joseph. Of the Jewish patriarchal government, &c.

CHAP. VIII.

73

The state of the children of Israel in Egypt, from the death of Joseph to their deliverance, under the conduct of Moses: including an account of the twelve tribes; their bondage under the Egyptians; the birth edacation, flight, and marriage of Moses; God's appearance, and commission to Moses; the call of Aaron, and his part in the commission; their reception by the Israelites, and their message and wonders performed before Pharaoh and all his people; Pharaoh's hardened heart; the institution of the passover; and the history of other nations during this period.

442

CHAP. IX.

The number and travels of the Israelites that marched out of Egypt, under the conduct of Moses, to mount Horeb. The loss of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea. Quails and manna sent from Heaven. Of the Amelekites, and their opposition of Israel. Of the council established. under Moses. The giving of the law on Mount Horeb or Sinai. The ceremonial law, and the making of the tabernacle, the ark, mercy seat, &c. The molten calf, and Idolatry of the Israelites.

96

The

The travels and number of the Israelites that marched from Horch. cloudy and fiery pillar. Murmurings and idolatries of the Israelites in the wilderness. The punishment of Miriam. Report of the spies that were sent into the land of Canaan. Their repulse by the Canaanites, &c. The rebellion and punishment of Corah, &c. The death of Aaron, and the consecration of Eleazar his son. The battle and victory at Hormah. Of the fiery and brazen serpents. The victories over the Amorites, Moabites, and Medianites. Zimri and Cosbi slain by Phineas. The prophecy of Balaam. The numbering of the Iraelites by Moses. The maintenance of the Levites. Two tribes and a half settled on the east of Jordan. Several pathetic speeches by Moses to. the elders and people before he resigned his commission to Joshua. His death and character.

CII A P. XI.

117

Of the person of Job. Of the author of the book of Job. Of Balaam's Ass. The history of Egypt, Amelekites, Edomites, Moabites, Midiaites, and Sabæ aus, during this period.

141

The history of Joshua, containing his government, and wars with the Canaanites. The passage of the Israelites over Jordan. The siege of Jericho. The sin of Achan, and his punishment. Of the Gibeonites, and their conquest by Joshua. How Joshua divided the land of Canaan among the Israelites. The government settled in these new conquests by Joshua. The death of Joshua, and his character. The history of Rahab. Of Urim and Thummin. Page 149

The government of the Israelites after the death of Joshua. Their victories and conquests. Their idolatry, and Micah's images. The Benjamites extirpated by their brethren the Israelites. Cushan-Prishathaim subdues the two tribes and a half. Othniel delivers them, and governs Israel. They fall away from God, are subdued by the Heathens, and delivered at several times by the judges, Ehud, Deborah, Barak, Gideon, &c. Of Ruth, and of the usurpation of Abimelech. 156

CHAP. XIV.

Of the judges Tolah, Jair, Jephtha, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson; in which you have the interpretation of Jephtha's vow and Samson's riddle; the treachery of Delilah ; Samson's dealings with the Philistines; the manner how he was taken, and of his death. Prophane history corfirming the history of the judges. 180

Eli and his family. Samuel and his parents. Samuel is chosen to succeed Eli in the high-priesthood and government of the people. The Israelites demand a king. Saul is anointed king. The government and wars of Saul. Of his son Jonathan, and his valour. Saul's disobedi ence to God's command. Saul is deprived of the kingdom, and David is anointed by Samuel in his stead. Davidkills Goliah. Saul endeavors to destroy David, who flies, and is pursued. Saul consults the witch of Endor, and sees the ghost of Samuel. The defeat and death of Saul and Jonathan.

189

The succession in Israel after the death of Saul. David is chosen king of Judah; and Ishbosheth king of Israel. The wars between these two kings. The death of Ishbosheth; and David's election by all the tribes of Israel. Jerusalem taken, and made the metropolis of his kingdom, by David. Description of Jerusalem. David's wars with the Phillistines, Ammonites, and their allies. His adultery, and murder of Uriah. His marriage with Bathsheba. How punished for his sin. The death of his son Amnon, and the rebellion of his son Absalom. Absalom's councils betrayed to David, and his defeat and death. Joab's disgrace. Sheba's rebellion and defeat. A three years famine demands satisfaction to the Gibeonites. A plague; how it stopped. David settles the government and succession. Adonijah's conspiracy, and Solomor's advancement to the throne. David's death and character. Prophane history during this period. Page 207

CHAP. XVII.

Solomon's accession to the throne; and petition to God for wisdom. Ho defeats the stratagems of Adonijah, &c. Punishes Shimei. Marries the daughter of Pharaoh-Vaphnes. Renews the alliance with Hiram, &c. Settles the officers of his court, and civil list. Builds and dedicates the temple; and builds several palaces, fortresses and cities. Establishes trade and navigation. His riches and magnificence. His apostacy and punishment. Jeroboam appointed by God to succeed SoloSolomon's wives, children, and death.

mon.

CHAP. XVIII.

223

Jeroboam succeeds Solomon by the choice of the people of Israel; and Rehoboam chosen to regn over Judah. Jeroboam seduceth Israel to idolatry. The prophecy concerning Josiah. The priests and Levites retire to Rehoboam. Rehoboam falls into idolatry; and is punished by the invasion of Shishak king of Egypt. He dies, and is succeeded by Abijam; who dies, and is succeeded by Asa. The death of Jeroboam, who is succeeded by Nadab. Baasha raised to the throne of Israel. Asa's defeat, sickness, and death. The death of Baasha; and the revolutions in Israel under Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri. 232

CHA P. XIX,

Ahab succeeds Omri in Israel. Jehoshaphat succeeds Asa in Judah. Ahab's idolatry and wickedness. He persecutes Elijah the prophet. His wars with the king of Syria. His league with the said king, and God's anger, thereat. The murder of Naboth. Ahab's alliance with

Jehoshaphat; and his death. The Moabites miraculously defeated. Ahaziah succeeds Ahab. His reign and sickness. Elijah foretels his death. He is succeeded by Joram. Elijah's translation into Heaven. Of the prophet Elisha, and his cure of Naaman the leper, &c. The siege of Samaria by Benhadad. His enmity against Elisha. The death of Jehoshaphat. The character of his son Jehoram, and his death.. Elisha's travels, &c. during seven years famine. The death of Joram, king of Israel, and of Ahaziah king of Judah, by Jehu. 230

CHAP. XX.

The reign of Jehu in Israel. He destroys all Ahab's race and family. Athaliah usurps the government of Judah. Her reign and murder. Jehoash proclaimed king of Judah. His government, crime, and punishment. The reign of Joash in Israel, and his success against the Syrians. Amaziah succeeds Jehosh in Judah; reduces the Edomites; attacks the Israelites, but routed by their king. His restoration, idolatry, and murder. The advancement of his son Azariah to the throne. His wars, victories, and inventions. His sin, punishment, and death. Of the prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Isaiah. Jeroboam reigns in Israel. The revolutions in Israel after his death. Is-. rael invaded by the Assyrians. Hoshea reigns in Israel, revolts from the king of Assyria, is defeated, and kingdom destroyed.

Jotham reigns in Judah.

CHAP. XXI.

Page 252

Ahaz succeeds him. His idolatry and wars. Hezekiah and his piety. His wars with the Assyrians, and miraculous deliverance. Of Manasseh, his cruelty, impicty, bondage and restoration. The murder of Ammon, and accession of Josiah. Of Josiah's devotion, and war with Pharaoh- Necho. Of Shallum's advancement

to the throne, and the change of his name to Jehoahaz. His defeat and imprisonment. Of Eliakim or Jehoiakim, and his abominations, defeat, bondage and restoration. Jeremia foretels the Babylonish captivity. Of Jehoiachin, Zedekiah, and the imprisonment of the prophet Jeremiah. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem, and carries the Jews captives to Babylon. Prophane history during this period. 261.

С НА Р. XXII.

The government of Judea, and behaviour of the Jews during the Babylonish captivity. Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and its interpretation by Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Egypt, and death. Of the successors of Nebuchadnezzar, and the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. Of Darius and Cyrus. The exaltation of Da niel the prophet; the conspiracy to take away his life, and his miracu.lous deliverance. Cyrus restores the Jews to liberty, and they return to Judea. Of Cambyses, Artaxerxes, and the impostor Smerdis, &c. Of the opposition of the Samaritans to the Jews resettling at Jerusalem, and their protection under the Persian monarchs. Of the prophets Zechariah and Haggai. Of Xerxes and Artaxerxes. Of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman. The Institution of the Feast of Lots. Of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi,

274

The affairs of the Jews from the conclusion of the history of the Old Testament to the coming of Christ. The Samaritan temple on monst