SECT. VII.

Of the victories which Nabuchodonosor obtained between the destruction of Jerusalem and conquest of Egypt.

WITH what actions this time of seventy years was entertained by the Babylonian kings, few have written, or little is remaining in record: which may peradventure have been some cause that the time itself was, and is yet sought to be abridged, as not having left sufficient matter to witness the length of it. But by such an argument we might as well deny to many people even their being. For every nation, (I know not whom I should except,) between the beginning and last end of it, hath in some slothful age rather dreamt away the time than spent it. It is therefore no marvel if the posterity of Nabuchodonosor, finding all things ready to their hand, which their hearts could have desired, betook themselves to their ease and pleasures, thinking perhaps, like the prodigal sons of greedy fathers, their own wisdom greater, which knew how to enjoy, than that of their ancestors, which wearied away their days in the restless travail of purchasing. Though indeed the reign of Nabuchodonosor was so divided, that his youthful and stronger years having been exercised in victorious arms, no small part of his life was remaining to be spent in establishing what was gotten, and gathering the fruit of his worthy labours past. The nineteenth year of his reign it was, when, destroying utterly the great and mighty city of Jerusalem, he enriched himself with abundance of spoil, and terrified all that would offer to resist him by that fearful example. From that time forward, until his twenty-third year, he laboured in the conquest of those adjoining regions, which God had exposed unto his sword, and commanded to wear his yoke; namely, the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Tyrians, Sidonians, and Egyptians, though some of these were already become his followers, and served under him, when Jerusalem was beaten down and burnt. But the Tyrians, whose city was founded on an island, safe enough from any danger of a land army, and whose fleet was so strong that they needed not to fear any enemy at sea, were

neither daunted with the fall of their neighbour cities, nor with the obstinate resolution of this mighty prince, employing all his power to their subversion.

That the city of Tyre was rather well pleased than any way discouraged with the fall of Jerusalem, (which had held the same course that Tyrus did, and endured all that might be in the same quarrel against the common enemy,) it appears by the words which Ezekiel condemneth as the common voice of Tyrus; y Aha, the gate of the people is broken, it is turned unto me; for seeing she is desolate, I shall be replenished. Yet at the length, even in the nineteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, that great work of his, whereof we have already spoken, began to appear above the waters, and threaten them with inevitable mischief.

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But those prophecies of Jeremy and of Esay, which appoint unto this desolation of Tyre the same term of seventy years, that was prescribed unto the reign of the Chaldeans, do plainly shew that she followed Jerusalem, the same nineteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, in the same or a very like fortune. The particularities, which doubtless were memorable in the issue of so great and laborious a siege, are in a manner utterly lost. Thus much we find, that the citizens perceiving the town unable to hold out, embarked themselves, and fled into the isle of Cyprus. Nevertheless it seems that this evasion served only the principal men, who escaping with their goods, abandoned the poorer sort unto the enemies' fury. For not only such people of Tyre as dwelt on the continent (who were called her daughters in the field) were put to the sword; but the like execution was done in the streets, into which with excessive labour the Assyrian made way for his horses and chariots. Thus a Nabuchodonosor caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus, wherein every head was made bald, and every shoulder was made bare; yet had he no wages, nor his army; but was fain to rest contented with the honour of having destroyed that city, which in all men's judgments had been held invincible.

y Ezek. xxvi. 2.

2 Jer. xxv. Isa. xxiii. 15.

a Ezek. xxix. 18.

The destruction of these two great and powerful cities having made the name of the Chaldeans dreadful in the ears of all the nations thereabout, Nabuchodonosor used the advantage of that reputation which he had obtained by victories already gotten, to the getting of more, and more profitable, with less pain. The kingdom of Egypt was the mark at which he aimed; a country so abounding in all riches and pleasures, that it might well have tempted any prince, finding himself strong enough, to seek occasion of quarrel against it; and so far an enemy to the crown of Babylon, that had it been poorer, yet either it must have been subdued, or the conquest of Syria could ill have been established. Nevertheless it was needful that before he entered into this business, the countries adjacent should be reduced into such terms, that either they should wholly stand at his devotion, or at least be unable to work him any displeasure. And herein the decree of God concurred, as in all prosperous enterprises, with reason of state. For the people of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and other adjoining regions, whom God for their sins had condemned to fall under the Babylonian swords, were such, as, regarding only their own gain, had some of them, like ravens, followed the Chaldean army to feed upon the carcasses that fell by the cruelty thereof; others taking advantage of their neighbours' miseries, occupied the countries which were by his victories belonging to Nabuchodonosor; all of them thinking, that when the Assyrian had satisfied his fury, he should be fain to forsake those desolate parts, and leave the possession to those that could lay hand upon it. Particularly the bEdomites and Philistines had shewed much malice to the Jews when their city was taken. What good service they had done to the Chaldeans, I find not; if they did any, it is likely to have been with reference to their own purposes, wherein they were disappointed. The Ammonites were not contented to rejoice at the fall of Jerusalem, but presently they entered upon the country of Gad, and took possession, as if c Ezek. xxv. 3. Jer. xlix. 1.

b Ezek. xxv. 12, 15.

not the Assyrians, but they, had subdued Israel. Neither can I perceive what other ground that practice had of d Baalis king of the Ammonites, when he sent Ismael, a prince of the blood of Juda, to murder Gedalia, whom the king of Babel had left governor over those that remained in Israel, and to carry captive into the Ammonites' country the people that abode in Mispah, than a desire of embroiling Nabuchodonosor with so many labours at once, as should make him retire into his own country, and abandon those wasted lands to himself and others, for whom they lay conveniently. Such or the like policy the Moabites did exercise, whose pride and wrath were made frustrate by God, and their dissimulation condemned, as not doing right.

e

All these nations had the art of ravening, which is familiar to such as live or border upon deserts; and now the time afforded them occasion to shew the uttermost cunning of their thievish wits. But Nebuchadnezzar did cut asunder all their devices by sharp and sudden war, overwhelming them with unexpected ruin, as it were, in one night; according to the prophecies of Esay, Jeremy, and Ezekiel, who foretold, with little difference of words, the greatness and swiftness of the misery that should come upon them. With which of them he first began, I find not; it seems that Moab was the last which felt his hand: for so do many good authors interpret the prophecy of Esay, threatening Moab with destruction after three years, as having reference to the third year following the ruin of Jerusalem; the next year after it being spent in the Egyptian expedition. This is manifest, that all the principal towns in these regions were burnt, and the people slain, or made slaves, few excepted, who being preserved by flight, had not the courage to return to their habitations overhastily, much less to attempt any thing against Nabuchodonosor, and lived as miserable outlaws, or at least oppressed wretches, until the end of the seventy years, which God had prescribed unto the desolation of their countries, as well as of the land of Juda.

d Jer. xl. 14. and xli. 2, 10. Jer. xxviii. 27, &c.

c Isai. xvi. 14.

SECT. VIII.

That Egypt was conquered, and the king therein reigning slain by Nabuchodonosor, contrary to the opinion of most authors; who following Herodotus and Diodorus, relate it otherwise.

WHEN by a long course of victory Nabuchodonosor had brought into subjection all the nations of Syria, and the bordering Arabians, in such wise that no enemy to himself, nor friend of the Egyptians, was left at his back that might give impediment unto his proceeding, or take advantage of any misfortune; then did he forthwith take in hand the conquest of Egypt himself, upon which those other nations had formerly been depending. Of this expedition, and the victorious issue thereof, the three great prophets, Esay, Jeremy, and Ezekiel, have written so plainly, that I hold it altogether needless to look after more authority, or to cite for proof half of that which may be alleged out of these. Nevertheless we find many and good authors, who, following Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, are well contented to strain these prophecies with unreasonable diligence unto such a sense, as gives to Nabuchodonosor little more than the honour of having done some spoil in Egypt, omitting the conquest of that land by the Babylonian, and referring the death of Apries, or Hophra, to a chance long after following, which had no coherence with these times or affairs. preposterous is the delight which many men take in the means and second helps conducing to their purpose, that oftentimes they prefer the commentator before the author; and to uphold a sentence giving testimony to one clause, do carelessly overthrow the history itself, which thereby they sought to have maintained. The reports of Herodotus and Diodorus concerning the kings of Egypt which reigned about these times are already rehearsed in the former book; but that which they have spoken of Apries was purposely reserved unto this place. f Herodotus affirms, that he was a very fortunate king, but wherein he telleth not, (unless we should understand that he was victorious in the war which he is said to have made upon Tyrus and Sidon,) that he f Herod. 1. 2. and J. 4.

So