Several have in Latin written, by way of annals, of the times of which I treat, as Torniellus, Salianus, Capellus, and others. But, above all of this kind, are archbishop Usher's Annals of the Qld and New Testament, which is the exactest and most perfect work of chronology that hath been published; to which, I acknowledge, I have been much beholden; and although I have not always concurred with him, yet I have, for the most part, especially in the ordering and settling the years to which I refer the actions that are related: for I look on what he hath done before me herein to be the surest and safest clue I could conduct myself by, through all the intricate labyrinths of ancient times; and therefore I have generally followed him in the fixing of the years, excepting only where I saw very good reason to do otherwise. But as to the other annalists I have mentioned, I have found it for the most part loss of time to consult them. If I have been too large in my explication of the prophecy of Daniel's seventy weeks, or in the account which I have given of the Hebrew Scriptures, or in any other discourse of like nature, occasionally intermixed in this work, the importance of the subject must be my excuse. For the chief design of this History, and my main end in writing it, being to clear the way to the better understanding of the holy Scriptures, both of the Old and the New Testaments, I have thought myself obliged, in the pursuit hereof, to handle every thing to the full, as it came in my way, that might any ways tend hereto. And if the reader receiveth any benefit from it, let him give God the praise, who hath enabled me, under a very calamitous and broken state of health, to finish this first part of my design, and still to go on with my studies, for the completing of the other. HUMPHREY PRIDEAUX. Norwich, Aug. 1, 1715. THE Old and New Testaments CONNECTED, &c. BOOK I. THE ancient empire of the Assyrians, which had governed Asia for above thirteen hundred years, being dissolved on the death of Sardanapalus, Anno 747. there arose up two empires in its stead; the a one founded by Arbaces, governour of Media, and the other by Belesis, governour of Babylon, who were the two principal commanders that headed the conspiracy, whereby the former empire was brought to an end; which they having, on their success, parted among themselves, Belesis had Babylon, Chaldea, and Arabia, and Arbaces all the rest. This happened in the seventh year after the building of Rome, and in the second year of the eighth Olympiad, which was the seven hundred and forty-seventh year before Christ, i. e. before the beginning of the vulgar era, by which we now compute the years from his incarnation. с Arbaces is in Scripture called Tiglath-Pileser and • Thilgath-Pilneser; in Elian, Thilgamus; and by * Castor, Ninus junior. He fixed his royal seat at Nineva, the same place where the former Assyrian kings had their residence, and there he governed his new erected empire nineteen years. Belesis is the same with Nabonasser, from the beginning of whose reign at Babylon commenceth the famous astronomical era, from him called the era of a Diodorus Siculus, lib. 2. Athenæus, lib. 12. Herodotus, lib. 1. Justin: lib. 1, c. 3. b 2 Kings xv, 29; & xxvi, 7, 10. d Hist. Animal. lib. 12, c. 21. e Euseb. Chron. p. 46. Nabonassar. He is by Nicolas Damascenus called Nanibrus, and in the holy Scripture Baladan, being the father of Merodac or Mordac-Empadus, who sent an embassy to king Hezekiah, to congratulate him on his recovery from his sickness; which will be hereafter spoken of. And these two empires God was pleased to raise up to be his instruments in their turns to punish the iniquities of his own people; the first for the overthrowing of the kingdom of Israel, and the other for the overthrowing of the kingdom of Judah; as shall be shewn in the sequel of this history. In the sixth year of Tiglath-Pileser, Ahaz began to reign over Judah; who being a very wicked An. 742. and impious prince, God stirred up against him Ahaz 1. Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, king of Israel, who, confederating together, invaded his land with a great army, and having harassed it all over, pent him up in Jerusalem, and there besieged him. Their design was, on the taking of that city, to have wholly extirpated the house of David, and to have set up a new king over Judah, the son of Tabeal. Who this person was, is no where said in Scripture; but he seemeth to have been some potent and factious Jew, who, having revolted from his master, the king of Judah, excited and stirred up this war against him, out of an ambitious aim of plucking him down from his throne, and reigning in his stead. But it being the will of God only to punish Ahaz for his wickedness, and not the whole family of David, for which he had always, for the sake of David, expressed mercy and favour, he was pleased to prevent the mischief, by blasting the whole design; and therefore he sent the prophet Isaiah unto Ahaz, to encourage him valiantly to withstand the enemy in the defence of the city, and to assure him that they should not prevail against him; and for this he gave him two signs, the one to be accomplished speedily, and the other some ages after. f In Eclogis Valefii, p. 426, &c. g Isa. xxxix, 1. h 2 Kings xvi. 2 Chron. xxviii. i Isa. vii. |