Chap. XIX. viour to take Notice of with Wonder, Mark xiii. 1, 2. The Sanctuary, that is, the holy Place, and the most boly, which were more properly called the Temple, were finished in a Year and a half, fo that divine Worship was performed there; and in eight Years more he completed the feveral Walls, and Galleries, and Pillars, and Courts, according to his Defign. 20 Q. How could it be faid then, John ii. 20. Forty and fix Years was this Temple in building? A. It was begun near forty fix Years before that Pafs-over, when our Saviour, being near thirty-one Years old, was prefent at Jerufalem; and though the grand Defign and Plan was executed in nine Years and a half, yet Herod and his Succeffors were always building Outworks round it, or adding new Ornaments to it, even to that very Day when Chrift was there, and long afterward. 21 Q. When was it dedicated? A. The fame Year when it was finished, and on the Anniverfary-day of Herod's Acceffion to the Crown; and on this Account it was celebrated with a vaft Number of Sacrifices and univerfal Rejoicing. Note, Within four Years after this Dedication, JESUS CHRIST Our Saviour was born, and was prefented there an Infant, according to the Law. 22 Q Was not this then the third Temple of the Jews? A. No, It was called the second Temple still, because though it was built anew from the Foundations, yet it was only by Way of Reparation, it not having been rafed and demolished with a ruinous Design, nor did it lie in Afhes and Defolation, as it did when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed it. 23 Q. Did 23 Q. Did Herod do any Thing after this in Favour of the Jews? -A. When the Jews who were fcattered throughout Greece and Asia minor grew very numerous, and were much disturbed and oppreffed by the other Inhabitants, Herod procured for them a new Establishment of their Liberties and Privileges, and Permiffion to live in other Countries according to their own Laws and Religion, which had been granted them before by the Kings of Syria and by the Romans. 24 Q. What further Troubles did Herod meet with in his Family? A. His two eldeft Sons by Mariamne, namely, Ariftobulus and Alexander, whom he had fent to Rome for Education, being returned to Jerufalem, in the Heat of their Youth, they frequently expreffed their Refentments for the Death of their Mother, and thereby they became obnoxious to the Rage of Salome, Herod's Sifter and Favourite: And thus fhe, who had been one great and conftant Inftrument to blow the Coals of Jealoufy and Difcontent between Herod and his Queen, and at laft to occasion her Death, pursued the fame Course to make him jealous of fome Designs of his Sons against his Life. 25 Q What Iffue had these Quarrels and Jealoufies? A. They continued feveral Years: Plots were invented on both Sides: Thefe gave Herod in his old Age perpetual Difquietudes, Sufpicions anc Fears: But Salome his Sifter prevailed fo far by her Craft against his two Sons, that after many Accufations and Acquitments of them, fhe at laft procured their Condemnation and Execution by Herod's Order and the Consent of Auguftus Cæfar. This This was about a Year or two before the Birth of Christ. 26 Q. What was the general State of the Heathen World about this Time? A. All the known Parts of the World were fubdued to the Romans, and the Nations were in Peace; on which Account the Temple of Janus was fhut up at Rome, which had never been fhut but five Times fince the first building of that City; and then JESUS CHRIST the Prince of Peace came into the World, and was born at Bethlehem. 27 Q. Wherein does it appear that the World was thus all at Quiet under the Government or Dominion of the Romans? A. Auguftus Cæfar, the Emperor of Rome, iffued out a Decree that Year for a general Regifter of his whole Empire, which St Luke calls a Taxing, or enrolling of all the World, Luke ii. 1. This brought Mary the Mother of Chrift to Bethlehem, the City of David, to which Family the belonged; and while he was there, fhe brought forth her Son Jefus, as it is written Luke ii. 1—11. Note, This Year, in which Chrift was born, according to Bishop Ufher's exact Computation, is the four thousandth Year from the Creation; which falls in with an old Tradition of the Jews, that the World was to last fix thousand Years; namely, two thousand Years before the Law, (or before Abraham, who was the Father of Circumcifion, and the Jews;) and two thousand under the Law; that is, from Abraham to the Meffiah; and two thousand under the Meffiah. And here I might conclude this Chapter, having brought the Jewish Affairs down to the Birth of Chrift. But it may give fome Light to the New Testament to carry it on a little farther. 28 Q. What Piece of Cruelty was Herod guilty of, of, when he heard that a Child was born who was to be King of the Jews? A. He flew all the young Children in Bethlehem, that he might be fure to deftroy Chrift, and that his own Pofterity might be Kings of Judea. 29 Q. Whom did Herod defign then for the Succeffor to his Kingdom? A. Antipater, his eldeft Son by Doris, a Wife which Herod had before Mariamne; his Father had raised him to fome Poft of Honour upon his Difpleafure with his other Sons, and he had been alfo active and bufy himself towards procuring the Death of thofe two Brothers. 30 Q. Did Antipater fucceed his Father in the Kingdom, according to Herod's present Defign? A. Antipater, longing for the Crown and for his Father's Death, did really confpire to poifon him, and being convicted thereof, had a Sentence of Condemnation paffed upon him; and it being confirmed by Auguftus Cæfar, was executed by his Father's Approbation. This was the third Son whom Herod put to Death. 31 Q. When and in what Manner did Herod die? A. In the feventieth Year of his Age, and five Days after the Execution of his Son Antipater, Herod himself died by a dreadful Complication of Difeafes, He had a flow Fever, an Afthma, an Ulcer in his Bowels and his lower Parts, which bred Worms and Lice; he languifhed under extreme Pain and Torment till he expired, and feems to have been smitten of God in a fignal and terrible Manner for his Cruelty, and the multiplied Iniquities of his whole Life. 32 Q. What Inftance of Cruelty was he guilty of even at his Death? A. Knowing M A. Knowing how much he was hated of the Jews, he concluded there would be no Lamentation for him, but rather Rejoicing when he died; and to prevent this, he framed a Project, one of the most horrid that could enter into the Heart of Man; he fummoned all the chief Jews over the whole Kingdom on Pain of Death to appear at Jericho, where he then lay; he fhut them up Prifoners in the Circus, or public Place of Shews, he ordered and adjured his Sifter Salome, and her Husband, who were his chief Confidents, to fend in Soldiers as foon as he was dead, and put them all to the Sword; For this, faid he, will provide Mourners for my Funeral all the Land over. 33 Q. Was this barbarous and bloody Command executed? A. His Sifter Salome, as bad as the was, chofe rather to break her Oath to him than to execute fo horrid a Design, and therefore the released them all after his Death. 34 Q. What Pofterity did Herod leave behind him? A. He had nine Wives, and fuch of his Pofterity as are named in Scripture, are thefe that follow: namely, 1. Archelaus his Son, who fucceeded him in the Kingdom of Judea and Samaria, Matt. ii. 22. 2. Herod Antipas, Tetrarch or Governor of Galilee, who cut off John the Baptift's Head, Matt. xiv. 1, 3,6. 3. Philip, Governor of Iturea and Trachonitis, Luke iii. 1. and, 4. Herod Philip, who married his ownNiece, Herodias,and had a Daughter by her called Salome, who danced well: But Herodias afterward left him, to marry Herod Antipas, his Brother; for which John the Baptift reproved this Herod Antipas, Luke iii. 19. This Herodias was Daughter of Herod's Son |