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house of the LORD, and he fate on the throne of the kings. And we read of three cap- 2 Kings i, 9.11.13. tains of fifties, who, with their Fifties, were fent fucceffively by Abaziah King of Ifrael, to bring the Prophet Elijah to him. The Apocryphal Writings tells us, that Ju- 1 Mace, das ordained captains over the people, even captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens.

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iii. 55.

viii. 12.

Thefe Officers, from the Captain of the Hoft down to the lowest Subaltern, appear, after the Monarchy took place, to have receiv'd their Commiffions, from the King. When Samuel declares to the People the manner of the King that was to reign over them, this is part of it; He will appoint 1 Sam. him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, &c. Accordingly when Saul began to grow jealous of David's rifing Glory, he removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand. So we 13. read that David number'd the people that 2 Sam. were with him, and fet captains of thousands, xviii, 1. and captains of hundreds over them, And that Amaziah gather'd Judah together, and 2 Chron made them captains over thoufands, and cap

tains over hundreds.

xviii,

XXV. 5.

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SECT. IV. be

The CAPTAIN of the Temple.

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STH We read of Bands of Men, and Officers, and the Captain of the Temple, in the New Teftament; of which, because they are there mention'd, tho' more belonging to the Government of the Romans than the Conftitution of the Jews, we shall endeavour to give some Account.

When Judas Maccabeus had undertaken the Defence of his Country against the Invafions of Antiochus King of Syria, among other Methods which he put the People upon, of fortifying and fecuring themfelyes, we are told, that * at that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls, and ftrong towers round about, left the Gentiles fhould come and tread it down, as they had done before. And

*1 Macc. iv. 60. Of this Building Jofephus fpeaks thus. The Afflamonean Princes (Judas and his Brethren) made a Tower and Fortifications adjoyning to the Temple; and order'd the Robes belonging to the High-Prieft to be kept there. This Tower was afterwards repair'd by Herod, and appointed for the Temple Guard; and, in Compliment to his Friend Marc Antony the Triumvir, the call'd it the Antonian Tower,

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they fet there a Garrison to keep it; and fortified Bethfura to preferve it, that the people might have a defence against Idumea.

Here, in after Times, the Romans kept their Garrifon; from whence they overaw'd and govern'd the City; fending out Detachments to any Part, as Occafion requir'd. From hence, the Jews procur'd that Band of Men, and those Officers whom John they appointed to attend Judas, in order xviii. 3. to apprehend our LORD. That thefe were not merely Serjeants and civil Officers belonging to the City, who ferv'd to apprehend Criminals at the mere Pleasure of the Jews, appears from their being mention'd diftinctly. When our LORD had furrendered himself to them, without any Refistance, it is faid, Then the band, and the captain, and officers of the Jews, took JESUS and bound him. And when they wanted to have the Sepulchre made fecure, left his Difciples-fhould come by Night and fteal him away, we find them applying to Pilate for Orders that it might Matt. be done.

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3.

And when, after the Refurrection, and the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft, the Apofles began to preach the Gofpel, we find

that

12.

xxvii.64.

Acts iv.1. that as they spake unto the people, the Priefts, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, and laid hands on them, and put them in hold. And ib. v. 24. after, when the High-Prieft, and the captain of the temple, and the Chief Priests, beard of their miraculous Escape, and that they were teaching in the Temple, they were perplex'd what to do. Then went the captain, with the officers, and brought them without violence.

31.

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And when Paul came to Jerufalem, ib. xxi. and all the city was moved, and the people ran together, as they were about to kill bim, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerufalem was in an uprore. Who immediately took foldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they faw the chief captain and the foldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the caftle, &c. The Name of this Chief Captain was Claudius Lyfias.

ib. xxii.

24.

ib. xxiii.

26.

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It may not be improper, now we are upon the Subject of their military Affairs, to

give a fummary Account of the Wars of these People; in order to which we must go up as high as the Time of Abraham: when we read that four Kings, Chedor laomer the King Gen. xiv. of Elam, and Tidal King of Nations, and Amraphel King of Shinar, and Arioch King of Ellafar, joining their Forces together by a Quadruple Alliance, invaded the Dominions of five other Kings, near whofe Territories the Land lay, which was poffefs'd by Abraham.

Victory declaring her felf on the Side of the four Kings, they carried off much spoil; and among the Captives, took Lot, Abraham's Brother's Son (who dwelt in Sodom) and his Goods. Abraham no fooner heard this, but he armed his trained fervants, born in his own houfe, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them. And he divided bimfelf against them, he and his fervants, by night, and fmote them, and brought back all the goods and his brother Lot. I have been the more particular in defcribing this Action, in order to give an Idea of the Confederacies, Armies, and Engagements of thofe Days; and to fhew how they were fuited and proportion'd to that Infant State of the World.

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Afterwards,

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