house of the LORD, and he fate on the throne

of the kings. And we read of three capr 2 Kings i tains of fifties, who, with their Fifties,

i.9.11.13 were sent successively by Abaziah King of Ifrael, to bring the Prophet Elijah to him.

The Apocryphal Writings tells us, that Ju- 1 Macco
das ordained captains over the people, even
captains over thousands, and over hundreds,
and over fifties, and over tens.

These Officers, from the Captain of the
Hoft down to the lowest Subaltern, appear,
after the Monarchy took place, to have re-
ceiv'd their Commissions, 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,
bim captains over thousands, and captains
over fifties, &c. Accordingly when Saul
began to grow jealous of David's rising
Glory, be removed him from him, and made xviii,
bim his captain over a thousand. So we
read that David number'd the people that 2 Sam.
were with him, and fet captains of thousands, xviii, I.
and captains of hundreds over them. And
that Amaziah gather'd Judah together, and 2 Chron
made them captains over thousands, and cap- XXV. 5.
tajns over hundreds.

viii, 122

13.

9111

م

SECT. IV. ve sonra The CAPTAIN of the Temple." sie We read of Bands of Men, and Oficers, and the Captain of the Temple, in the New Testament; of which, because they are there mention'd, tho’ more belonging to the Government of the Romans than the Constitution of the Jews, we shall endeavour to give some Account.

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

*1 Macc. iv. 60. Of this Building Josephus speaks thus: Tbe Assamonean Princes (Judas and his Brethren) made a Tower and Fortifications adjoyning to the Temple; and orderd the Robes belonging to the High-Priest 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, be call'd it the Antonian Tower,

1.1.59.2

they

they set there a Garrison to keep it; and fortified Bethsura to preserve it, that the people might have a defence against Idumea.

Here, in after Times, the Romans kept their Garrison; from whence they overaw'd and govern'd the City; sending out

Detachments to any Part, as Occasion re1 quir’d. From hence; the Jews procur'd

that Band of Men, and those Officers whom John * they appointed to attend Judas, in order xviü. 3.

to apprehend our LORD. That thefe
were not merely Serjeants and civil Offi-
cers belonging to the City, who serv'd to
apprehend Criminals at the mere Pleasure
of the Jews, appears from their being.
mention'd distinctly." When our LORD
had surrendered himself to them, without
any Resistance, it is said, Then the band,
and the captain, and officers of the Jews,
took JESU $ and bound him. And when
they wanted to have the Sepulchre made
secure, left his Disciples-fhould come by
Night and steal him away, we find them
applying to Pilate for Orders that it might

Matt,
be done.

xxvii.64.
And when, after the Resurrection, and
the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Apo-
fles began to preach the Gospel, we find

that

I 2.

Acts iv.1. that as they spake unto the people, the

Priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, and laid

hands on them, and put them in bold. And ib. v. 24. after, when the High-Pries, and the tap

tain 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.

And when Paul came to Jerusalem, ib. xxi. and all the city was moved, and the peo

ple ran together, as they were about to kill bim, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uprore. Who immediately took foldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the

foldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the ib. xxii. chief captain commanded him to be brought

into the castle, &c. The Name of this ib. xxiii. Chief Captain was Claudius Lyfas.

SECT. V.
Their WARS.

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

31.

24.

26.

give a summary Accountof 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 i Amraphel King of Shinar, and Arioch King

of Ellafar, joining their Forces together by

à Quadruple Alliance, invaded the Domibi nions of five other Kings, near whose Ter

ritories the Land lay, which was possess’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, Abra-
ham's Brother's Son (who dwelt in Sodom)
and his Goods. - Abraham no sooner heard
this, but he armed his trained fervants, born
in his own house, three hundred and eighteen,

and pursued them. And he divided bima y self against them, be and bis servants, by

night, and smote them, and brought back
all the goods and his brother Lot. I have
been the more particular in describing this
Action, in order to give an Idea of the
Confederacieș, Armies, and Engagements
of those Days; and to thew how they
were suited and proportion'd to that Infant

State of the World. 3

Afterwards,

74