3392. [2 Kings xxiii. 34. Jehoiakim] Quasi Jehovah jakim It was the custom prosper. (Hebr.), the LORD will make it for conquerors to give new names to those whom they thus brought under tribute, in token of subjection (to such conquerors, as their adopting fathers). Univer. Hist. vol. iv. p. 101.

This

3393, [2 Kings xxiv. 6. Jehoiakim slept with his fathers] Not as to the body, which was left by those who had been carrying him prisoner to Babylon, unburied and exposed in the field or in the high-way, according to Jeremiah's prediction. See Jer. xxii. 18. xxxvi. 30. with other passages to the same effect, incontestably proves that, under the Jewish dispensation, the soul was believed to continue its existence from this to the other world, and to join the society of its deceased ancestors immediately on leaving its natural body. See Dr. A. CLARKE, on Gen. xlix. 33.

3388. [29. Megiddo] HERODOTUS (lib. 2) calls it Magdolus.

3395. [

13.] Since the battle of Karnal, says FRAZER, the loss sustained by the emperor within and without the city, in jewels, treasure, goods, effects, and destroying of fields, setting aside the loss of the buildings, amounted to very nearly 125,000,000!; out of which Nadir Shah carried away to the value of 87,500,000l. in jewels and other effects; and his officers and soldiers 12,500,0001. The charges of his army, while he continued there, the arrears, pay and gratuity advanced them, with what goods were destroyed by fire, and fields laid waste, made nearly 25,000,0001. See Hist. of Nadir Shah, p. 219.

more.

3396. [17.] The Hebrew reads Joachin's brother; which is evidently a false reading. The Septuagint is, as we have translated, his father's brother.

If we compare this text with 2 Chron. xxxvi. 9, 10; and Jer. i. 2, 3 with 1 Chron. iii. 16, we shall perceive that Zedekiah, the natural son of Jehoiakim and grandson of

Josiah, had been adopted by his grandfather as Ephraim and Manasseh were by Jacob; See Gen. xlviii. 5.

See No. 507.

France, by observing that "during a period of five hundred years, THREE only have been worthy of the monarchy!"

3399. [2 Kings xxv. 11.] The Jews have a synagogue at Couchin, not far from the king's palace, about two miles from the city, in which are carefully kept their records, engraven on copper-plates in Hebrew characters; and when any of the characters decay, they are new cut, so that they can shew their own history from the reign of Nebuchadnezzar to the present time. In these records they declare themselves to be of the tribe of Manasseh, a part whereof was, by order of that haughty conqueror, carried to the eastermost province of his large empire, which, it seems, reached as far as cape Comorin: this journey 20,000 of them travelled in three years from their setting out of Babylon.

PINKERTON'S Coll. part xxxii. p. 379.

3400. [25.] If we date the desolation of the land from this murder of Gedaliah, when the few Jews left there fled into Egypt; the number of Sabbatic years thence to the first of Cyrus will be just fifty-two, and will carry us back 364 years, nearly to the beginning of Asa's good reign, when the people began to be very remiss in this and many particulars of the Mosaic law.

Univer. Hist. vol. ix. p. 500.

OR,

THES

HESE Chronicles were probably written by Ezra, after the Law had been burnt by Antiochus Epiphanes. See 2 Esdras xiv. 21 —44; and 1 Macc. i. 56. -It is very probable, says CALMET, that Ezra wrote both books of the Chronicles.

The First Book of the Chronicles was kept probably by the Samaritans, and written to supply such matters, as had been omitted in the Book of Kings.

POOL's Annot. Spain scarcely contains a city which does not possess its individual history, or a chronicle. (Bourgoames' Trav. in Spain.) PINKERTON'S Coll. part xix. p. 387.

When the people of the East have no sons, they frequently marry their daughters to their slaves, and that even when they have much property to bestow on them. Hassan had been the slave of Kamel his predecessor. But Kamel, according to the custom of the country, gave him one of his daughters in marriage, and left him at his death one part of the great riches he had amassed in the course of a long and prosperous life.

MAILLET, Letter xi. p. 118.

3406. [ 51. The father of Bethlehem] The patriarch surely, of a place so celebrated in the sacred pages. See 1 Chron. iv. 14.

3407. [1 Chron. iv. 14.] Gia charashim (Hebr.), is translated in the Vulgate, vallis artificum the valley of artificers, or workers in iron, wood, stone, pottery, &c.; of whom Joab is styled by Rabbi Joseph's Targum, the

3410. [- 19. Jetur] Properly Itur a son of Ishmael. His province, with Battanea on the east and Trachonitis on the south, was situate on the other side of Jordan, on the north side of the half tribe of Manasseh, between that and the territories of Damascus; so that it made one part of Cocle-Syria, and lay on the one side of Judea, as Idumea, formerly conquered in the same manner, did lie on the other. - Instead of Jetur or Itur, we should read Itureans.

3415. [1 Chron. xi. 5, 6.] And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. But David took the strong hold of Sion, which is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever first sinites the Jebusites, shall be head and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was chief captain.

KENNICOTT.

3412. [1 Chron. viii. 28. Chiefs who dwelt at Jerusalem] Jerusalem was composed of Judahites, Levites, and Benjamites; besides, no doubt, the chiefs of other tribes who occasionally resided there, before the division of the kingdoms,

Dr. GEDDES.

3418. [1 Chron. xx. 3.] Then he brought out its people, and constrained them to saw, to use iron-files and axes. (See Bib. Research. vol. i. p. 68.)- These were thus subjugated, or made servants under the yoke.

See 1 Tim. vi. 1.

3419. [1 Chron. xxi. 25.] David gave to Ornan in gold, £547.

Essay for a New Translation, pp. 23 - 25.

have resided at Jerusalem; to whom probably appeals might be made from provincial courts.

Ibid.

3420. [1 Chron. xxii. 14.] According to the common calculation, David's treasures amounted to 50,000 tons of gold!

See Deut. xvii. 17. Smith's MICHAELIS, vol. i. p. 283.

3421. [1 Chron. xxiii.] Here, and from 2 Chron. xix. 8-11. xxxiv. 13, we find the Schoterim, or Scribes, taken principally from the tribe of Levi This was a very rational procedure, as the Levites devoted themselves particularly to study; and among husbandmen and unlearned people, few were likely to be so expert at writing, as to be intrusted with the keeping of registers so important. Add to this, that in later times, the genealogical tables (of the whole nation) were kept (by them, conveniently) in the Temple.

ment. vate;

3430. [24.] Several of the Mahommedan chiefs came to Ali, and desired him to accept the governHe resolved not to accept their allegiance in prifor they proffered to give him their hands (the customary ceremony then in use among them on such occasions) at his own house but would have the ceremony performed at the Mosque. Telha and Zobein came, and offered him their hands, as a mark or token of their approbation. Ali bade them, if they did it, to be in good earnest, otherwise he would give his own hand to either of them that would accept of the government: which they refused, and gave him theirs. OCKLEY'S Hist. of the Saracens, vol. i. p. 4.