ESSAY XVII.

ON THE BOOKS O E THE

CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF

JUDAH AND ISRAEL.

BOOK THE FIRST,

THE CHRONICLES are Registers of

Acts done from time to time, the Hebrew title is, Words of days, or Deeds of days.

They are journals extracted by EZRA, a very learned Jew, and an highly eminent, pious, and good Man.

A 2

Ezar

Ezra copied them from the Jewish Records after their return from the feventy years Captivity in Babylon, about the year of the World, 3407, and 516 years before the birth of our Saviour.

The Genealogies in this book are carried back as far as Adam, a Period of more than 3000 years. Records of high importance to the Jews. This Register regulated their Precedency, as many priviledges were refufed all those who could not make out their descent, and it was a regifter alfo of their marriages.

A regular and unspotted lineage was required of those who afpired to the Priesthood, and fuch as could not produce it were held incapable of admiffion to the Dignity.

This Divifion of families, as recognized before the Destruction of Jerufalem, enabled each tribe on their return from Captivity to find out its own inheritance, appropriated to it originally by Lot.

This firft Book of CHRONICLES contains the Hiftory of 2987 years, and 2947 of these are fo very concife as to be only Genealogies, except a very few hiftorical paffages interfperfed,

for

for the Jews could then refer to the books and records themselves. Thefe are all fince loft, the Hiftory to us therefore is very imperfect; the Titles of those Books loft were, "The Wars of the LORD." "Jafher" and a third book of Kings, together with the Chronicles of the Reigns of the Kings of Judah and Israel, to which larger hiftory these we have extant, are continually referring.

This firft Book relates alfo the Death of Saul, and the last forty years are the Acts of David during his Reign. In the latter end, Solomon is appointed his fucceffor, and anointed by Zadoc, the High Priest and Nathan the Prophet, King of Ifrael. You have here recorded alfo David's glorious highly eloquent Speech, and pious advice to his Son Solomon." "And thou Solomon my Son, know thou the God of thy Fathers, and ferve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind: for the Lord fearcheth all hearts, and underftandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. If thou feek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forfake Him, He will caft thee off for ever."

It was at this time David, convened all the Nobles, the Elders, and the States of the King

dom,

dom, a folemn and highly important affembling of all his People, to fecure their friendship, patronage and affiftance to his Son and Succeffor, in defigning, planning, in order to carry on and complete this fuperb and magnificent Edifice. the Temple of God,---and He perfuaded and invited them; to a liberal contribution for a fervice fo very expenfive and important, in a very eloquent, wife and affectionate Speech, David powerfully excited their feelings, and then made himself a moft royal, noble, and fumptuous present, with all the spirit of piety and of true and genuine Liberality.

The

Such Royal munificence infpired a generofity. and it ran throughout the whole affembly, each was ambitious to imitate the glorious liberality of their Prince, each one eagerly brought his offering, rejoicing to contribute his fhare for the facred, service, and building a Temple to the name and honour of the God of Ifrael. Subscription and Contribution on this occafion amounted to five thousand Talents* and ten thousand Drams of Gold, ten thousand talents of Silver, eighteen thousand of Brass, and a hundred thousand talents of Iron, and, they were all paid in to the King's Treasury, together with a

* A Jewish Talent of Gold, 7200 I.

number

number of valuable Jewels, now prefented to the ftate.

David's heart was quite elated at feeing the willingness and the generofity of this auguft Affembly and in the fulness of his joy, he bursts forth into rapturous addreffes and thanksgivings to God.

His prayer is fervent and most devout, in words fo wife, well-chofen, and fo fuited to his feelings and the fubject, that you must read them with high delight.

It was at this affembly the people confirmed

Davd's choice of his Son Solomon to fucceed him, and now they anointed him a fecond time King over all Ifrael.

'Tis impoffible to conceive a Solemnity fo grand and truly royal, fo religious, magnificent and hofpitable, overabounding with the genuine Spirit of Liberality; an Affembly of joy and gladness, a feaft and a thanksgiving, and it concluded with fo wife a fettlement of the government as produced almost forty years uninterrupted prosperity and peace.

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