ISAIAH xviii, xix.

THESE two chapters are alfo levelled against Egypt and Ethiopia, upon which the Jews relied too much; and therefore might be delivered about the fame time.

ISAIAH x. ver. 5, &c. xi, xii, xiii, xiv. to ver. 28.

It appears from chap. x. 8-12, which is a profopopæia, or fuppofed fpeech of the king of Affyria, that this chapter was delivered after the taking of Samaria by Salmanefer, 721; and fome time before Sennacherib befieged Jerufalem, 710, who was the only king of Affyria that befieged Jerufalem after the taking of Samaria. And the fpeech in this place bearing a near affinity to that of Sennacherib, 2 Kings xix. 10-14. Ifaiah xxxvii. 10-14, it is probable that this, and the other chapters, to the 28th verfe of the xivth chapter, were delivered about the time Sennacherib befieged Jerufalem. Note-In chapter x. 11. Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria, &c. Sennacherib fpeaks as king of Affyria, and fo takes in what his father Shalmanefer had done, as if done by himself.

ISAIAH xxxvi, xxxvii.

SENNACHERIB returning out of Egypt, where he had been 3 years, notwithstanding the agreement of peace which he made with Hezekiah, marched his army again into Judea, laid fiege to Lachish, and from thence fent three of his generals with a proud and blafphemous meffage to Jerufalem, 2 Kings xviii. 17, 18. 2 Chron. xxxii. 9, &c. This event, with the circumftances which attended and followed it, are recorded in the xxxvith and xxxviith chapters of Ifaiah.

NOTE-Before Sennacherib laid fiege to Jerufalem, Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, advanced againft him out of Egypt, 2 Kings xix. 9; but, as the Prophet Isaiah had predicted, did the Jews no fervice; for he was overthrown by Sennacherib, who after that returned to Jerufalem, where his army, being 185,000 men, were all miraculously deftroyed in one night. See Dr. PRIDEAUX's Con. at the year 710.

ISAIAH xl, xli, xlii, xliii, &c. to the end of the Book.

As there is no direction to lay thefe chapters, or any of them, in any particular time, they may all be allotted to the eleven laft years of Hezekiah's prolonged life.

ISAIAH xxii. Ver. 15, to the end..

SHEBNA had been fecretary to king Hezekiah, and the good and pious Eliakim, the mafter of his household, Ifai. xxxvi. 3. 22. Shebna, by the queftions, chap. xxii. 16, feems to have been a foreigner, and not well affected to the Jewish religion. What haft thou to do here? and whom, what relations, haft thou here? It is poffible this Shebna, a man of great abilities, might have got the young king ManaJeh, but 12 years old, and the whole management of affairs, into his own hands; having routed Eliakim by fuch arts as courtiers are wont to practife. For he was now both treasurer, and mafter of the household. To this, perhaps, the wicked conduct of Manaffeh may be affigned. Shebna, fecure of the ftability and continuance of his power and grandeur, was hewing out a magnificent fepulchre for himself and heirs, to perpetuate his memory to all fucceeding times. On this occafion, Ifaiah might publish this prophecy, predicting Shebna's captivity and death, in a remote foreign country, and the future exaltation of good Eliakim. This, which would greatly exasperate Shebna, and might occafion Ifaiah's being put to a cruel death, [fawn afunder, Heb. xi. 37.] was fulfilled about twentytwo years after, when Shebna was taken captive with Manaffch by Efarhaddon, and carried to Babylon, where Shebna continued all his life. But Manaffch, upon his repentance, was restored to the throne of Judah. And then, probably, good Eliakim was reftored and intrufted with the management of all his affairs, and affifted him in the great reformation he made in religion. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11-17. See Dr. PRIDEAUX's Con. Anno 677. Manaffeh 22.

JEREMIAH i, ii.

In this year Jeremiah, in the council of God, received his prophetic commiffion, as in the first chapter. See alfo chap. xxv. 3. And in this year probably he publifhed the admonitions, warnings, and threatenings, in the second chapter.

JEREMIAH xi. Verse 1-18.

THE Prophet, ver. 2- 9, moft probably refers to the covenant which Jofiah publicly made to keep God's commandments, upon finding the book of the law. 2 Kings xxii. 11. xxiii. 3. This was in the 18th year of king Jofiah. 2 Kings xxii. 3.

JEREMIAH iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x, xii, &c. to the xxi.

THESE chapters, for any thing that appears to the contrary, do lie in regular order; nor have we any ground or intimation for tranfpofing any

of

of them. There is a date, chap. iii. 6. In the days of Jofiah, without mentioning the year of his reign; which, however, thews, that that chapter was delivered in fome part of his reign. And whereas a fevere drought is frequently mentioned in feveral of these chapters, (viz. chap. iii. 3. v. 24, 25. viii. 13, 20. ix. 10, 12. xii. 4. xiv. 1, 2, 3, 4.) this fhews, that they are to be laid together in the fame year, or years, in which the drought continued; and all the reft, to the xxift, may follow in order of time; and all might be delivered in the last years of king Jofiah. Dr. LIGHTFOOT.

JEREMIAH xi. Ver. 18, to the end.

IN fome part of the fame years the men of Anathoth might confpire against Jeremiah.

HABAKKUK i, ii, iii. ZEPHANIAH i, ii, iii.

As thefe two Prophets prophefied the fame things that Jeremiah did, and upon the fame occafion, that is, deftruction and defolation upon Judah and Jerufalem, becaufe of the many heinous fins they were guilty of, they might prophefy about this time."

JEREMIAH xxii. Ver. 1-24

JEREMIAH being fent of God to the king's houfe, there proclaimed God's judgments against him and his family, contained in thefe verfes of this chapter. This was foon after Jeboabaz, or Shallum, was carried captive into Egypt, by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, who flew Jofiah, ver. 10, 11. Weep not for the dead, Jofiah, but weep fore for him that goeth away, Jehoahaz; for he fhall return no more. Note Jehoabaz reigned but three months.

JEREMIAH xxvi.

AFTER that, the Prophet was ordered to go to the temple, and to denounce to all the people the judgments of God, if they did not repent. By this he was brought in danger of his life, through the refentment of the Priefts and Prophets, ver. 7, 8; but was preferved by the princes, ver. 16.

Is this chapter, and in the beginning of this year, Jeremiah prophefied of the coming of Nebuchadnezzar against Judah and Jerufalem.

JEREMIAH XXXV.

THE Rechabites, upon Nebuchadnezzar's beginning to invade the land of Judea, retired out of the country to Jerufalem, where Jeremiah found them, in this chapter.

JEREMIAH xlvi.

In the fame year, after Nebuchadnezzar had defeated the army of Pbarach-necho, this prophecy relating to the Gentiles was delivered.

JEREMIAH xxxvi. Ver. 1-9.

In the fame year God commanded Jeremiah to collect, and write in a roll, all the words of prophecy which had been spoken by him against Ifrael and Judah, and againft the nations. Which he executed by the affiftance of Baruch, his amanuenfis; who, as Jeremiah was then under confinement, ver. 5. read the roll in the temple upon the fafting-day, i.e. the great day of atonement, being the 10th of the feventh month.

JEREMIAH xlv.

BARUCH being very much affrighted at the threats contained in the roll, and probably uneafy under apprehenfions of the danger he might incur by reading it publicly, Jeremiah, by the command of God, delivered to him the meffage of encouragement and comfort contained in this chapter,

DANIEL i.

IMMEDIATELY after this, Nebuchadnezzar, who fet out upon his expedition the year before, laid fiege to Jerufalem, and took it; and bound Jehoiakim in fetters, with a defign to carry him to Babylon. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 6. But upon Jehoiakim's fubmiffion, 2 Kings xxiv. 1, he did not carry him to Babylon, but reftored him to the kingdom. Neverthelefs, he carried great numbers of the people, and fons of the royal family, and of the nobility, captives, among the rest Daniel,

JEREMIAH xxxvi. Verfe 9, to the end of the Chapter.

THIS year, after the Chaldeans were gone from Jerufalem, Jehoiakim and his people growing worfe and worfe, in the ninth month, at the faft, which was then proclaimed, on account of Nebuchadnezzar's having

taken

taken the city the year before, Baruch again read the roll in the house of the Lord, ver. 9, 80. Which coming to the king's ear, and part of the roll being read to him, he, thinking perhaps that Nebuchadnezzar had already executed the Divine threatenings, and nothing more was now to be feared, and that the Prophet was a malicious, troublefome fellow, burnt the roll, and commanded Jeremiah and Baruch to be apprehended. But they could not be found, for the Lord hid them. Note-Jeremiah was now at liberty.

DANIEL ii.

In this year, which was the second of Nebuchadnezzar, according to the Babylonifh account, the 4th according to the Jewish, Daniel revealed to Nebuchadnezzar his dream.

JEREMIAH xxii. Ver. 24, to the end.

In this year this prophecy was declared against Jehoiachin, or Coniah, who reigned but 3 months, and then, with many others, was carried into captivity. 2 Kings xxiv. 11, &c. His uncle Zedekiah fucceeded him. 2 Kings xxiv. 17.

JEREMIAH xxiii.

THIS chapter might be delivered at the fame time with the foregoing prophecy,

JEREMIAH xiii. Ver. 15, to the end.

By the king and queen mentioned ver. 18, are probably meant Jehoiachin and his mother. See chap. xxii. 26. 2 Kings xxiv. 12. Thus, this prophecy muft have been delivered about the fame time with the foregoing.

JEREMIAH xxiv.

AFTER Jehoiachin or Jeconiah was carried into captivity by Nebuchad nezzar, this prophecy was delivered.

JEREMIAH xlix. Verfe 34, to the end.

In this year alfo is to be placed the prophecy against Elam, a kingdom upon the river Ulai, eastward beyond the Tigris, in which stood Shushan, afterward the metropolis of the kingdom of Perfia,

JEREMIAH