SECT. IV.

The CAPTAIN of the Temple.

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 fome 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 themselves, we are told, that at that time alfo 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

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*1 Macc. iv. 60. Of this Building Jofephus fpeaks thus. The Aflamonean 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, he call'd it the Antonian Tower.

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

Here, in after Times, the Romans kept their Garrison; from whence they over-. aw'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 these 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 distinctly. When our LORD had furrendered himself to them, without any Resistance, 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 Disciples fhould come by Night and steal him away, we find them applying to Pilate for Orders that it might Matt. be done.

And when, after the Refurrection, and the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Apotles began to preach the Gospel, we find

that

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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 bands on them, and put them in bold. 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

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them without violence.

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 him, 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.

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

give a fummary Account of the Wars of thefe People; in order to which we must go up as high as the Time of Abraham: when we read that four Kings, Chedorlaomer 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 whose Territories the Land lay, which was poffefs'd by Abraham.

Victory declaring her self 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 house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them. And he divided himfelf 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 describing this Action, in order to give an Idea of the Confederacies, Armies, and Engagements of those Days; and to fhew how they were fuited and proportion'd to that Infant State of the World.

Afterwards,

xiv. 25.

45.

Afterwards, when the children of Ifrael were greatly multiplied, according to God's Promise, and having left Egypt, took their March through the Deserts of Arabia, they were under a Neceffity of encountering feveral Nations, before they pafs'd over Jordan into the Promis'd Land. Their first Conflict was with the Amalekites and the Numb. Canaanites; before whom they were dif comfited; because they prefumed to make the Attack in a diforderly Manner; without Mofes and the Ark of the Covenant; and in direct Contradiction to an exprefs Command of God. But, fome time after, we ib. xxi. 2. find Ifrael vow'd a vow unto the LORD, and faid, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly deftroy their cities. And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Ifrael, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly deftroyed them and their cities.

After this they fought fuccessfully against Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og the King of Bashan: as also against the Moabites and the Midianites: And having pasfed over the River Jordan, they besieg'd and took Jericho.