Page:Jerusalem's captivities lamented, or, A plain description of Jerusalem from Joshua's time to the year 1517, both from Scripture and ancient history.pdf/2



ERUSALEM was a principal city in Joſhua's time, when Adonibezek was king, who was ſlain by him; yet the Jebuſites held it for four hundred years after, till David won it; though the inhabitants boaſted that their blind and their lame would defend it, 2 Sam. v. 6. David ſtrengthened it with a caſtle, and beautified it with palaces; after this Solomon enlarged it, and further beautified and fortified it; the palace gates and walls could not be matched in all the world. It had within the walls one hundred and fifty thouſand inhabitants, beſides women and children.

The trenches about it were ſixty feet deep cut out of the rock, and two hundred and ſifty broad. Not long after Shiſhak king of Egypt took it, and became maſter of Solomon's riches, and of all king David's ſpoil, which he had taken from many nations, 2 Kings xiv. It was again plundered, and part of