Page:Jerusalem's captivities lamented, or, The history of Jerusalem.pdf/2



ERUSALEM was a principal city in Joshua's time when Adombezek was king, who was slain by him; yet the Jebusites held it four hundred years after, till David won it, though the inhabitants boasted that their blind and their lame should 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, and had within the walls one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, besides women and children.

The trenches about it were sixty foot deep cut out of a rock, and two hundred and fifty 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 King xiv. It was again plundered, and part of the wall broken down by Joash, king of Israel in Amaziah's reign, 2 Kings xv. Not long after Ahas the 15th king of Judah impoverished the temple to present Tiglathphilnezzer with the treasures thereof and Ma masses, lost what remained, I Chron. v.

And Nebuchadnezzer laid this glorious city, with the temple, palace, walls, and towers, even to the ground, 2 Kings xix, After eighteen months siege in the eleventh year of Zedikiah, the ninth day of the fourth month, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, the princess of Babylon surprised and took this brave city ; presently after Nebuzradan, general of the Babylorian army, commanded by Nebuchadnezzar, spoiled the temple, carrying away the vessels of gold and silver, and the great layer given by king Solomon, and burned the