[50v] This. The Year used by the People of God, was either a True Solar Year, or a Lunar one so adjusted by proper Intercalations, as to be æquivalent unto it. The Julian Year is so near to it, as to leave little Difference. But when Jeroboam drew the Ten Tribes to Idolatry, he took the Year, which was used by all the Idolatrous Nations of the Neighbourhood; a Year, which was a Month shorter than that of Judah, and contained but Eleven Months. The Annals of the Ten Tribes were carried on by such a vagrant Year, until Jehu's Revolution. This one Observation being applied, will produce a most perfect Accord, between the Annals of Judah, and of Israel, for this Interval; which else will be clog'd with horrid Encumbrances.⁶³

         We will pass on to certain particular Difficulties.

         Secondly; Ahaziah King of Judah, in one Text, begins his Reign in the Eleventh Year of Jehoram King of Israel; in another Text, not until the Twelfth. Now consider the Circumstances of his Father a little before his Death, & you will see this Epocha, most highly agreeable to the History. We read; [2. Chron. 21.18, 19.] The Lord smote him in his Bowels, with an Incureable Disease. And after, (or rather, about) the End of two Years, his Bowels fell out by reason of his Sickness; so he died of Sore Diseases. From this Incureable Disease in his Bowels, there would naturally arise, the making of his Son a Partner in the Kingdome, & the committing of the public Administration unto him, some time before his Death. And the Different Phrases used on the Different Beginnings of the Sons Reign, lead us to acknowledge this Observation.⁶⁵

         Thirdly; Omri King of Israel, in one Place, begins his Reign, in the 27^th of Asa; in another Place, not until the 31^st of Asa. And his Reign is 12 Years in all; but no more than 6 in Tirzah.⁶⁶ The Case was plainly thus. In the 27^th of Asa, Omri is made King over Israel, upon the Conspiracy of Zimri; and being accompanied by the Body of the People, he besieges Tirzah, where Zimri then was; and in Seven Dayes takes the City, and putts an End unto Zimris Power and Life at once. Upon the Death of Zimri, the People of Israel were Divided into Two Parts; Half of the People followed Tibni, to make him King, and Half of them followed Omri. After a Four Years War for the Crown, the People that follow'd Omri prevailed, and Tibni died, & Omri reigned without Molestation.⁶⁷ So, tis no Wonder, we have a double Epocha, for the Reign of Omri, and of the Twelve Years he Reign'd in all, only Six were in Tirzah. Four were spent, before he gott the Royal City of Tirzah, from his Rival; Two were spent after his leaving Tirzah, and making Samaria the Royal Seat of his Kingdome. The Thirty first Year of Asa, was the Year of his taking Tirzah.⁶⁸

         3. From the Beginning of the Reigns of Athaliah and Jehu, to the Captivity of the Ten Tribes, is, 163. Years, and, 2. Months.⁶⁹

         We will address ourselves, to solve the chronological Difficulties of this Interval.

         Tho' Jehoahaz of Israel died not until the 39^th Year of Joash of Judah, yett the same Historian, makes the Successor, namely Joash of Israel, to begin his Reign at the 37^th of Joash of Judah.⁷⁰ We must therefore suppose, that Joash began to Reign Two Years before the Death of his Father. But is there in the Sacred History, any Hint of this Matter? Yes. We read, [2. King. 13.3.] That the Kings of Syria oppressed Israel all the Dayes of Jehoahaz; And yett, we find, that upon his Petition for Deliverance, God heard his Prayer, and gave Israel a Saviour. This was Joash, the Son of Jehoahaz, a mighty and a valiant Man, who during his Fathers Life-time, recovered the Cities which his Father had lost, & restored Peace to the Nation. These Different Affirmations are best Reconciled, by supposing, That his Father, upon his constant Ill Success against the Syrians, resign'd Part of the Royal Authority to him, and made him the General of his Army. After which beginning of the Sons Administration, affayrs were altered, & those Enemies, who during the Fathers Government were alwayes Conquerors, were now conquered by the Son, and at last were driven out of the Land.⁷¹

         Secondly. Amaziah King of Judah, is said, to Reign in the Second of