time another king of Syria came against Samaria, as in verse 14, of this chapter; so that there was a great and extreme famine in Samaria, as may be read in that chapter. But this king of Syria was disappointed also; and in process of time there arose another king of Assyria, which came up against Samaria and besieged it, and at the three years end took it, as in 2 Kings xiii. 8.

So in 2 Kings xviii. 13. In the fourteenth year of the reign of king Hezekiah, did the king of Assyria coming up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. And further he went on, until he came to besiege Jerusalem, with great high boasting words against the God of Israel, as he did against other idol Gods, which he cast into the fire, as Rabshaketh the servant of the king Assyria doth declare, as the history doth abundantly relate.

So that Hezekiah king of Judah did send to the prophet Isaiah to enquire of the Lord, as in 2 Kings xix. 2. And the prophet Isaiah put the king in good comfort, that the Lord would destroy the king of Assyria and his host, as afterwards was done, according to the words of the prophet Isaiah, as may be read in the chapter aforesaid.

Now this king of Assyria, and the other kings of Syria, and the king of Moab that rebelled against Israel; but especially this great king of Assyria, was that great star which John saw in his vision fall from heaven, burning as it were a lamp; for he was in his own thought with pride and loftiness of his heart as high as the stars are from the earth, in power, from the king of Judah. So that Hezekiah his

strength

strength it was but as the earth for him to tread on, or like a reed which he could crush in his hand. upAnd this star it burned like a lamp, that is, a rumour and noise of his great army, it went through many kingdoms, putting them into such a fear, which made the inhabitants hearts to burn with fear of his strength; for he burned as a lamp. That is, not swiftly, but slowly; that is, be overcame one kingdom after another, for when he had burned one kingdom by overcoming them by the sword, and firing their wooden gods, the noise of this burned like a lamp in other kings hearts, with fear that they and their gods should be served so. And so it did prove, as you may read 2 Kings xix. 12. what a many kings and gods did he destroy; so that he burned indeed like a lamp until he had consumed many kings and their wooden gods. So that his heart was lifted up with pride, even as a great star in heaven, so that he thought to do by the God of Jacob in whom Hezekiah did trust, as he did by those wooden gods which other nations did worship. Therefore he proudly saith, What God shall deliver Hezekiah the king out of his hand? So that he burned as a lamp with fear and terror both to the king and all Judah, so that kings are called stars, as it is said in scripture, speaking of Christ, A star shall come out of Jacob. So that Christ being the king of the Jews, he is called a star. So likewise this great king of Assyria who had overcome so many kings, and had burned all their wooden gods, who thought to do so to Judah, he was that star that fell from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. It fell upon the third

part

part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: this star is said to burn like a lamp, in regard he conquered so many kings, and burned their gods with fire. And this star is said to fall upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters, because he fell upon those kings that were situated by Jordan and the sea-coast, and many kings did Senacherib king of Assyria subdue, and being their gods with fire, as you may see 2 Kings

xix. 18.

So 2 Kings i 33. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Where, saith he, are the gods of Hamath, with divers other kings, and Samaria, or countries that have been delivered out of the king of Assyria's hand? So that he hath digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of his feet hath he dryed up all the rivers of besieged places, as in 2 Kings xix. 24. And this was that great star that fell from heaven which burned like a lamp, as aforesaid. And this star fell upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters. It is said to be the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, in regard he stopped all those rivers and fountains of waters, which did belong to all those kingdoms and lands which he conquered. So that the inhabitants of those lands could have no benefit of those rivers and fountains of waters, which did belong to their land; for this star falling upon the rivers and fountains of waters in besieging their cities; so that their rivers and fountains of waters were dryed up with the soul

of his feet; for his Army was so great that the feet of his soldiers were every where upon the rivers and fountains of water; so that they were all become dry to the people of those lands. Neither could any of the inhabitants of those lands, not so much as taste of those rivers and fountains of water, which did belong unto them. For the feet of his army had besieged every place, and in this regard the king of Assyria, that star that fell from heaven, may be said to fall upon the third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, and that he had dryed them up with the sole of his feet.

CHAP. XXIV.

AND in verse 11. John saith, the name of the star is called wormwood, and the third part of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Now John calls the name of this star aforesaid wormwood, in regard it made the third part of the waters it fell upon to be wormwood also; for many men that drank of these waters, which this star fell upon, died, because they were made bitter.

The meaning is this, that when the men of those islands or lands did sally out, or any other ways to get water out of those rivers or fountains, to give themselves and their cattle drink, then the feet of this star, that is, his soldiers fell upon those men and killed them. So that the waters became bitter, and that many men died of the waters; for the waters were good of themselves, but they could get none

of

of them, neither could they get water any where else, so that they must have of those rivers and founains of water where the star fell, or else they must perish both men and beast for want of water. So that they were forced to drink of those bitter waters, though they died with it. For the star whose name was wormwood, was fallen upon them, that is, he had besieged the waters so in every place, that the waters became as bitter as wormwood. So that whosoever did drink of them without the star's leave, he must die. So that the waters became bitter indeed; likewise many of Judah did drink of these bitter waters, and as you may see, Isaiah viii. 7.

In verse 6. Judah is blamed for refusing the waters of Shiloah, and many other waters; therefore in verse 7, it is said, Now behold the Lord bringeth up upon the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory, and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks. So that this star whose name is wormwood, must go over the channels and-banks of Judah and Samaria, and make their waters as bitter as wormwood. So that they must many of them die of the waters also, as it is said, Jer. ix. 15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. So that besieged waters are called by the revelation of the prophets, and of John, wormwood of waters, and bitter waters, and many are said to die of the waters, because they were bitter.

It is because of the drought, in that the star, the P 2

king