Kings

KINGS. The Israelites had no King of their Nation till Saul. Before him, they were governed, at first by Elders, as in Egypt, then by Princes of God’s Appointment, as Moses and Joshua; then by Judges, such as Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Eli, Samuel; and last of all by Kings, as Saul, David, Solomon, Reboboam. A Chronological List of the Kings of the Hebrews.

Saul, the first King of the Israelites, reigned forty Years, from the Year of the World 2949, to 2909.

Ishbosheth, the Son of Saul succeeded him, and reigned six or seven Years over Part of Israel, from 2949, to 2956.

David was anointed King by Samuel in the Year of the World 2934, but did not enjoy the Regal Power till the Death of Saul in 2949, and was not acknowledged King of all Israel till after the Death of Ishbosheth in 2956. He died in 2990, at the Age of Seventy.

Solomon his Son succeeded him; he received the royal Unction in the Year 2989. He reigned alone after the Death of David in 2990. He died in 3029, after a Reign of forty Years.

After his Death the Kingdom was divided; and the ten Tribes having chosen Jeroboam for their King, Reboboam, the Son of Solomon, reigned only over the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

The Kings of Judah.

Reboboam, the Son and Successor of Solomon, reigned seventeen Years; from the Year 3029, to 3046.

Abijam, three Years, from 3046, to 3049. Asa, one and forty Years, from 3049, to 3090.

Jehoshaphat, five and twenty Years; from 3090, to 3115.

Jehoram, four Years; from 3115, to 3119.

Ahaziah, one Year; from 3119, to 3120.

Athaliah his Mother, reigned six Years; from 3120, to 3126.

Joash was set upon the Throne by Jehoiada the High Priest, in 3126. He reigned forty Years, to the Year 3165.

Amaziah, thirty nine Years; from

3165, to 3194.

Uzziah, otherwise called Azariah, reigned seven and twenty Years, to the Year 3221. Then attempting to offer Incense in the Temple, he was struck with a Leprosy, and obliged to quit the Government. He lived after this six and twenty Years, and died in 3246.

Jotham his Son took upon him the Government in the Year of the World 3221. He reigned alone in 3246, and died in 3262.

Ahaz succeeded Jotham in the Year of the World 3262. He reigned sixteen Years, to 3278.

Hezekiah, eight and twenty Years; from 3278, to 3306.

Manasseh, five and fifty Years; from the Year of the World 3306, to 3361.

Amon, two Years; from 3361, to 3363.

Josiah, nine and twenty Years; from

3363, to 3394.

Jehoahaz, three Months. Eliakim, or Jehoiakim, eleven Years; from the Year 3394, to 3405.

Jehoiachin, or Jechoniah, reigned three Months and ten Days, in the Year 3405.

Mattaniah, or Zedekiah, reigned eleven Years; from 3405, to 3416. In the last Year of his Reign Jerusalem was taken, the Temple burnt, and Judah carried into Captivity, beyond the Euphrates.

Kings of Israel.

Jeroboam reigned two and twenty Years; from 3030, to 3051.

Nadab, one Year. He died in 3051. Baasha, two and twenty Years; from 3052, to 3074.

Elah, two Years. He died in 3075. Zimri, seven Days.

Omri, eleven Years; from 3075, to 3086. He had a Competitor, Tibni, who succeeded and died, in what Year we know not.

Ahab, one and twenty Years; from 3086, to 3107.

Ahaziah, two Years; from 3106, to 3108.

Jehoram, the Son of Ahab, succeeded him in 3108. He reigned twelve Years, and died in 3120.

Jehu usurped the Kingdom in 3120, reigned eight and twenty Years, and died in 3148.

Jehoahaz, reigned seventeen Years; from 3148, to 3165.

Joash, reigned fourteen Years; from 3165, to 3179.

Jeroboam II. reigned one and forty Years, from 3179, to 3220.

Zachariah, twelve Years; from 3220, to 3232.

Shallum, reigned a Month. He was killed in 3233.

Menahem, ten Years; from 3233, to 3243.

Pekahiah, two Years; from 3243, to 3245.

Pekah, twenty Years; from 3245, to 3265.

Hosea, eighteen Years; from 3265, to 3283. Here the Kingdom of Israel had an End after a Duration of two Hundred fifty three Years.

The Jews, after their Return out of Captivity, which happened in 3468, lived under the Dominion of the Persians an hundred and four Years, till the Reign of Alexander the Great, who came to Jerusalem in the Year of the World 3672. After his Death, which fell out in 3681, Judæa at first was obedient to the Kings of Egypt, then to the Kings of Syria; till at last Antiochus Epiphanes having forced the Jews to take Arms for the Defence of their Religion, in the Year of the World 3836, the Maccabes recovered by Degrees their ancient Liberty, and lived in a State of Independency, from the Government of John Hyrcanus, in the Year of the World 3874, till Judea was reduced into a Province by the Romans.

A List of the Maccabees or Asmonean Princes, who governed the Jewish Commonwealth, as Princes and High Priests, till the Reign of Herod the Great.

Mattathias, the Father of Judas Maccabæus, died in 3838, in the Beginning of the Persecution set on Foot by Antiochus Epiphanes. Judas Maccabæus governed five Years to the Time of his Death, which happened in 3843.

Jonathan Maccabæus governed seventeen Years, from 3843, to 3860.

Simon Maccabæus, governed nine Years; from 3860, to 3869.

John Hyrcanus, governed nine and twenty Years; from 3869, to 3898. He was perfectly at Liberty after the Death of Antiochus Sidetes, King of Syria, in 3874.

Aristobulus took upon him the Title of King, and reigned one Year. He died in 3899. Alexander Jannæus, reigned seven and twenty Years; from 3899, to 3926.

Salome, or Alexandra, the Wife of Alexander Jannæus, governed nine Years, while her eldest Son Hyrcanus exercised the Office of High Priest. She died in 3935.

Hyrcanus, King and High Priest of the Jews, began to reign after his Mother’s Death in 3935; but he reigned peaceably for three Months only.

Aristobulus, the Brother of Hyrcanus, made himself Master of the Kingdom and High Priesthood, which he enjoyed three Years and three Months, to the Year 3940: Then Pompey took Jerusalem, and restored the High Priesthood to Hyrcanus, together with the Quality of King; but without allowing him to wear the Diadem. Aristobulus was taken in Jerusalem, and carried to Rome by Pompey.

Hyrcanus did not quietly enjoy the Honours and Dignities which Pompey had restored to him. Antigonus his Nephew, the Son of Aristobulus, sent for the Parthians to Jerusalem, and made himself Master of the Crown and High Priesthood, in the Year of the World 3964. Hyrcanus was taken, his Ears were cut off, in Order to render him incapable for the Future of exercising the Functions of the Priesthood, and he was carried to Babylon, from whence he did not return till 3968. He was put to Death by Herod in 3974, eight and forty Years after the Death of his Father Alexander Jannæus, and nine and thirty after that of his Mother Salome, or Alexandra.

Antigonus, his Nephew, who had got Possession of the Crown and High Priesthood, enjoyed them no longer than about two Years and seven Months. He was taken in Jerusalem by Sosius, in 3967, and afterwards beheaded the same Year at Antioch, by the Order of Mark Antony.

Herod the Great, the Son of Antipater, and by Extraction an Idumæan, was declared King of the Jews by the Roman Senate, in the Year of the World 3964. He died after a Reign of six or seven and thirty Years, at the Age of Seventy, in the Year of the World 4001, and the first of J. C. three Years before the Vulgar Æra.

His Dominions were divided between his three Sons Archelaüs, Herod Antipas, and Philip.

Herod Antipas had Galilee and Peræa. He was banished to Lions in the Year of J. C. 43 of the Vulgar Æra 39. From thence he was sent in Exile into Spain, where he died. He reigned two and forty Years; from the Year of the World 4001, to 4042, of J. C. 42, of the vulgar Æra 39. The Emperor Caius gave his Tetrarchy to Agrippa I. of whom we shall say something hereafter.

Philip for his Share had the Batanea, the Trachonitis, & Auranitis. He died in the Year of J. C. 37. of the vulgar Æra 33. His Tetrarchy was then reduced into a Province.

Archelaus possessed the Kingdom of Judæa under the Title of an Ethnarchy, from the Year of the World 4001, which is the first Year of J. C. and three Years before the vulgar Æra. He was banished to Vienne in France, in the Year of J. C. 9. of the vulgar Æra 6.

Judæa was then reduced into a Province, and made subject to Governors, till the Year of J. C. 40, which is the 37 of the vulgar Æra. See the List of Governors who governed this Province, under the Article GOVERNOR.

Agrippa I. the Son of Aristobulus, and Grandson of Herod the Great and Mariamne, received Part of Judæa from Caius, with the Title of King, in the Year of J. C. 40, of the vulgar Æra 37. Four Years after, that is to say, in the Year of J. C. 44, of the vulgar Æra 37, the Emperor Claudius added all the rest of Judæa. Caius Caligula gave him the Kingdom or Tetrarchy, which his Uncle Herod Antipas had enjoyed, who was banished to Lions with Herodias, in the Year 42 of J. C. of the vulgar Æra 39. Agrippa died in the Year of J. C. 7, which is the Year 44 of the vulgar Æra; Judæa then returned again to the Romans, and was put under the Administration of Governors till its intire Ruin, which happened in the Year of J. C. 73 of the vulgar Æra 70. See the Article GOVERNORS.

Agrippa II. his Son, called Young Agrippa, not being of Age to possess the Kingdom of Judæa; (he was but seventeen at his Father’s Death) the Emperor Claudius sent Cuspius Fadus thither as Governor; but Agrippa obtained of the Emperor some Authority over the Temple, and the sacred Treasury, and the Power of appointing or depriving the High Priests; which Power he enjoyed till the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. He used his utmost Endeavours to contain the Jews within the Bounds of Duty to the Romans, and to prevent their Revolt: But not being able to accomplish this, he was at the Siege of Jerusalem with Titus, and made Use of his Arms in reducing the Rebels to the Obedience of the Romans. Claudius, in the Year of J. C. 52 of the vulgar Æra 49, gave him the Kingdom of Chalcis; and in the Year 53, he gave him the Trachonitis, instead of the Kingdom of Chalcis. In the Year 54, Nero added some Towns of Galilee to his Dominions. Agrippa II. died after the Year 77 of the vulgar Æra, and before the Year 93, but the particular Year of his Death we do not know.

See the Lives of these Kings, and an exact Account of their Actions in the several Articles relating to them under their Names.

Books of Kings. We have four Books in our Bibles which are called the Books of Kings. Anciently there were but two in the Hebrew Bibles, the first whereof was called Samuel, and the other Kings or Kingdoms. At present in the Hebrew Copies, as well as in the Greek and Latin, there are four Books, the two first whereof in the Hebrew are called Samuel, and the two last Kings. The Greeks cite them all four under the Name of the Books of Kingdoms, and the Latins under the Name of the Books of Kings.

The first Book of Kings contains the History of an hundred Years; from the Birth of Samuel in 2849, to the Death of Saul, in 2949. Herein he have an Account of the Birth of Samuel, the War between the Philistines and Hebrews, wherein the Ark of the Lord was taken; the Death of Eli the High Priest, and his Sons Hophni and Phineas, the Restitution of the Ark sent back by the Philistines; of Samuel’s being acknowledged Judge of Israel, of Saul’s Election to be King, his successful Beginnings, his Wars and Victories, his Rejection, the anointing of David, his brave Actions, his Misfortunes, his Flight, the War between Saul and the Philistines, and the Death of this Prince.

The second Book of Kings contains the History of nine and thirty Years; from the second anointing of David at Hebron, in the Year of the World 2949, to the Year 2988, wherein David appointed Solomon to be his Successor, two Years before his Death, which happened in 2990. Here we have an Account of David’s being acknowledged King by the Tribe of Judah, while the other Tribes of Israel obeyed Ishbosheth, the Son of Saul. Ishbosheth being killed seven Years after, in 2956, David was acknowledged King of all Israel. He received the royal Unction a third Time; took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, brought back the Ark from Kirjathjearim to the City of David, had the Advantage of the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, upon several Occasions. Hanun, King of the Ammonites, having insulted David’s Ambassadors, this Prince made War upon his Countrey, and brought it under his Obedience. During this War David lived with Bathsheba, and procured the Murder of Uriah. Nathan reproved him for his Adultery and Murder; David did Pennance for them; God punished him with the Rebellion of Absalom. After this War, wherein his unnatural Son perished miserably, David being quiet in his Dominions, ordered the People to be numbered. The Lord punished his Curiosity with the Plague. Lastly, David prepared every Thing necessary for erecting the Temple.

The Third Book of Kings comprises the History of an hundred and twenty six Years; from Solomon’s being anointed, and his Admission as a Partner with David, in the Year of the World 2989, to the Death of Jehoshaphat King of Judah in 3115. Here we have an Account of Adonijah’s aiming at the Crown, and thereby giving Nathan and Bathsheba an Opportunity to persuade David to declare his Successor, and make Solomon his Associate in the Throne. Here we read of David’s Death, of Adonijah’s, Joab’s and Shimei’s; of the building and finishing the Temple by Solomon, of this Prince’s Riches, Wisdom, Reputation, Fall into Idolatry and Death, of his Son Rehoboam’s alienating the Minds of the Israelites by his Imprudence, and occasioning the Schism of the Ten Tribes, and the Choice of Jeroboam for their King. Of Rehoboam’s Successors Abijam, Asa and Jehosaphat, who died in 3115. Of Jeroboam’s Successors Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Tibni, Ahab and Ahaziah. The last of these died in 1708. The third Book of Kings gives the History of all these Princes.

The fourth Book of Kings includes the History of two hundred and twenty seven Years; from the Death of Jehoshaphat, and the Beginning of Jehoram in 3115, to the Beginning of the Reign of Evilmerodach King of Babylon, who delivered Jechoniah out of Prison in 3442. We have here a long Succession of wicked Princes in the Kingdom of Israel; Ahaziah, Jehoram the Son of Ahab, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam, Zachariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, Hosea the Son of Elah, in whose Reign Samaria was taken by Salmanezer, and the ten Tribes carried Captive into Assyria. There are several eminent Prophets named during this Interval in the Kingdom of the Ten Tribes. Iddo, Oded, Abijah, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, and many others.

In the Kingdom of Judah, we find some few pious Princes among many others who were very corrupt. Jehoshaphat was succeeded by Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, otherwise Azariah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Eliakim, or Jehoiakim, Jechoniah, or Jehoiachin, Mattaniah, or Zedekiah, in whose Reign Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldæans, the Temple burnt, and the People carried away in Captivity to Babylon, in 3416. After this we read of the sad Death of Gedaliah, whom the Chal dæans had left in the Countrey to govern the Remains of the People of Judah; the Retreat of this People into Egypt, and the Favour shewn by Evilmerodach King of Babylon to Jehoiachin, or Jechoniah King of Judah, whom he took out of Prison, and placed with Honour in his Palace.

In this Interval God raised up many Prophets in Judah; such as Iddo, Abijah, Shemaiah, Hanani, Azariah, Jehu, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Huldah, Micaiah, Joel, and many others. The fourth Book of Kings has preserved several Particulars of the Lives of these great Men, as well as of the Prophets who lived at the same Time in the Kingdom of Israel, or the Ten Tribes.

As to the Author of the four Books of Kings, the World is not agreed. Many ascribe the two first to Samuel, whose Name we read in the Front of these Books in the original Hebrew. The Jews allow him the Honour only of seven and twenty Chapters Talmudistæ & Kimchi.in the first, which include the History of his Life, and a Recital of what was done by Saul and David, while he was living. The rest they believe was continued by Gad and Nathan, according to these Words of the the 1 Ch. xxix. 29. 1 Sam. iii. 1.Chronicles: Now the Acts of David the King first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of Samuel the Seer, and in the Book of Nathan the Prophet, and in the Book of Gad the Seer. This Opinion is very probable; but notwithstanding it labours under great Difficulties, since there are certain Remarks visible in it, which could not have any Place in the Time of Samuel, or even in the Time of Nathan: For Example, it is said 1 Sam. i. 10. 1 Kings xii. 15.that while Samuel was living, Prophecy was rare in Israel; which intimates, that when the Author wrote, it was more frequent. He says in another Place, that Bethel was called 2 Sam. xiii. 5. 1 Sam. xxvii. 6.Bethaven, or the House of Iniquity; a Name whereby it did not go till Jeroboam had set up there one of his golden Calves.

The Author observes likewise upon David’s invading the Geshurites and Gezrites, that this Countrey of old was well peopled, from Shur even unto the Land of Egypt; that is to say, it was so in David’s 1 Sam. xxvii. 8.Time, but not when the Author was living. He says elsewhere, that they who formerly were called Seers, were in his Time termed Nabi or Prophets. Now in Samuel’s Time the Name of Seer was very common; the Author therefore of these Books is more modern than this Prophet. He speaks of Samuel as of a Person who had been dead long before, and praises him. He takes Notice that the City of Ziklag belonged to the Kings of Judah, ever since the Cession which Achish made of it to David. This Remark must have been made since the Separation of the Kingdoms of Judah and Israel; and consequently this Author lived not only after Samuel, but even after David and Solomon.

Several other Observations of this Nature have been made, whereby some have been persuaded, that David, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, or Ezra compiled these Books from Memoirs which were prepared in the Time of Samuel and the Prophets, who lived in the Reign of David and Solomon; and it is certain, that if we compare the different Characters of these two Books, we shall on one Side see that the Circumstances, Facts and Remarks are for the most Part the same. The Uniformity of the Style and the Sequel of the Narration prove likewise, that there was but one Author of them, and he Contemporary with the Persons whom he speaks of. But on the other Side, there are some new Circumstances, which make us think, that a more modern Writer had a Hand in them, and added some Particulars, and certain Terms proper to explain, what the Distance of Time render’d obscure and inexplicable. Now, if we suppose that Ezra, who was an inspired Author, had in his Hands the Original Writings of Samuel, and the antient Writers of Saul and David’s Times, and that he digested them into Order and connected them, all Difficulties are easily resolved, and the seeming Contradictions by some observed to be in the Text of these Books are reconciled.

That these Works are Authentick and Canonical, is a Point not disputed; both the Jewish and the Christian Church unanimously receive them as inspired Scripture, Matt. xii. 2. Mark xii. 25. Luke vi. 3.and Jesus Christ quotes them in the Gospel.

There are the same Difficulties almost with Relation to the Author of the third and fourth Books of Kings, and the Time when they were composed. Some have been of Opinion, that David, Solomon, and Hezekiah, wrote the History of their own Reigns. Others have asserted, that the Prophets took this Care upon them, who lived under their Government in Israel and Judah; for example, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Gad, and Nathan. We know very certainly, that several of the Prophets have written the Lives of those Kings, who reigned in their Times; and the Names and Writings of See 1 Chr. xxix. 29. 2 Chr. ix. 29. 2 Chr. xii. 15. 2 Chr. xiii. 22. 2 Chr. xvi. 7. 2 Chr. xx. 34, & 37. xxvi. 22. & xxii. 32.these Prophets are mentioned in several Places of the Books of Kings and Chronicles. Besides, the Memoirs and Annals of the Kings of Judah and Israel are cited almost every Moment, and these included the Particulars of those Princes Actions, whereof the Sacred Books have handed down to us Summaries only, and Abridgments.

It must be confessed therefore, that there are two Sorts of Writers, who have been concerned in penning the Books of Kings. Those original, primitive and contemporary Authors, who wrote the Annals, Journals, and Memoirs of what passed in their Times; from whence the Matter and Substance of of our Sacred History has been formed; and from whence the Authors which came afterwards have taken what they left us. These antient Memoirs have not descended down to us, but were certainly in the Hands of those sacred Penmen, whose Writings are in our Possession, since they cited them, and refer to them: But who are the Authors who compiled and digested these antient Writings, and in what Time did they live?

2 King. xxv. 22, 23, &c.It is generally believed that Ezra is the Author of the four Books of Kings, and of the Chronicles, as we have them at present; and the Proofs whereupon this Opinion is grounded, are these. 1. The Author who digested these Writings into Order, lived after the Captivity of Babylon. At the End of the fourth or second Book of Kings he speaks of the Return from the Captivity. 2. He says, that in his Time the Ten Tribes were still Captives in Assyria, whither they had been carried into Captivity as a Punishment for their Sins. 3. In the xvii. Chapter of the fourth or second Book of Kings, he makes some Reflections upon the Calamities of Judah and Israel, which demonstrate that he wrote after the Event. 4. He refers almost every where to antient Memoirs, which he had before him, and abridged. 5. The Author, as far as we are able to judge of this Matter, was a Priest, and very much attached to the House of David. Now all these Marks suit very well with Ezra, a learned and very curious Priest, who lived during the Captivity, and after it, who might have collected an infinite Number of Monuments, which Time and the Persecutions, which the Jews have suffered, might have deprived us of.

1 King. viii. 8. 1 King. xii. 19. 1 King. vi. 1, & 28.I confess, that there are some Particulars in these Books which do not agree with the time of Ezra: For Example, he says, that in his Time the Ark of the Covenant was still in the Temple; that the Kingdom of Judah and Israel were still subsisting. In another Place, he speaks of the Months Sif and Bul, Names, which in the Time of Ezra were no longer in Use. Lastly, He expresses himself throughout as a Contemporary, and as an Author would have done, who had been a Witness of what he wrote. But this pretended Contradiction may be easily reconciled. Ezra generally transcribes Word for Word the Memoirs which he had in his Possession; he copies them, without giving himself the Trouble to reconcile them. This is a Proof of his Exactness, his Fidelity and Honesty. In other Places, some Reflexions or Illustrations are inserted by him, which arise naturally from his Subject. This shews he was Master of the Matter which he had in Hand, and that being inspired by God, he was not afraid of intermixing his own Words with those of the Prophets, whose Writings lay before him.

The King’s Rights. The Israelites having desired Samuel to give them a King, such as other Nations had shewn round about them: 1 Sam. viii. 2.He hereupon replied to them, the King who shall govern you will have the following Prerogatives: “ He will take your Sons to “ guide his Chariots, and make Horsemen “ of them to march before him. He will “ make them his Officers to command some “ a Thousand, others an Hundred Men: “ Some he will take to plow his Fields, and “ gather in his Corn; others to make his “ Arms and Chariots. Your Daughters he “ will take to be his Confectionaries, Cooks “ and Bakers. He will likewise take your “ best Fields, Vineyards, and other Gardens, “ and give them to his Servants. He will “ make you pay Tythe of your Corn and “ Vineyards, that he may have wherewithal “ to gratify his Officers and Eunuchs. He “ will take your Men and Maid Servants, “ and the strongest of your young People, “ together with your Asses, and will employ them in working for him. He will “ also take the Tenth of your Flocks, and “ ye shall be his Servants. Ye shall cry out “ in that Day against your King, and the “ Lord will not hear you, because ye yourselves desired to have a King.”

There is a considerable Difficulty proposed relating to these Words. The Question is, whether Samuel only foretold here what should happen to the Israelites from their King, without pretending to authorize or approve it; or whether he declared to them what the real Privileges of a King would be, and the lawful Use of their Authority: Opinions are divided about this Matter. The Commentators for the most part think, that the Prophet here describes in what Manner the Prince would abuse his Power, and what would be his excessive Pretensions, rather than the just and legal Exercise of his Rights¹. As to the last Opinion Grotius may be consulted in his De jure Belli & Pacis, l. 1. c. 1. & c. 4. Art. 3. & 4. and Schicardus de Jure Regni.

Kings of the Feast. At great Entertainments a King was created, who assigned to every one his Place. He was chosen by Lot, or by the Person who gave the Banquet. He commanded, and every one was obliged to obey him. The Author of the Book of EcclesiasticusEcclus xxxii. 1. speaks of this Custom: If thou be made the Master of a Feast, lift not thy self up, but be among them as one of the rest: Take diligent Care for them, and so sit down. And when thou hast done all thy Office, take thy Place, that thou mayst be merry with them, and receive a Crown for the well ordering of the Feast. This Practice seems to have been in use not only among the Greeks and Latins, but among the Persians too. At Ahasuerus’s Feast there was no King of it: Nec erat qui nolentes cogerit ad bibendum. Every Man drank to satisfy his Thirst, without there being any such Officer to prescribe to any the Number of Cups which they should drink. Empedocles complained of one who was King of the Feast, and had commanded him to drink, or if he did not, that the Wine should be poured upon his Head.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages