Considering the length of sacred history - as well as the difficulty for scholars of studying scripture, especially regarding its historical basis; also the negligence of some who, due to a lack of books, seek solace for their ignorance, wanting to keep in mind (as if in a little bag) the narratives of history - I have attempted to condense the series of the holy fathers, from whom, through the Levitical and royal tribes, Christ had his origin, together with their deeds, into one small work. Thus, the design presented to the eyes is a delight to the mind, even for those who scorn the length, and set before the eyes it can easily be committed to memory by the studious, being useful to all readers. In this, I undertook no easy task, but rather a business requiring full attention. With brevity, following the said design, I have taken care not to mutilate any of the historical truth, but, beginning with Adam, through the patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets, and the priests who were their contemporaries, until Christ, our end, I have traced the order.

Adam was formed in the field of Damascus and transported to paradise, where four rivers spring up. The woman was made from his rib while he slept. He named her and other things, and prophesied about Christ and the church. And having agreed with her to eat the fruit, because of the inappropriateness of their nakedness, he made aprons. After being rebuked by the Lord, he was expelled from paradise, and an angel with a flaming sword was deployed. From the cursed earth, by the sweat of his brow, he obtained his bread.

Cain, a farmer, grieving that his gifts but not his brother's had been rejected, although rebuked by God, killed his brother, a sevenfold sin. Later he became a wanderer, unsettled on the Earth, after he was cursed by God.

This Seth was begot by Adam in his 230th year, however 100 years are omitted by Moses, while Adam mourned Abel.

This Lamech was the first to introduce bigamy. When he killed a man for wounding him and an adolescent for bruising him, he predicted to his wives that he should be punished sevenfold.

This Enoch, pleasing God, was transported to paradise; where he lives along with Elijah. Having invented letters, he wrote a book, as is mentioned in the letter of Jude. It is believed that Adam died in his time.

This Jabal, the inventor of portable shepherd's tents, was the first to divide flocks according to quality, type and age.

This Jubal was the father of those who play lyre and organ, that is, he was the inventor of the art of music. He carved a column of brick and another of marble to withstand fire and flood.

This Tubal-Cain was the inventor of the arts of metalworking and a maker of sculpted works in metal. The sound of his hammers delighted Jubal, and he was the first to measure their proportions.

In the 600th year of his life, at the innundation of the flood, Noah and seven souls entered the ark, which he had made over a period of 100 years, on the Lord's command, given twenty years earlier. And the waters rose on the Earth for 150 days. God sent rain for 40 days and nights. On the 27th day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat, and after forty days he sent out a raven, and later the dove that carried an olive branch. On the 27th of the second month, he left the ark on the same day that he had entered the year before, when he had entered on the 17th of the second lunar month. And his sacrifice was accepted, and he agreed only to eat meat without blood, and the sign of the rainbow was given that the flood was over and would not happen again, and of the coming fire. Wine, which Noah first cultivated, made him drunk and Ham mocked him, so cursing Ham and blessing his other sons, Noah died.

After the flood, four main kingdoms arose: that of the Assyrians to the east, where Belus reigned first; that of the Sycionians in the west, where Aegialeus reigned; that of the Scythians in the north, where Ninus reigned; that of the Eygptians in the south where Nuneus reigned. Belus was succeeded by Semiramis, his wife, who made Babylon the capital of the kingdom, then by Ninus, who invented idols, having an image made of his father. After this came Sardanapalus, from whom Arbaces transferred the kingdom to the Medes. After this, Astyages reigned over them. He gave his daughter to the prince of the Persians, to whom Cyrus was born, and by whom Astyages was defeated. On Astyages' death, the kingdom was transferred to the Persians, and Darius, son of Astyages, co-reigned with this Cyrus.

From these three sons of Noah 72 clans are woven: 15 from Japhet, 30 from Ham, 27 from Sem. They were spread throughout the world. Sem obtained Asia, Ham Africa, Japhet Europe. We will only consider the descendants of Sem here, as the other two were Gentiles.

From this Heber the Hebrews are named, or it is from Abraham, almost like 'Abrahei'.

During the time of this Peleg, the division of languages occurred during the building of the tower of Babel in the field of Shinar. Because his family retained the Hebrew language, the most ancient of all, he was called Peleg, that is, separated from the others.

This Terah, not wanting to bear the insults inflicted on him regarding the worship of fire in Chaldea, where they killed his firstborn son Harran, travelled with Abraham, Nahor and Harran's family to Harran in Mesopotamia, where, having lived for 205 years, he died.

This Nahor, when he came out of Chaldea, took Milcah as his wife, who was the daughter of his dead brother Harran, and stayed in Harran in Mesopotamia. There his father died and Abraham travelled to the land of Canaan. Nahor begot three brothers, Hus, Buz, and Bethuel, together with another five, from one of whom, specifically Buz, Balaam was descended, who according to the Hebrews, is called Elihu Buzites in Job.

Abraham, after the suffocation of Haran, adopting Lot as his son, took Sarah as his wife, and travelled with his father to Harran. From there, after the death of his father, he came to Shechem and from there to Pentapolis. Later he pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai. In Egypt he pretended that his wife was his sister. Returning, he lived in the valley of Mamre, in alliance with three brothers. After slaughtering five kings, Abraham was honoured by Melchizadek who accepted his tithes. Abraham received a sign in animals and birds that he would have offspring.

This Lot left Sodom when the five cities were submerged. He begot these two sons, Moab and Amon, by his daughters, when drunk.

This Keturah was taken by Abraham as his wife after the death of Sarah. However, some say that she was Hagar, the concubine who became his wife. This is an interpretation based on sound, since Keturah means "coupled".

This Rebecca was brought by Eliezer, Abraham's servant, to Isaac from Mesopotamia. She was the sister of Laban and daughter of Bethuel.

Isaac, when Rebecca was in labour, heard the prophecy that Esau would serve Jacob. In Gerar with Abimelech, he said his wife was his sister. He gathered one hundredfold from the seed that he planted, dug three wells, and made a fourth at Beersheba. There he initiated an agreement with Abimelech and Phicol. Unknowingly, he rejected Esau and blessed Jacob.

These two, along with ten others, Ishmael begot by his Egyptian wife.

Esau, a hairy hunter, sold his firstborn rights for yellow lentils. Called Edom, he took Canaanite wives: Judith and Basemath. Supplanted by his brother in blessing, he met Jacob returning from Mesopotamia with 400 men in peace.

Jacob supplanted his brother, both in birthright and in blessing, then journeyed into Mesopotamia. With foresight, he set up a pillar near Luz, and he completed fourteen years of service to Laban for Rachel and Leah. Having just completed an agreement for a further seven years, changing the rods, he departed from Laban with his wives and eleven sons (Rachel furtively taking the idols), and he was stopped at Gilead. Then he entered into an agreement with Laban with stones. He went to Mahanaim, where he saw the camp of angels. Advancing with organised troops, he crossed the ford of Jabbok, and wrestled until dawn with an angel that injured his sinew. His name was changed. Having sent gifts ahead to his brother, he met him nervously. His daughter Dinah was oppressed by Shechem and the Sichemites were treacherously killed. At God's command he built an altar at Bethel and cleansed the house. He came to Ephrath and Rachel died giving birth to Ben-Oni. He pitched his tent beyond the Flock Tower. Later, in the time of famine, he went down into Egypt, where he was honorably received by his son Joseph. Answering Pharaoh about his age, he blessed his sons in order, and ended his life.

Christ descended from Judah through this line below.

From the sons of Jacob came many offspring, but those from Levi and Judah suffice here, because Christ descended from them.

These are two sons of Joseph, each of whom formed a tribe. The tribe of Levi was removed from the inheritance by lot.

These are the sons of Judah by Sua.

This Job, some say, was the second king in Edom after Bela. And in Genesis he is called Jobab, the great-grandson of Esau, but the Hebrews say he is descended from Hus, the firstborn of Nahor.

This Balaam, who in Job is called Elihu, was descended from Buz, who, brought to Balak to curse Israel, blessed them, talking first to his ass, and prophesied about the rising of a star and about the saviour.

This Tamar was given by Judah to his two sons, Er and Onan. When they had perished for their shameful crime, he sent her back to her father's house as a widow, fearing to hand her over to Selah, which should have been done according to the law of raising seed. Later, when she was sitting at a crossroads, in different clothes, Judah, after the death of his wife Sua, coming with Hiras the shepherd to shear sheep, begot Peres and Zerah in one encounter, thinking that she was a prostitute. Later, when brought to a place of execution, charged with adultery, she freed herself through the pledge of the ring, staff and bracelet.

Kohath had two sons, but suffices to speak of just one, because the priests came from him.

This Dathan and Abiron, descendants of Ruben through a few intermediaries, wanting to lead the people in Moses' place because of their birthright, were swallowed up on account of the sedition stirred up at Korah's suggestion.

These two sons of Aaron perished in the desert by divine fire.

This Korah quarreled with Aaron about the priesthood, because he was descended from the firstborn, that is Izhar, and therefore he and 250 others perished in divine fire. Dathan and Abiron were also consumed.

From Eleazar came the priests, who are set out in this descending line until the time of Christ, according to the order of the judges, kings and prophets.

This Joshua succeeded Moses as leader, and the Lord spoke to him. He sent two spies from Shittim into Jericho. After seven days, all the people crossed the Jordan with dry feet. He took twelve stones from the dry river bed, and carried another twelve back to the dry river bed. In Gilgal, he introduced the people to the second circumcision. He destroyed the city of Jericho in seven days, with priests blowing trumpets seven times on the seventh day. Achan took the forbidden bar of gold and red cloak, because of which, the Lord was angry and had thirty-six men killed in Ai, and Achan was stoned. Joshua set fire to the city of Ai in an ambush. He made the Gibeonites servants as woodcutters and water-carriers. He destroyed five kings, who besieged Gibeon, in the time of one day in which the sun and moon stood still. He killed 24 kings, who were with Jabin. Having built an altar in Ebal, he had blessings and curses proclaimed. He distributed land, to some according to concession and to others according to tradition. Two and a half tribes, when they returned to their land, after fourteen years, built an altar near the banks of the Jordan, and Joshua sent them away freely. He wrote the people's oath about worshiping God through the pouring out of water in this volume.

After the death of Joshua, before Othniel, some say that the story of Micah's idol and the Levite's wife took place.

This Othoniel struck Kirjath Sepher and thus had Achsah as his wife, who asked for the upper and lower watery ground.

This Nahshon, who came out of Egypt, was commander of the tribe of Judah, and so what the Lord said to Abraham in Genesis is true: that in the fifth generation the children of Israel came out of Egypt, calculating according to the royal tribe and calling generations not people but successions, because as you can see, counting from Judah to Nahshon, ‘he begot’ is said there five times. If, however, that text meant the fourth generation in the priestly tribe, the order must be computed by counting from Levi to Eleazar.

This Ehud was ambidextrous and, having struck Eglon the fat king, he freed Israel.

This Shamgar killed 600 men with one ploughshare.

This Salmon took Rahab the prostitute as a wife, who received spies in Jericho and hid them in stalks of flax on a wall, and she saved her house by placing a red thread in the window when Jericho was destroyed.

This Deborah, the wife of Barak or Lapidoth - after Sisera was killed by Jael (the wife of Haber the Cinite), who was given a cup of milk - killed Jabin (whose commander Sisera had been), and sang a song.

This Gideon was greeted by an angel, to whom he offered meat on a stone. He was called Jerobaal after the altar to Baal was destroyed, following the sign in the fleeces. With 300 men who lapped water like dogs, breaking the lanterns and sounding the trumpets, he overthrew the four kings: Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna.

This Abimelech, son of Jerobaal by his concubine, was made king in Shechem over the Sichemites. He killed his seventy brothers. Only Jotham survived, who presented the parable of the olive tree, the fig tree, the vine, and the bramble to the Sichemites. The same Shechem, with Gaal their commander, was destroyed by Zebul, and in the town of Thebez Abimelech perished from a fragment of a millstone thrown by the hand of a woman.

This figure is useful for understanding what is said in the book of Numbers about the arrangement of the tribes and Levites in four regions around the tabernacle. Moreover, it is useful for understanding the difficult crossing of the Adamantius in Joshua, where it is also shown which of the Levites received how many towns from the dwelling places of which tribes, organised by lot.

This Elimelech, in the time of famine, went with his wife Naomi from Bethlehem to Moab. There he received his sons' wives, Ruth and Orpah, and when the sons and father died, Naomi returned with Ruth the Moabite, by whom Boaz begot Obed, raising seed for a deceased relative.

This Jepthah, driven out as a bastard by the legitimate sons, dwelt in the land of Tob. Later, having been made commander over them, and having defeated the Ammonites, bound by a vow, he made a burnt offering of his daughter after she had mourned her virginity for sixty days. He killed 42,000 Ephraimites, judged by whether they said Shibboleth or Sibboleth, at the fords of the Jordan.

With this Uzzi the priesthood was transferred from Eleazar to Eli, who was of the line of Ithamar, and these four on the outside were deprived of the priesthood.

This Abiel, through many generations which it would have been superfluous to set out here, was descended from Benjamin. From his son Kish, King Saul was born. Kish's brother was Ner. In Chronicles, however, it is stated that he was his father.

This Samson was born to Manoah, and his birth was predicted by an angel. He was a Nazarite. He took a wife in Timnah. He proposed the riddle of the lion to his companions, which was solved by the treachery of the woman. He set fire to the enemy's crops using foxes tied together and killed a thousand men with an ass's jawbone. He was given water at Ramath-Lehi, and he took the gates of Gaza to the hill. Later his hair was shaved. Through Delilah's treachery, he was blinded by the Philistines and set to grinding in the temple of Dagon. As his hair grew back, he slaughtered more in death than he had in life.

This Eli, a priest and judge, was lukewarm in condeming his sons and so the Lord rejected him. He raised Samuel, who was offered to him. Hearing of the slaughter of his sons and the capture of the ark by the Philistines, he fell from his chair, broke his neck, and died.

This Elkanah descended from Izher through Korah and had two wives, Peninnah who was fertile and Hannah who was barren. But after making an vow that if God gave her a son she would make him a Nazarite, Hannah gave birth to Samuel, who was offered to Eli in Shiloh.

This Samuel, a judge and prophet, liberated the sons of Israel from the Philistines with a sacrificed lamb. He placed the Stone of Help on the boundary. At Israel's request, he anointed Saul (sent to him by the Lord) as king. Three signs confirmed the anointing, giving him a commandment that he later broke. Reproved by God, Saul was placed in great difficulties, so he resurrected Samuel from the dead through the magic arts of a sorceress. Later Samuel also annointed David as king.

Saul, having been looking for his father's donkeys for a long time, came to Samuel, who he consulted on the way out of Ramathaim, and who annointed him with a little vial of oil. Receiving three signs – at Rachel's tomb, at the oak tree at Tabor, and in the assembly of prophets with whom he sang – at Mizpah he was elected again by the chosing of lots and was annointed. Having divided oxen into pieces, he liberated Jabesh from Nahash. He heard the sign of God's anger in the thunder that Samuel called forth. When Samuel did not appear in seven days, Saul made sacrifices and was rebuked by Samuel. Without swords and lances, creeping with his armour-bearer, Jonathan scattered the terrified Philistines, and Jonathan, who ate honey despite a curse, only just survived. God rejected Saul, even though Samuel mourned for him, because he spared Agag the Amalekite, and David was chosen instead.

David, the youngest brother, was chosen by the Lord as king and annointed by Samuel in Bethelem as a sign of his kingship. Later in Hebron he ruled over the tribes of Judah for seven years and six months, and thirdly he ruled over all Israel for thirty-three years. He soothed Saul with the lyre, killed Goliath, and allied his spirit with Jonathan's. He became the king's son-in-law, whose envy was aroused by the virgin's praise of David. David frustrated Saul's caution by giving him 100 foreskins, and he escaped the spear thrown at him while he was playing the lyre, and the ambush by guards (as Michol cunningly put a statue in the bed). He saw Saul with his officials prophesying in Naioth, and was unharmed, thanks to Samuel. David swore an allegiance with Jonathan (while Jonathan was practising archery). At Nob he ate the priests' bread. He pretended to be mad before Achish. He received Abiathar, the only one of the priests to escape Doeg, and liberated Keilah. In Ziph, David was freed from the hand of Saul by Philistine invasions, and later he cut off the hem of the cloak of his pursuer. After the death of Nabal, the fool, David took Abigail. He secretly took the spear and water jar from by Saul's head when Saul was pursuing him. Returning to Achish in Ziklag, he struck the Amalekites. The message from the dead killed Saul. David sang a mournful song. After the death of Ish-Bosheth, ruling alone, David threw the Jebusites out of Jerusalem, and built the Millo. He laid waste to the Philistines at Baal-Perazim, brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, was mocked by Michol, was promised offspring, and was forbidden from building the house of the Lord. He measured Moab with a line, and struck the Philistines of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He distributed official positions. He killed Uriah by the hand of the Ammonites. David first reconciled with Absalom, but later fled from his pursuit; Absalom was destroyed and Ahithophel hanged. David returned to Jerusalem, counted the people, and incurred the wrath of God. He had Solomon annointed, commanded him to avenge his enemies, and died.

Here the priesthood was returned to Eleazar's line in the time of Solomon, who, casting out Abiathar (who was descended from Ithamar), restored Zadok, who was descended from Eleazar.

Solomon killed Joab, Shimei and Adonijah. He received wisdom from God after his sacrifice, which was demonstrated in the judgement about the prostitutes. He built the temple with the assistance of Hiram, and consecrated it after seven years and as many months, on the tenth day of the seventh month. He made the Forest Palace and the royal palace. He received the Queen of Sheba honorably. Yet he stained his previous life with the love of women and the worship of idols.

This Nathan was not Nathan the prophet. After the death of his father, he was adopted by David as a son.

This Joab was a commander of David's army.

These three were David's grandsons.

This Amasa was a commander of David's army, and was killed treacherously by Joab.

This Rehoboam, despising the advice of his elders in favour of youthful recklessness, disturbed the people. He retained the support of two tribes and the Levites, and that kingdom was called Judah. His sins being weighed, he withstood the force of Shishak, king of Egypt, who attacked him. He substituted bronze shields for the gold shields that were carried off.

On this line, on the right side, the kings of Judah who reigned over two tribes are set out, of whom the first was Rehoboam, because the three previous kings, Saul and David and Solomon, ruled over all Israel. Also, the contemporary prophets are set out opposite them.

This Jeroboam accepted ten pieces of Ahijah the Shilohite's cloak and fled to Egypt. After the death of Solomon, at Shechem he was chosen as king by ten tribes. He set up cast calves in Dan and Bethel. After hearing the threat of the prophet Iddo, his hand was shrivelled and healed, the altar was torn apart, and the prophet Iddo was killed by a lion because of the feast of the false prophets. Yet Jeroboam was not persuaded to abandon his evil ways. He consulted Ahijah the Shilohite through his wife about the health of his boy, and hearing the sad news of his desolation, he died.

Here are the names of the kings who reigned over Israel after Solomon, that is over the ten tribes. From the first, Jeroboam, who reigned opposite Rehoboam, to Hoshea, in whose reign the ten tribes were captured by Shalmaneser, king of the Assyrians, who placed them beside the river of Gozan, beyond the mountains of the Medes and Persians, that is beyond the Caspian mountains. We read in the history of Alexander of Macedon, that in that place two unclean peoples, Gog and Magog, were trapped by Alexander, so that they would not contaminate the whole earth. However, the Antichrist will free them and lead them out, and this is the one the Jews are waiting for and believe to be the Messiah.

This Nadab, while besieging Gibbethon, a Philistine town, was killed by Baasha.

This Baasha, although corrected by Jehu the prophet, built Ramah as part of his fight against Asa. He was impeded by Ben-Hadad, and died.

This Asa fortified the cities of Gabaa and Masphat with stone and wood that Baasha had collected in Rama. He was rebuked by Jehu because he had trusted Ben-Hadad. He died of pain in his feet, which he brought on himself by putting the prophet in prison.

This Elah, while drunk, was killed by Zimri, who, while beseiged by Omri, was burned in Tirzah.

This Omri fought with Tibni for three years before becoming sole ruler, and, having built Samaria, he died.

This Jehoshaphat, when enemies were invading the land of Judah, took comfort in the temple from Uzziel the prophet saying to him: "O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not" et cetera, and Israel called the place of plunder the Valley of Blessing. His ships, as the prophet Eliezer foretold to him, were broken up at Ezion-Geber.

In the time of Ahab, king of Israel, Jericho was built by Abiel, and Elijah, bringing about drought, was fed by a raven and a widow whose son he revived. Summoned to Ahab by Obadiah, Elijah killed 450 prophets of Baal. When the rain came, fearing Jezebel, Elijah fled to the desert, where he ate bread baked on coals. After fasting for forty days, through four signs Elijah received the commandment to annoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. He routed the army of the Syrians with the junior commanders. Ben-Hadad was captured in the fields of Aphek, but spared. Ahab imprisoned Micaiah, by whom he was rebuked. He killed Naboth for his vineyard, and was rebuked and humbled by Elijah. Persuaded by Zedekiah's lies and not believing Micaiah, Ahab attacked Ramoth Gilead, where he was killed by an arrow.

This Jehoram took a daughter of Ahab, king of Israel, as his wife. Under him, Edom ceased to be a tributary of Judah. Matthew skips from Jehoram to Uzziah in his narrative.

This Ahaziah consulted the god of Ekron because he had had a fall. Two companies of fifty men were burned by Elijah and the third left unharmed, and Ahaziah died.

This Ahaziah was killed in the siege of Ramoth Gilead with Jehoram, his son-in-law, who was offered support by Jehu, recently annointed by the prophet as king of Israel.

This Jehoram (after Micaiah was killed by a fall and water was given to Elisha in the desert), with the help of Josaphat and the king of Edom, forced the king of Moab to kill his son. And during the Samarian famine, he escaped the Syrian sword thanks to the warning of the lepers. He was wounded at the siege of Ramoth, and later he was killed by Jehu's arrow.

This Athalia killed all the royal seed except little Jehoash, who Jochabeth (wife of Jehoiada the high priest and daughter of Jehoram) nurtured secretly in a little chapel for six years. After six years Athalia was ignominiously killed by Jehoiada.

Jehu was annointed king by Elisha's boy. He killed Jehoram and Ahaziah, threw down Jezebel, beheaded the seventy sons of Ahab and killed forty-two brothers of Ahaziah. With Jehonadab's blessing, he treacherously killed the prophets and priests of Baal in Samaria, and he destroyed the temple to build latrines in its place.

This Jehoash established a treasury to repair the temple. He killed Zecharia, son of Jehoiada, who had made him king. He endured divine honours devoted to him, and, killed by his servants, he died.

This Amaziah did not heed the parable of the thistle from Jehoash, king of Israel. Defeated by Jehoash, Jerusalem was delivered to him to be plundered, for the vessels of the Lord's house to be carried away, and for the wall to be broken down.

Jehoash, when he had visited Elisha, shot an arrow on his command and struck the ground three times. He defeated Amaziah, Jerusalem surrendered, and he took way the treasures.

For these thirteen years Judah was without a king, as is proved by the text of the Book of Kings and collation of the years of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel.

This Uzziah loved agriculture. When he usurped the priesthood under Azariah, he was struck with leprosy and half the mountain split away, destroying the royal gardens. According to some, in his time, Isaiah, Hosea, Joel and Obadiah began to prophesy.

Menahem gave Pul 1000 silver talents to retreat from him. He provoked wrath against himself with a gift of fake calves.

After King Sardanapalus, the last ruler of the Assyrians, Pul and all the following reigned in Assyria in order, who, to regain their dignity, waged war against their neighbours, capturing ten tribes. They reigned until the time of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib, who fled from Judea into Assyria after his army was destroyed, was killed by his sons in the temple.

This Jotham built the gate of the house of the Lord, which is called the beautiful gate, or by the Hebrews the Jotham gate, or by others the Flock Tower. In the time of Jotham Isaiah saw the Lord enthroned, and Nahum and Micah began to prophesy.

Pekah did not resist Tiglath-Pileser, who captured two and a half tribes, and from the tribe of Zabulun and Naphtali the equivalent of half a tribe.

This Ahaz threw his son into the fire at Ben Hinnom. Besieged by Rezin and Pekah, he refused to believe the consolation of Isaiah and scorned asking for a sign. Abandoning God, he put his trust in Tigath-Pileser. He destroyed the temple ornaments. In his time Rome was founded and Isaiah foresaw the oppression by Babylon.

This Hezekiah restored what his father had displaced, broke up the bronze serpent, and solemnly celebrated the Passover. When he heard Rabsace's insult, he was humble before the Lord. He received through Isaiah and believed the sign of liberation from Sennacherib after three years, through a massacre done by an angel. Because he did not offer praise, he became sick. He believed in the sign of health shown by Isaiah that the sun went backwards, and, healed, he sang a song. He was rebuked by Isaiah for showing God's treasures to the Babylonians, and died in peace.

Under Hoshea, although he had been given permission to go to Jerusalem, the ten tribes were captured by Shalmaneser. Among them was Tobit, whose history is well known. Samaria was beseiged for three years and filled with Cuthites, Jacobites, and Samaritans, who, for fear of lions, received the law, but did not abandon idols.

In this central column the different ways of comparing the years of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel are set out. The contradictions arise from the various sayings of the prophets, from which the book of Kings is compiled. Hence, according to different reasoning, different people have assigned different starting points to the beginning of the reigns of the kings of both Judah and Israel.

Here is the first famous king of Babylon, who honoured Hezekiah, to whose messengers he showed the treasures of the Lord, through which sin the kings of Babylon attacked the kingdom of Judah, from Nebuchadnezzar and all the others following him until the last, Belshazzar. Then the kingdom was transferred to the Medes and Persians.

This Manasseh killed Isaiah (who showed him divine miracles) with a wooden saw, and filled the squares of Jerusalem with the blood of the prophets. Later, recognizing his wickedness, not without great admiration, he changed his life for the better.

This Josiah found the book of Deuteronomy in the Ark of the Covenant. He was terrified by the response from Huldah, humbled himself, and ended idolatry in the high places. He burned the bones of the pseudo-prophets and priests in Bethel. Having celebrated an incomparable Passover, he was killed by Pharaoh in Megiddo. He was shot with an arrow by the king at Rimmon. He was mourned inconsolably, and Jeremiah wrote lamentations about his death. In the thirteenth year of his reign, Jeremiah began to prophesy through three signs: the watchful branch, the boiling pot, and a belt.

This Jehoahaz, made king by the people, was taken away by Pharoah, who substituted his brother in his place.

This first Jeconiah, after Uriah was killed, Jeremiah imprisoned, and the book of Baruch's prophecy torn up, did not heed the example of the Rechabites. He paid tribute to Nebuchadnezzar for three years, but finally was killed by him and thrown from the walls.

This Nebuchadnezzar carried two captive tribes, the remnant of Israel, out of Egypt, after the death of Gedaliah, at the end of his reign. After living with beasts for seven months, he was restored to his former self by Daniel's prayer after seven years of repentance.

This second Jeconiah, on the advice of Jeremiah, gave himself into the hands of the returning Nebuchadnezzar. About 10,000 people were transported with him, in which number were Ezechiel, with Daniel and the three children.

Daniel, prophesying in Chaldea under Nebuchadnezzar, in the time of capitivity, saw ten visions, three of which he saw under Nebuchadnezzar: the first was of the four-part statue and the small stone that grew, signifying four reigns to be crushed by Christ; the second was of the angel who freed the three boys who would not worship the statue in the Plain of Dura from the furnace; and the third was the king's letter that described his vision of himself under a kind of tree, because of his pride he was transformed into an ox or a lion, not physically, but in the alteration of his mind, but later he was healed by Daniel's prayer.

Under Belshazzar, Daniel saw the fourth vision of the four winds (that is, angels), the four beasts – the lion, bear, leopard, and wild boar (that is, the four kingdoms) – , and the ten horns (that is, the ten kingdoms) proceeding from the four beasts with a little horn (that is, the Antichrist) subduing them. At Christ's coming he killed the beasts.

Under the same Belshazzar, Daniel saw the fifth vision of a ram with unequal horns (that is, the kingdoms of the Medes and the Persians) and of a goat (that is, Alexander) brutally attacking him, from which four horns were growing (that is, his successors). From one of these came a small horn (that is, Antiochus Epiphanes).

Under the same Belshazzar, Daniel saw the sixth vision of the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus and Darius in the writing revealed at the banquet, which stated: "mene, tekel, parsin".

Under Darius, Daniel saw the seventh vision of an angel who freed him from the lions' den, where the king had put him against his will, because Daniel had contradicted the decree given by the commanders out of envy (that no prayers should be made to anyone other than the king) by praying three times a day.

Under the same Darius, Daniel saw the eighth vision: Gabriel confirming the coming of Christ after 70 weeks of lunar years, and the coming final capitivity by the Romans after the building of the city by Nehemiah and others.

Under Cyrus, Daniel saw the ninth vision, when, fasting next to the Tygris, he saw a man wearing a belt, whose body was chrysolite, whose eyes were torches, and whose face was like lightning.

The tenth vision Daniel heard from the same man: of the succession of the kings of Persia and of Alexander and his successors, four great kings of Egypt and Syria, and the followers of Antiochus Epiphanes. He confirmed that the Antichrist would reign for a time, and a time, and half a time.

This Zedekiah, who was previously called Mathanias, did not learn from the potter's vessel. Terrified by the death of Hananiah [with respect to the twisted chains], he heard the letter directed against Jeremiah, but neither the vision of the figs nor the breaking of the earthen jar had any impact. In the ninth year he was beseiged by Nebuchadnezzar, who retreated and defeated the King of Egypt. Jeremiah was mocked and thrown off his donkey and into prison. Returning to the siege, Nebuzaradan, sold a field. While free, Jeremiah prophesied evils to the king, and was put into a cistern and freed by a eunuch. But he did not stop prophesying evil to the king, who (fleeing by night) was captured in the plains of Jericho. In Zedekiah's eleventh year, the city was captured, Jeremiah freed, and Gedaliah left as prefect. Zedekiah was taken blind to Babylon, where he died shamefully from a laxative and was buried.

In the time of this Zedekiah, the reign of the kings of the Jews came to an end. According to Josephus their reign lasted 514 years, seven months and ten days. According to the book of Kings it was not quite 500 years; from the building of the temple there were 480 years, six months, and ten days. From the departure of the people from Egypt there were 1062 years, six months, and ten days. From then on (after the return from captivity) the government was conducted by the priests, with the exception that there were a few kings around the time of Christ, who are noted below, after the priests.

This Nebuchadnezzar planted the garden, which is called “the Hanging Gardens”, for his wife, who wished to see Media, where she came from.

This Amel-Marduk, younger brother of Nebuchadnezzar, feared that his father, returning to life (as he had before), would expel him from the kingdom. On the advice of Joachim (who he brought out of prison), he cut his father's body into 300 pieces and gave them to 300 vultures.

This Shealtiel was begot not by Zedekiah, but by Jechonias the Younger after the exile to Babylon.

Under Belshazzar, Susanna was freed from the slander of the priests by Daniel and they were stoned. Under the same Belshazzar, Daniel killed seventy priests who were secretly eating offerings to Bel. He overthrew Bel and his temple, suffocated the dragon with a mass of pitch made from fat and hair, and was sent into a pit. Habakkuk, having been transported from Judea to Babylon, visited and freed Daniel.

Cyrus, having killed Belshazzar, tranferred the kingdom of Babylon to the Persians. In the first year, inspired by the writing of Isaiah, he gave the Jews permission to return. In his third year, 50,000 people left. Encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, under Jesus and Zerubbabel, in Cyrus's 30th year, hindered by their neighbours, they had just finished building the walls of the temple.

Cambyses, who was also called Nebuchadnezzar, held the monarchy of the east for seven years (first having reigned for twelve years while his father was alive). He forbade the building of the temple. He wanted to be worshipped as a god in Israel as everywhere else. Judith, with Abra, beheaded his commander Holofernes, in the town of Bethulie. Achior was converted, Israel freed, and Judith sang a song.

This Darius, son of Hystaspes, after Zerubbabel explained the parable of the wine, the king, the woman and the truth, gave him gifts. In the second year of his reign he conceded that the temple could be completed, which was finished in his seventh year, and dedicated on the twenty-third day of the twelfth month.

In the time of Artaxerxes, Ezra, having restored the library, returned to Jerusalem with 1,700 people. He received power from the king to excuse the Levites from tribute, receive funds from the commanders, and to remove or replace commanders. He also expelled foreign women from the Jewish community.

Under Artaxerxes, Nehemiah, having received a letter of embassy, also returned to Jerusalem. He rebuilt the walls with the six gates, which he had observed with distress. He freed the people from usury, and received new fire from logs hidden by Jeremiah. While Ezra was reading at the Feast of Tabernacles, on the twenty-third day, while fasting, Nehemiah convened the people to hear the law four times during the day and four at night. He kept a tenth of the population in Jerusalem and introduced the celebration of the sabbath to the people.

Ahasuerus, after the banquet of delights, the expulsion of Vashti, introduction of Esther, honouring of Mordecai, and hanging of Haman, changed the decree for the surrender of the Jews (issued fraudulently) for a new text on the heads of their enemies. Because of this, they celebrate the feast of Purim in commemoration on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and in Susa (where there were two days of killing) they celebrate the feast on the fourteenth or fifteenth day. At this time Aristotle heard Plato.

Ochus, at the suggestion of Vagoso the prefect (whose friend Joshua had been killed by John) reinstated the tributes that Ezra had forgiven.

Darius, defeated by Alexander (as Saraballas, Darius's prefect, went over to Alexander's side), accomplished the building of a temple on Mount Gerizim, for Manasseh, the brother of Jaddua the high priest, who had married his daughter.

Alexander transferred the kingdom of Persia to his rule and captured Tyre and Gaza. Angrily, he hastened to Jerusalem and venerated Jaddus and the other priests, who received him honorably. After the sacrifice, reading Daniel, he revoked the seven-year tribute, granting this to the Jews but denying it to the Samaritans. By edict, he kept ten tribes in confinement. He met his death by poison. The four noted here were his successors to the kingdom. Scripture treats two of them more thoroughly because they tormented the Jews.

This Ptolemy, son of Lagus, entered Jerusalem under the pretence of making sacrifices and sold many captives from Judea and Garizim.

This Ptolemy Philadelphus, a lover of books, on the advice of Demetrius and Aristeus, having freed 120,000 Jews (for 120 silver dracmas each), sent gifts to be dedicated in the temple. He honorably welcomed 70 interpreters sent by Eleazar to Alexandria, and after they had completed their interpretation in 70 days, he sent them away honoured with gifts.

Under Simon, Joshua composed the Book of Wisdom, which is called Ecclesiasticus or Panarethos, of which he makes mention there.

Seleucus, son of Antiochus the Great, received Heliodorus, who had been sent to Jersualem to rob the treasury of the temple, was killed by two young men, and revived by the prayers of Onias.

After these kings there were others in Egypt, who are not set out here, up to Cleopatra, who, with Antony (who loved her) was defeated in battle, and Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.

This Antiochus the Great, having subjugated Judea and defeated Philopator, revoked the seven-year tribute of those who minister in the temple that Philadelphus had relaxed. Because of his cruelty, Onias, the father of Simon, fled to Egypt, to Ptolemy Epiphanes. He built the temple in the region of Heliopolis, fulfilling the Isaiah's prophesy.

Alcimus, made high priest by Demetius, was always hostile to Judah. While he was destroying the walls of the holy house and the works of the prophets, he was struck with paralysis and died.

Matthathias the priest, killed the messengers from Antiochus Ephipanus at Modi'in. He hid in caves with his five sons and others who were faithful to God. Teaching the Jews to fight on the sabbath, he restored the law of their fathers.

This Antiochus Epiphanes heard of the death of his father and the laziness of his brother. When he was a hostage in Rome, he secretly left and was received in certain cities in Syria because he pretended to be a free man. There he accepted the name Epiphanes, and, after his brother died, reigned in his place. He sold the priesthood, first to Jason and then to Menelaeus, who gave themselves Gentile names. They established a youth house in Jerusalem and did not circumcise their children. Onias was killed by Andronicus, persuaded by Menelaus. Antiochus trecherously struck Egypt, and then Jerusalem. Expelled from Egypt again by Roman messengers, he set up an idol in the temple during the Olympic Games, and forced the Jews to follow the rites of the Gentiles. Later, he was repulsively expelled from Elymais and crushed. Although he repented late, he died miserably.

Judas Maccabeus, having defeated Appollonius, Seron, Timothy, Nicano, Gorgias and Lysias, was made high priest on the 25th of December. He consecrated the temple, which had been desecrated for three years, over eight days. By himself, and then with Jonathan, he freed the Gileadites and with Simon, he freed the Gallileans. Under Joseph and Azariah, guardians of Jerusalem, two thousand people fell, after which, having given his right hand in pledge to Eupator, and tolerating the accusations of Alchimus, he decapitated Nicanor. Afterwards, he made an alliance with the Romans, and was killed by Bachides.

This Antiochus Eupator, having captured Bethsura, besieged Jerusalem and giving his right hand in pledge to the Jews for the observation of their laws, expelled Phillip from Antioch. Finally, he and Lisias were bound by their own army, and were killed on the orders of Demetrius son of Seleucius.

The sons of Zambri struck John.

This Eleazar, attacking an elephant from underneath, fell beneath it.

Demetrius Sother, son of Seleucius, returning from Rome, killed Antiochus and Lysias. He appointed Alchimus high priest, and sent him to Judea with Bacchides, and slaughtered many around Jerusalem. He lost Nicanor, who was killed by the hand of Judah. He had Judah killed by Bacchides. Jonathan refused to help him, even though he had promised him much. Meeting with Alexander, son of Epiphanes, he died.

Jonathan struck the Nabateans in revenge for his brother and after the victory he made an agreement with Bacchides. He brought aid to Alexander (who conferred on him the priesthood), and later also to Demetrius and Antiochus the Adolescent. He was treacherously bound up by Tryphon and killed.

Simon, having given 100 talents of silver and two of Jonathan's sons to Tryphon in exchange for Jonathan, was frustrated in his hopes. He allied himself with Demetrius, and he purified the citadel of Zion, expelling the guards. Finally, he was treacherously killed by Ptolemy, ruler of Jericho, and John Hyrcanus succeeded him.

Alexander, son of Epiphanes, killed Demetrius with Jonathan's help. He honored Jonathan with two royal insignia. His cities were treacherously captured by Ptolemy and his wife (Ptolemy's daughter) was given to Demetrius. He was beheaded by the king of Arabia, to whom he had fled.

Demetrius was defeated by Antiochus the Adolescent, who had been brought back from Arabia by Tryphon.

Antiochus the Adolescent, giving Jonathan the priesthood, was treacherously killed by Tryphon who wanted to reign.

This Antiochus was the last king of Syria in the canon of the Old Testament. Indeed, Syria became a tributary of the Romans, and Pompey was sent against Tigranes, king of Armenia, who made Scaurus governor of Syria. Then, with Aristobolous and Hyrcanus in conflict, he was received in Jerusalem by Hyrcanus' supporters, and tore down the temple in which Aristobolus' supporters were taking refuge, and stabled horsed in the porticos. Because of this Pompey was never fortunate again. Hyrcanus was declared high priest, and Pompey took the captive Aristobolus and his sons to Rome.

John opened two of David's eight coffers and gave them to Antiochus to lift the siege of Jerusalem and to quiet the protests of the people about the desecration of the tomb. With the remaining money he established a hostel.

Aristobulus, imprisoning his mother and three brothers, crowned himself. At the suggestion of his wife, he killed his brother Antigonus, and, 475 years after Zedekiah (when the kingdom had been interrupted), he died.

This Crassus plundered almost all the gold from the temple (which Pompey had left), to pay his army, and died from gold being poured into his mouth.

Alexander, having killed about a thousand Jews, died and left the kingdom to his wife.

Alexandra, the wife of Alexander, promising the kingdom to Hyrcanus her son, imprisoned her other son Aristobolus with his wife and sons, taking them hostage so that they would not usurp the kingdom.

In the time of Cassius, Julius Caesar fought with Pompey and, after his victory, held the principality for three years and seven months. Before him, the government had been in the hands of consuls for 464 years, and from the time of Romulus, under seven kings. There was an empire for 240 years, after which there were successive consuls until Julius Caesar.

Hyrcanus, deceived by his brother Aristobolus with the help of the Arabs to whom he fled, became destitute. Confirmed in the priesthood by Pompey, and made king without a name by Julius Caesar, he finally died, his ears mutilated by the sword of the Parthians who were bringing aid to Antigonus.

This gentile, Antipater, of Idumea, had four sons, one of whom, named Herod Ascalonita, was made king in Judea. Hyrcanus' grandaughter, Mariame, was given to Herod in marriage. Because of her he held the kingdom, and he circumcised himself. After the killing of the infants, Herod reigned for only six years. The Lord hid in Egypt from him.

This Herod, a convert, was made king of Judea by Antony and Augustus through Sosius. Four years after the start of his reign, he had these sons by his four wives (noted here). He murdered his wife Mariam, slaughtered the innocents, and killed his sons Antipater, Alexander, and Aristobolus. Finally, dying miserably, he appointed Archelaus as his successor.

Christ was born in the 42nd year of the reign of Augustus, the 30th year of the reign of Herod, on a Sunday night.

Augustus Caesar died in the time of Annius Rufus after having reigned for 57 years, six months, and ten days, of which Antony reigned with him for fourteen or twelve years.

Archelaus, after a long struggle with his brothers, was made diarch of Idumea and Judea. Elated by the promise of a kingdom, he was accused of tyranny before Caesar, and exiled to Vienne. The borders of his lands were reduced to a province and Componius was sent to Judea as overseer.

Herod Antipas, under whom the Lord was crucified and John beheaded, was made tetrach of Galilee. After a long dispute with Archelaus for the kingdom, and envious of Herod Agrippa, the king of Judea, after the Lord's Passion, he journeyed to Rome at the urging of his wife. On Herod Agrippa's accusation he was forced into exile in Lyon.

This Herod Agrippa experienced varied fortunes. The tetrachies of Philip, Lysanius and Herod Antipas, and a fourth in Judea, were given to him, and he was made king by Gaius. At the will of the Jews, he killed James, and he allowed divine honours to be accorded to him. He saw an owl, a sad omen of his death.

Tiberius succeeded Augustus. He sent Valerius to oversee the Jews, and, as is well known, sold the priesthood. First, removing Annas, he installed Ishmael, and later Eleazar, son of Annas, then Simon, and finally Joseph, who is also called Caiaphas, under whom Christ was crucified.

This Matthias was subsituted for Judas. The lot fell on him when he and Joseph were chosen in the days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

Paul and Barnabus were set apart in Antioch by the Holy Spirit in the thirteenth year after the Lord's Passion. Going up to Jerusalem, to Peter and James, who laid hands on them, they set out to preach in the fourteenth year. After they had separated, Paul (after a long time preaching) came to Rome. After twelve years of free custody under Nero, in the fourteenth year of Nero's reign, he was killed on the same day as Peter.