The praise of Josias, of Jeremias, Ezechiel, and the twelve prophets.
Also of Zorobabel, Jesus the son of Josedech, Nehemias, Enoch, Joseph,
Seth, Sem, and Adam.
49:1. The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell
made by the art of a perfumer:
49:2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as
music at a banquet of wine.
49:3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he
took away the abominations of wickedness.
49:4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of
sinners he strengthened godliness.
49:5. Except David, and Ezechias and Josias, all committed sin.
49:6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and
despised the fear of God.
49:7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a
strange nation,
49:8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets
thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias.
49:9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his
mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build
again, and renew.
49:10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn
him upon the chariot of cherubims.
49:11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and
of doing good to them that shewed right ways.
49:12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their
place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong
faith.
49:13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the
right hand;
49:14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec who in their days built
the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for
everlasting glory.
49:15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us
our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who
rebuilt our houses.
49:16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up
from the earth.
49:17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the
support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the
people:
49:18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied.
They prophesied. . .That is, by their being carried out of Egypt they
verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph. Gen. 50.
49:19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam
in the beginning,