fter
the prophanation_, and in both versions, chap. iv. 11, the Temple is
represented standing.

After this war _Nabuchodonosor_ King of _Assyria_, in the 13th year of his
Reign, according to the version of _Jerom_, sent his captain _Holofernes_
with a great army to avenge himself on all the west country; because they
had disobeyed his commandment: and _Holofernes_ went forth with an army of
12000 horse, and 120000 foot of _Assyrians_, _Medes_ and _Persians_, and
reduced _Cilicia_, _Mesopotamia_, and _Syria_, and _Damascus_, and part of
_Arabia_, and _Ammon_, and _Edom_, and _Madian_, and then came against
_Judaea_: and this was done when the government was in the hands of the
High-Priest and Antients of _Israel_, _Judith_ iv. 8. and vii. 23. and by
consequence not in the Reign of _Manasseh_ or _Amon_, but when _Josiah_ was
a child. In times of prosperity the children of _Israel_ were apt to go
after false Gods, and in times of affliction to repent and turn to the
Lord. So _Manasseh_ a very wicked King, being captivated by the
_Assyrians_, repented; and being released from captivity restored the
worship of the true God: So when we are told that _Josiah in the eighth
year of his Reign, while he was yet young, began to seek after the God of
_David_ his father, and in the twelfth year of his Reign began to purge
_Judah_ and _Jerusalem_ from Idolatry, and to destroy the High Places, and
Groves, and Altars and Images of Baalim_, 2 _Chron_. xxxiv. 3. we may
understand that these acts of religion were occasioned by impending
dangers, and escapes from danger. When _Holofernes_ came against the
western nations, and spoiled them, then were the _Jews_ terrified, and they
fortified _Judaea_, and _cryed unto God with great fervency, and humbled
themselves in sackcloth, and put ashes on their heads, and cried unto the
God of _Israel_ that he would not give their wives and their children and
cities for a prey, and the Temple for a profanation: and the High-priest,
and all the Priests put on sackcloth and ashes, and offered daily burnt
offerings with vows and free gifts of the people_, _Judith_ iv. and then
began _Josiah_ to seek after the God of his father _David_: and after
_Judith_ had slain _Holofernes_, and the _Assyrians_ were fled, and the
_Jews_ who pursued them were returned to _Jerusalem_, _they worshipped the
Lord, and offered burnt offerings and gifts, and continued feasting before
the sanctuary for the space of three months