The history of the world

†. I. Of the bounds of this halfe Tribe: and of Scythopolis, [unspec 10] Salem, Thersa, and others.

THe next Tribe which ioyneth it selfe to Isachar towards the South, is the halfe of Manasse, on the West side of Iordan. Manasses was the first begotten of Ioseph, the eleuenth sonne of Iacob. His mother was an Aegyptian, the daughter of Putiphar, Priest and Prince of Heliopolis: which Manasses with his brother Ephraim, the grand-children of Iacob, were by adoption numbred amongst the sonnes of Iacob, and made vp the number of the twelue Patriarkes. [unspec 20]

Of Manasse there were increased in Aegypt, as they were numbred at Mount 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 32200. able men: all which being consumed in the Desarts, there entred of their issues, 52700. bearing armes. The Territory which fell on this one halfe of Manasse, was bounded by Iordan on the East, and Doraea vpon the Mediterran Sea on the West, Iesrael on the North, and Machmata is the South border.

The first and principall Citie which stood in this Territorie was Bethsan, some∣time Nysa, saith Plinie, built by Liber Pater, in honour of his Nurse there buried, of* 1.1 the same name; which Solinus confirmes. Afterward when the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 inuaded A∣sia the lesse, and pierst into the South, to the vttermost of Coelesyria, they built this Citie a-new, and very magnificent: and it had thereupon the name of Scythopolis, or [unspec 30] the Citie of Scythians giuen it by the Greekes.

These barbarous Northren people constrained the Iewes to fight against their owne Nation and kindred, by whose handes when they had obtained victorie, they themselues set on the Iewes which serued them, and slew them all. Stephanus makes it the vtmost towards the South of Coelesyria: and Strabo ioynes it to Galilee. It is seated betweene Iordan and the Hills of Gilboe, in aulone ad montes acrabitenae, saith Ziegler. But I finde it in the East part of the Valley of Iesrael neere Iordan: after that, Iordan streightneth it selfe againe into a Riuer: leauing the Sea or Lake Genezareth. Notwithstanding, Montanus describes it farre to the West, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Medi∣terran Sea, neere Endor, contrarie to Stella, Laicstan, Adrichome, and all other the best [unspec 40] Authors. This Citie was the greatest of all those of Decapolis: but the children of Manasse could not expell the Inhabitants thereof: and therefore called it Sane an ene∣mie, or Beth-san, the house of an enemie.

Ouer the walls of this Bethsan the Philistims hung the bodie of Saul, and his sonnes,* 1.2 slaine at Gilboe. It had, while the Christian Religion flourished in those parts, an Archbishop, who had nine other Bishops of his Diocesse, numbred by Tyrius, in his 14. Booke and 12. Chapter: but the same was afterward translated to Nazareth. The later trauailers in those parts affirme, that there is daily taken out among the rubble and the ruines of that Citie, goodly pillers and other pieces of excellent marble, which witnesse the stately buildings, and magnificence which it had in elder times, [unspec 50] but it is now a poore and desolate Village.

From Bethsan keeping the way by Iordan, they finde an ancient Citie called 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which Citie the ancient Rabbines, saith Hierome, doe not finde to be the same* 1.3 with Hierusalem: there being in the time of Hierome and since, a towne of that name,

neere Scythopolis before remembred, which if the place of Scripture Gen. 13. 18. doe not confirme, where the Vulgar readeth transiuit{que} in Salem vrbem Sichemorum (for which others reade, venit incolumis ad Ciuitatem Sechemum, making the word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not to be a proper name, but an adiectiue) yet the place Iohn 3. 13. where it is said, that Iohn was baptizing in Aenon neere Salem, may somewhat strengthen this opini∣on, and yet it is not vnlikely that this Salem of which S. Iohn speaketh, is but contra∣cted of Shahalim, of which in the Tribe of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 1. Sam. 9. 4. This word 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maketh to be the plurall of Shuhal: of which wee reade, 1. Sam. 13. 17. for as for that which is added out of Cant. 6. 12. of Shulammitis, as if it had been as much as a Wo∣man of this Saleim, neere Aenon, it hath no probability. [unspec 10]

Not farre from thence where they place Salem, they finde Bezech the Citie of* 1.4 Adonibezet, Iosephus calls it Bala, here it was that Saul assembled the strength of Is∣rael, and Iuda, to the number of 330000. when hce meant to relieue Iabesh Gilead, a∣gainst Naash the Ammonite: who would giue them no other conditions of peace, than to suffer their right eyes to be thrust out. Neere Bezech is the Citie of Bethbera* 1.5 or rather Beth-bara, of which Iudg. 7. 24. in the storie of Gideon: and then Ephra or Ho∣phra, wherein Gedeon inhabited: in the border whereof stood an Altar consecrated to Baal: which he pulled downe and dcfaced: and neere it that stone, on which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Bastard slew his 70. brothers: a Heathenish cruclty, practised by the Turke to this day; and not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hence, betweene the Village of Asophon and Iordan, Ptolo∣maeus [unspec 20] Lathurus ouerthrcw Alexander King of the Iewes: and slaughtered as 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.6 numbreth them 3000. but according to Timagenes 50000. after which victory, as Ptolomie past by the Villages of the Iewes; he slew all their women: and caused the yong children to bce sod in great caldrons, that the rest of the Iewes might thereby thinke that the Aegyptians were growne to be man-eaters, and strike them with the greater terrour.

Towards the West and on the border of Isachar, they place the Cities of* 1.7 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Leuites, and Abel-Mehola, which Iunius, Iudg. 7. 22. placeth in Ephraim, it was the habitation of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Prophet, numbred among those places, 1. Reg. 4. 12. which were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in charge to Baana by Salomon, to whose charge also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be∣longed, [unspec 30] a place of great strength, which at the first resisted Iosua, though their King was afterward hanged, and their Citie giuen to the Leuites.

In the bodie of this Territory of Manasse, but somewhat neerer Iordan, than to the Mediterran Sea, were three great Cities, to wit, Thersa, whose King was one of those that Iosua slew: which the Kings of Israel vsed for their Regall seate: till such time as Samaria was built. From hence the wise of Ieroboam went to Achia to en∣quire of her sonnes health: who knowing her, though she were disguised, told her of her sonnes death.

The second was Thebes neere Samaria, of which name therc are both in Aegypt, and Greece, of grcat fame: in the assault of the Tower of this Towne, whereinto the [unspec 40] Citizens retired, the Bastard Abimilec was wounded by a waighty stone, throwne by a Woman ouer the Wall, who despairing of his recouery, commanded his Page to* 1.8 slay him out-right, because it should not be said that he perished by the stroke of a Woman. But others set this Citie in Ephraim neere Sichem or Neapolis.

The third is Acrabata, of which the Territory adioyning is called Acrabatena,* 1.9 (one of the ten Toparchies or Gouernments in Iudaea) for which Hicrome, 1. Macc. 5. reades Arabathena: but in the Greeke it is Acrabatine: Isidore calls it Agrabat. This Citie had one of the largest Territories of all Palaestine belonging to the Gouernour thereof. Iosephus remembreth it often, as in his second Booke of the Iewes Warres, c. 11. 25. 28. and elsewhere. [unspec 50]

The difference betweene a Tetrarchie and a Toparchie, was, that the first was ta∣ken for a Prouince, and the other for a Citie with some lesser Territory adioyning, and a Tetrarch is the same with Praeses in Latine, and President in English, being com∣monly* 1.10 the fourth part of a Kingdome: and thereof so called: Plinie nameth seuen∣teene

Tetrarchies in Syria: the Holy Land had foure, and so hath the Kingdome of Ireland to this day, Lemster, Vlster, Connath, and Mounster.* 1.11

To the South-west of Acrabata they placc the Cities of Balaam or Bilham, and Ge∣thremmon of the Leuites: but Iunius out of Ios. 21. 25. and 1. Chron. 6. 70. gathers that these two are but one: and that Iibleham Ios. 16. 11. is another name of the same Citie.

Then is Iesrael a Regall Citie, set at the foot of the Mountaines of Gilboe, towards the South-west: herein 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by a false accusation caused Naboth to bee stoned, to the end shee might possesse his Vincyard adioyning to the Citie, which Naboth re∣fused to sell, because it was his inheritance from his Father. [unspec 10]

Ioram also was cast vnburied into the same field: for which his Mother Iezabel* 1.12 murthered Naboth.

Toward the Sea from Iesrael is the Citie which they call Gaber: in whose ascent as Ahaziah King of Iuda fled from Iehu, when hee had slaine Ioram, hee was wounded with the shot of an arrow, of which wound hee died at Mageddo adioyning. The* 1.13 Scripture calls this Citie of Gaber, Gur.

Then Adadremmon, neere vnto which the good King Iosias was slaine by Necho, King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, in a Warre vnaduisedly vndertaken. For Necho marched towards Assyria against the King thereof; by the commaundement of God: whom Iosias thought to resist in his passage. It was afterward called Maximianopolis. [unspec 20]

A neighbour Citie to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was Maggeddo, often remembred in the Scrip∣tures;* 1.14 whose King was slaine among the rest by Iosua; yet they defended their Ci∣tie* 1.15 for a long time against Manasse. The Riuer which passeth by the Towne, may perhaps bee the same which Ptolomie calleth Chorseus: and not that of which wee haue spoken in Zabulon. For because this name is not found in the Scriptures, many of those that haue described the Holy Land delineate no such Riuer. Moore only sets it downe in his Geographie of the twelue Tribes: but the Riuer which passeth by Maggeddo hee vnderstandeth to bee but a branch, falling thereinto. Laicstan and Schrot make a great confluence of waters in this place: agreeable to this Scripture in the fifth of Iudges: Then fought the Kings of Canaan in Tanaac by the waters of Mag∣geddo. [unspec 30] But these Authors, and with them Stella, giue it no other name then the Tor∣rent so called.

But seeing that ancient Cosmographers stretch out the bounds of Phoenicia, euen to Sebaste or Samaria; and Strabo farre beyond it on the Sea-coast: And Iosephus calls* 1.16 Caesaria Palaestinae a Citie of Phoenicia, yea Laurentius Coruinus extendeth Phoenicia as* 1.17 farre as Gaza: seeing also Ptolomie sets downe Chorseus for the partition of Phoenicia and Iudaea: this Riuer running East and West paralell with Samaria: it is very proba∣ble that this Torrent called Maggeddo, after the name of the Citie, which it wate∣reth, is the same which Ptolomie in his fourth Table of Asia calleth Chorseus. The later trauailers of the holy Land call Maggeddo Subimbre at this day. [unspec 40]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plin. lib. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. Ios. 17. de Bell. sacr.
• * 1.3

  H. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. in Epist. at 〈◊〉〈◊〉. & in Loc. Hebr.
• * 1.4

  This Citie 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the place, Iud. 1. 3. seemeth to haue been in Iuda.
• * 1.5

  Iosep. ant. 6. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. c. 11.
• * 1.6

  Ios. l. 13. c. 21. ant.
• * 1.7

  This Aner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon 1. Chron. 6. 70. makes to bee the same with Tabanac, of which Ios. 21. 25 Hierom names it from Aner the Confede∣rate of Abra∣ham, Gen. 14. 13 〈◊〉〈◊〉 12. 17. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. King. 14.
• * 1.8

  Iudg. 9. v. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Mac. 1. c. 5
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l. 5.
• * 1.11

  Euseb. in Chron.
• * 1.12

  King. 2. cap. 2.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. King. 9. 27.
• * 1.14

  Iud. 1. c. 5.
• * 1.15

  Jos. 12. 17.
• * 1.16

  Strab. l. 16.
• * 1.17

  Iosep. l. 15. c. 13. Niger.