A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

JUDAEI.

The Jews.

Some Authors, says Tacitus, reports that the Jews came from Candia, as if the word Judea, was made of the word Ida, which is a mountain in that Island, and says that they were driven out of that place when Saturn was divested of his Empire by Jupiter; and went to settle themselves in the furthermost parts of Libia. Others write that they came from Egypt, and that during the reign of Isis, their number being extraordi∣narily increased, they inhabited the neigh∣bouring Country under the command of Je∣rusalem and Juda. And many others assure us, that they came out of Ethiopia, either out of fear or hatred of King Cepheus; some say al∣so, that the Jews were a multitude of Assyrian Mob got together, who not being able to live in their Country, possessed themselves of a part of Egypt, and built afterwards the Towns of Judea in the neghbouring Syria. Some allow them a more illustrious origine, and affirm that they were already famous in the time of Homer, and call them Solymes, from whence came the name Solyma or Jerusalem, notwithstanding the greatest number of wri∣ters agree in this point, that Egypt being in∣fected with leprosy, King Bocharis, by the ad∣vice of the Oracle of Hammon, drove them out of this Country, as a multitude unprofita∣ble and odious to Diety, and that being scat∣tered in the wilderness, and courage failing them, Moses one of their Leaders advised them to expect no relief neither from Gods nor Men, who had forsook them; but to follow him as a celestial Guide, who should deliver them out of dangers, which they did without knowing where he led them. They say that nothing was more troublesome to them than thirst, and that they were ready to perish for want of water, When on a sudden a herd of wild asses, that came from feeding, got into a Rock covered with a wood; which Moses having perceived he followed them, fancying that he should meet with some fountain in a place covered with green; which succeeded according to his desire, for he found there abundance of water, wherewith they quenched their thirst After they were thus refreshed they continu∣ed their Journey for the space of six days, then they found a cultivated Country, and took possession of it, having driven away the inhabitants thereof, and there they built their Temple and City. Moses, the better to get their affection and fidelity, instituted a Religion and Ceremonies amongst them, contrary to those of all other Nations. For all that is holy amongst us, is accounted profane by them, and all that is forbid to us is lawful to them. Moses consecrated in the Sanctuary the Figure of the animal that was their guide, and offered in sacri∣fice the Ram out of the hatred he bore to Jupiter Hammon; and the Ox, because it was adored in Egypt; and forbad them to eat any flesh of swine, because they were subject to leprosy. He instituted many fasting days, in remembrance of the hunger they had suf∣fered in their Travel, and ordained unleaven∣ed bread, for a token that they had lived upon rapine. And ordered them to keep the seventh day holy, because upon that day they had made an end of their labours; but as men are inclined to idleness, they keep also holy the seventh year. Some Writers tell us, that it is an honour render∣ed to Saturn, with whom they were dri∣ven out of Candia, or because they revere his Planet, which is the highest and most large of all; besides, that most part of the celestial bodies observe the number of seven in their course and influences. But by what means sooner this Religion was introduced, 'tis certain that it is more ancient than any other Religion whatever. These Jews ne∣ver dwell nor eat with any men, but those of their own Religion, and abstain from foreign women, tho they are much given to luxury. They have invented circumci∣sion; for a distinction from other nations, and those who embrace their Religion are tied to the observation of that ceremony. They bury their dead standing, after the ex∣ample of the Egyptians, instead of burning them like other Nations, and have the same opinion, as the Egyptians, concerning Hell, but have quite another belief concerning the Diety. For the Egyptians adore several animals under different shapes, but the Jews adore but one God in Spirit, accounting all those Idolaters who represent him like a man that they believe; he is eternal and immu∣table, and will not suffer any image neither

in their City nor in their Temple. Some fancied that they adored Bacchus the conque∣ror of the East, because a Golden Vine was found in their Temple, and that their Priests did beat the Drum, and played upon the Flute, and are crowned with Ivy; but their ceremonies are quite different from those of Bacchus, which are attended by mirth, feast∣ings and rejoycing; for the ceremonies of the Jews are filthy and absurd.

This whole discourse of Tacitus is contrary to the holy Scripture in the main circum∣stances, as 'tis easily observed; for this Na∣tion ador'd the true God, and came out of Egypt by his own order under the conduct of Moses, who performed several Miracles to oblige Pharoah to let them go into the Desert, and Moses got the Waters to come out of the Rock with his mystical Rod; and God gave to this Nation, whom he had chosen to him∣self, a Land abounding in all kinds of wealth, which is Palestina or Judea, as he had promi¦sed to their Fore-Fathers.

Tacitus reports also, that this Nation have Arabia on the East, Egypt on the South, Syria on the North, and Phaenicia and the Sea on the West. Their Bodies are healthy and strong; their Country very plentiful, tho they have but little rainy weather, and bears the same things that grow in Italy, and besides that, the Palm-tree and the Balsome-tree; the first of these Trees is great and fine, the other small, but of great use in Physick; when its Branches are full of moisture, they make an incision therein, with a Stone or Potsherd, (for it abhors Iron) and distils a most pre∣cious Liquor. The chiefest Mountain of that Country is Libanus, always green, and covered with Snow in very hot weather, which is a miracle of Nature. There is the Spring of the River Jordan, which running through two Lakes, loses it self in the third, which is as large as a Sea, but of a very bad taste, and a pestiferous smell. Its Waters are not agitated by the Winds, and neither Ri∣ver Birds nor Fishes can endure it; whatso∣ever is cast into it floats over, and Men who can't swim never sink under its Waters; however, no Man knows the cause of this wonder: At certain times it casts forth Bitu∣men, which experience has taught Men to ga∣ther like other things; 'tis a black Liquor, which is congeal'd by Vinegar, and floats over water: The manner of loading Ships with it, is to draw it up the sides of the Ship, just to the Deck, and so it will follow suc∣cessively, and run down, if not interrupted, into the Hole. 'Tis thus reported by the Ancients, but the Inhabitants of the Country assure us, that Bitumen is gathered by heaps, is either driven by the winds, or drawn to the shore, where it is dried, both by the heat of the Sun and the exhalations of the Earth, and being thus grown hard, 'tis cut like stone or wood. Near this Lake are those fruitful and well peopled Plains, the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrha, which were consumed by Fire. 'Tis said that the marks of the wrath of Hea∣ven remains there still, and that the Earth is burnt, and has not strength to produce any thing. That all that grows or is planted there, either bearing Blossom or Fruit, grows black and is turned into ashes, which is caus'd, according to my opinion, by the cor∣ruption of the air and earth, occasioned by the neighbouring Lake; notwithstanding, I do not deny, that the fire of Heaven might have destroyed whole Cities. The River Be∣lus disembogues itself into the Sea of Judaea, and at its mouth they take up Sand, with which they make Glass, by mixing Niter with it; and tho the River be but a very small one, yet it is never exhausted. This Country has many Villages and few Cities, whereof Jerusalem is the chiefest: and is en∣compass'd by three walls; the first incloses the City, the second the Palace, and the third the Temple, which is a very stately building, and which might serve for a Cittadel. The Jews are not allowed to go further than into a Gate thereof, and the Priests only are per∣mitted to go into it. This people was always despised by other Nations, first by the Assy∣rians, then the Medes and Persians: but under the Macedonians, Antiochus attempted in vain to govern them, by taking away their su∣perstition, and introducing the Greek customs amongst them, for he was prevented in his design by the rebellion of the Parthians. Wherefore they took opportunity, by the falling of this Empire, and the rising of the Empire of the Arsacides, to elect their own Kings to govern them.

Pompey was the first of the Romans who conquer'd Judea, and enter'd the Temple by the right of Conquest, and ordered that the Walls of the City should be pulled down, but he preserved the Temple, and all that was therein.