ting off his head and hands. 3. Gath, a seminary of giants, where
Goliah was born. 4. Ekron, where Beelzebub the God of flies
had a nest or temple. 5. Timnath, where Judah committed in∣cest
with Tamar, but betrayed himself by his own tokens, and
beat himself with his own staff. Hence Samson fetcht his wife,
whose epithalamium proved the dirge to so many Philistines.
6. Modin, where the Maccabees were buried. 7. Sorek, the
chief if not onely rivulet of this tribe.
Entring on the south-coasts of Simeon, we light on Askelon,
where Herod was born. 2. Gaza, chief of the five Satrapies of
the Philistines, the gates whereof Samson carryed away; and
hither being sent for to make sport in the house of Dagon, acted
such a tragedy that plucked down the stage, slew himself, and
all the spectatours. 3. More inland; Ziklag, assigned by Achish
to David. 4. Beersheba and Gerar, where Abraham and Isaac
lived most constantly, near unto the brook of Besor.
The tribe of Judah was the greatest of all, so that Simeon
and Dan did feed on the reversion thereof, and received those ci∣ties
which originally belonged to this royall tribe. Memorable
herein were 1. Hebron, the land whereof was given to Caleb,
because he and Joshua consented not to the false verdict which
the jurie of spies brought in against the land of Canaan. 2. Nigh,
in the cave of Machpelah, the Patriarchs were buried; whose
bodies took livery and seasin in behalf of their posterity, which
were to possesse the whole land. 3. Kiriath-sepher or Debir,
an ancient University of the Canaanites: for though Parnassus
was onely in Greece, yet the Muses were not confined to that
countrey. 4. Tekoa, where Amos was born, fetcht from the
herdsmen to feed Gods sheep; and to dresse his vine, from ga∣thering
wild-figs. 5. Zoar, Lots refuge; near to which his wife
for one fare-well glance at Sodome, was turned into a pillar of
salt, to season us to measure a sinne by the infinitenesse of God
who forbiddeth it. Adjoyning is Lots cave; where he affecting
solitarinesse, had too much company of his own daughters.
6. Carmel, where Nabal lived as rich as foolish; but those
grains of wisdome which were wanting in him, were found
over-weight in his wife. Here Uzziah pastured his cattel: a
King, yet delighted in husbandry; as thrift is the fewel of ma¦gnificence.
7. Bethlehem, where our Saviour was born. 8. Je∣rusalem,
whereof afterwards.