A treatise of the situation of Paradise written by P.D. Huet; to which is prefixed a map of the adjacent countries ; translated from the French original.

CHAP. V. Continuation of the Explana∣tion of the tenth Verse.

I. New Ambiguity of this Verse. The River divided it self out of the Garden. II. The four heads into which the River was divided, were four different Rivers. III. Why these four Rivers are called heads.

I. VErse 10. And from thence it was parted, and became into four ••eads. The Rules of Grammar do re∣quire that this Particle from thence be referred to what he named last, viz. the Garden. And indeed Moses, be∣sides the other marks he hath given of the Situation of this Garden, having undertaken to describe it to us by the Rivers or Chanels, into which this great River that waters it is divided, the Description which he is a going to make of these Chanels, ought to be referred to this Garden. Yet as Para∣dise was a part of Eden, one may consider

Eden and Paradise together in the de∣scription of these four Branches; because they were divided from one another, after they had passed out of both. Moses hath mark'd it plainly enough, when he said, That a river went out of Eden to water the Garden; for these words give us to understand, that there was but one River in the Garden and in Eden, and consequently that the division did not happen there. Nevertheless the Sub∣tilty of the Interpreters hath found here matter wherein to exercise it self. Some say that the Particle from thence relateth to Eden, and that the River divides it self there into four Chanels, before it cometh into the Garden. Others will have that divi∣sion to be made at the entrance of the Garden. Those who pretend that the River divides it self in Eden, do not agree among themselves; some of them supposing that it divides it self into four Chanels in Eden, which run all four into Paradise; others admitting but one of them into Pa∣radise, leave the remainder in Eden. There are some who affecting to re∣fine this matter, suppose that the River is first of all divided into two branches; and a little lower each of these two branches subdivided in two others

to make four. Mahomet, a bold and confident Contriver, entred not into these particulars, when according to his own Humour and Genius he framed the Idea of a Paradise, watered by four Rivers, the first of pure Water, the second of Milk, the third of Wine, and the fourth of Honey. Altho' many of his Followers speak but of the three last, reckoning the Water for nothing: The best and ••oundest part of the Interpreters is perswaded that the Division was made, out of the Garden.

II. Verse 10. And became into four heads. Many Translators passed over these two words and became, and ex∣pressed them not in their Versions. The Seventy Interpreters are of that number, and probably the vulgar Translation retained this Omission from the Ancient Italick, which was com∣posed according to that of the Seventy Interpreters. One might justly won∣der that St. Jerom, who ••ound Myste∣ries in the very Disposition of the words of Scripture, hath not supplied what was wanting in this place. Altho' the Faithfulness which all Translators, especially those of the Word of God, owe to the Publick

and to that Sacred Original, had not bound them to account to us for those words; the only clearing of the matter, I mean of the Situation of Paradise, should have ingaged them to it: For when Moses, after he had said, That the River divided it self after its going out of Paradise, added, And became into four heads: Methinks he meant by that, that this division made four Chanels, which are so many different and separated Rivers, and never came together again. It is then as much as if he had said, And from thence it divided it self, and became into four heads: Signifying first the Division, and then the Effect and Parts of the Division. This is the Sence that the Hebrew Phrase doth impart: As in the second Book of Samuel the Hebrew Text is, Be in brave and valiant men: To signifie, Be brave and valiant. As St. Matthew, meaning it thus, And they shall be both one flesh; kept the Hebraism of Moses, And they shall be both in one flesh. And as St. John, instead of saying, And these three are one, hath spoken like an H••llenist, that is to say, he made use of an Hebrew Phrase with Greek words, And these three are in one.

III. Verse 10. Into four heads. The word Capita, which the Author of the vulgar Translation made use of, translating literally the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Raschim, deceived many Commenta∣tors; for having found in Horace, Pro∣pertius, and in some other Latin Au∣thors, the word Caput, in the signifi∣cation of Source or Spring, they took it here in the same sence, and thought that this River produced the Springs of the Rivers which Moses is a going to name. They were surely mistaken, for the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Raschim and Capita are taken here in the figura∣tive sence; not as some Interpreters expound, to signifie Rivers which are the heads, and as it were, Princes of the other Rivers in the Land, in the same sence as Virgil said, Fluvi∣orum Rex Eridanus; and speaking of the Tibris, Hesperidum regnator aqua∣rum; because the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ras∣chim, taken in that sence, ought to have been followed with the name of the thing, which these Rivers had been the heads of, as it is to be seen in those places of Virgil, and almost always in Scripture; but it signifies the beginnings; the approaches; what ••ne meets with first. The Seventy In∣terpreters

have very well expressed that word by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The French word Têtes is often used so: And it is a mistake of Severianus and Glycas, to render the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of the Seventy Inter∣preters by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Fountains. We find in many places of Scripture the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rosh, metaphorically used, to signifie the beginning of a way, and rendred by the Seventy Interpreters by the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and by Caput in the vulgar Translation. It is taken else∣where for a body of Soldiers; in that sence the Seventy Interpreters translate it also by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It might be well ren∣dred in Latin by the word Agmen, which should perhaps pretty well fit this place; for Virgil saith, Venit ag∣men aquarum. And the Samarita•• Translator very probably rendred in this sence the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Raschim, by that of Nozelim, which answe•• to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nozelim, that is to say, runnings of Waters, Ductu•• aquarum; and not Islands, as it is in the Version of the English Polygl••••▪ But the most proper and natura•• Sence is, that the River divided i•• self into four heads, four beginnings▪ four entries. And it would be very properly spoken, to say of one, wh••

coming out of the Garden had taken Shipping on the River, that having failed a while, he entred into the Phison or Tigris. In this one must not consider the great River with its four branches, in respect to the run∣ning of its Water, but in respect to the disposition of its Chanel. It must be looked upon as an High-way, of which it may be said, that it crosses over a Forest, and from thence di∣vides it self into four ways, whether the division be made above or below the Forest. Moses did not say whe∣ther the division of the River hap∣pened above or below Paradise, or whether it happens near or far. He denoted it plainly enough, when he named the four Chanels or Rivers, which grew from that division. Those four Rivers were so well known in the places where Moses then was, and to those to whom he wrote, that it was enough to name them that they might be known. Yet he was not contented with it; and as if he had foreseen that future Ages, and far Nations, who were also concerned in the design of his work, might want some clearing of this matter, he gave so evident tokens to make those Rivers

known, that no Man can mistake them but for want of heed; and can∣not but easily perceive that the four Rivers which divided the great River of Paradise, were the Euphrates and Tigris above it; and under it the two branches which divide the common Chanel of the Tigris and Euphrates, before it falls into the Persian Gulf. And this will be made evident by what follows.

Notes

• New Ambi∣guity of this Verse. The River di∣vided it self out of the Garden.
• The four heads into which the River was divided, were four different Rivers.
• 2 Sam, 13. 28.
• Matt. 19. 5.
• Gen. 2. 24.
• 1 John 7. 8
• Why these four Rivers are called Heads.
• Horat. Carm. l. 1. Od. 1. Propert. l. 2. Eleg. 12.
• Virgil. Georg. 1. & Aeneid. 8
• Sever. Ga∣bal. Hom. 5. in Hexaem. Mich. Glyc. Ann. part. 1.
• Virgil. Georg. 1.