Harmony and Explanation.
Vers. 1. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, &c.
THERE is a famous mention of one 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nicodemus in the Talmud: of whom they relate this strange story. That when all Israel were come up to Jerusalem at one of the three Festivals, and there was no water for them to drink, Nicodemus bor∣rowed twelve wells or ponds of water from some great man, to be repaid again so much water, or twelve talents of silver on such a set day. Before the day that he had appointed came, there were no rains at all, and therefore it was unlikely he should repay water for water again according to his ingagement: Upon the day set, the great man sends for his water or for his money; Hereupon Nicodemus ben Gorion (for so they call him) went into his Divinity School, and vailed himself and prayed, and the Heavens were presently covered with clouds, and there came down a great rain, in so much that the twelve ponds were filled with water and to spare. Then the great man cavilled, and said, The Sun was set, and his day was past. Nicodemus went in again, vailed himself and prayed, and pre∣sently the winds blew, the clouds scattered and the Sun appeared: And therefore say they, he was called Nicodemus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because the Sun appeared so in his behalf: And they speak high things also of his Daughter, as that she had a bed made up of 12000 denarii of gold, &c. Talm. bab. in Cetuboth fol. 66. and Taanith fol. 19. Avoth Rabbi Nathan per. 6.
Now it is not worth debating either the truth of these stories, or whether this Nico∣demus in the Talmud and he in the Gospel were one and the same man. Certainly their times are concurrent, and why they might not be the same, as there is no danger to hold, so see I no reason to oppose, so strong as this, because the Talmudists make so honourable mention of him. The Author of Juchasin yoketh him in the same time and the same so∣ciety with Rabban Jochanan ben Zacchai, who flourished in the times of Christs being up∣on earth, and till after the destruction of Jerusalem: and of them two together he telleth this story, That Nicodemus ben Gorion was once invited to a Circumcision Feast with Rabban Jochanan ben Zacchai, and after the Feast Rabban Jochanan, and his Scholars went up into an upper room to expound the Law, and the house began to be all of a fire about, like mount Sinai (compare Act. 2.) Juchasin fol. 23. & 51.
If our Nicodemus that we have in hand were the same with him in the Talmud, and that story there have any thing of truth in it, we might say he was a Priest, and bare the office of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Overseer of the waters, for the peoples accom∣modation at the festivals: for such an office one of the Priests had, Maymon. in Keli Mikdash per. 7.
But whether he were the same man and of that Office or no, the Evangelist hath set