The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

§. 1. The rebellion of some Jews.

There were in Neardaa (the residence and University of the Jews in Babylonia) two brethren named Asinaeus and Anilaeus, or in their proper language Chasinai, and Chanilai. These two their Mother (their Father being dead) had put to a trade and to a Master, for the making of sails or other tackle for ships. The sturdy youths having one day gi∣ven their Master some offence, and he them some blows, did take the matter in such high scorn and disdain, that they resolve not only to overrun their Master, but indeed to run over all Mastership whatsoever. They therefore getting away all the Arms their Masters house would afford, betake themselves to a strong place in an Island of Euphrates, and there publish and proclaim their rebellious resolution. Young men flock in to them apace, men of the same desperate minds and fortunes, and after building some Castles in the air of future expectations, they begin to build a Fort in the Isle for their present se∣curity and rendevouz. They then command the neighbour Towns to pay them Tribute, which the numerousness and resolution of the Commanders made them that they durst not disobey. The Governor of Babylonia thinking to quel this growing evil before it should be too strong, cometh secretly upon them on the Sabbath day, thinking to in∣volve them in their own superstition into the trap that he had prepared for them. But the furious youths were not so over-religious as to be kild in devotion, nor did they prize the Sabbath above their own lives, but for all it was that day they are resolved to fight, and they fight resolvedly, and kill and rout and soil the forces that made no other account but of victory.

Artabanus King of Parthia hearing of the power of this newborn Army, and the re∣solution of those upstart Captains, and considering how advantageous it might be for his own affairs, to have them sure and firm unto himself, he sendeth for the two Brethren with assurance of their safety: whereupon they come to him, and are Royally and bravely intertained by him: and when Abdagasis the General of his Army would have slain Asinaeus treacherously, the King forbad him, sent Asinaeus home with rich gifts and the Government of Babylonia committed to him: There he grew greater and greater in power and honour: and stood in high repute both with the Babylonians and the Parthi∣ans, and had all Mesopotamia at his command. And thus continued these Brethren in pomp and height for fifteen years together: till a miscarriage of Anilaeus began to cloud and eclipse their prosperity: For Anilaeus having slain a Parthian Peer that he might en∣joy his Lady, and she when she was now his wife, using her ancient Idolatry as in her first husbands days, this became a double offence to his chiefest friends, namely, for that he had married an Heathen, and for that she continued still in her Idolatry: They seri∣ously admonish Anilaeus of the matter, but he slew one of the chiefest of them for his home-reproof and admonition. Therefore the rest address themselves to Asinaeus, and

demand the vindication of their native Laws and Religion: he rebuketh his Brother Anilaeus, and is therefore poisoned by the Parthian Lady, because that her husband might be from under rebuke, and might be commander of all. He being now so indeed, first invadeth the Country of Mithridates, son in Law to Artabanus, and forrageth that, and by a surprizal getteth Mithridates prisoner, yet sendeth him home again to his own pos∣sessions, having hardly delivered him from his Souldiers fury that they did not kill him: Mithridates sensible of the disgrace of his usage (for they had set him naked upon an Ass,) and instigated by the haughty and revengeful spirit of his wife, raiseth what force he can get, and giveth Anilaeus battel and routeth him. But Anilaeus himself escaping, and recruiting an Army of dissolute and resolute fellows again, he beginneth to spoil some Towns of the Babylonians, but the Babylonians finding a fit opportunity, fall upon Anilaeus and his troop, and slew many of them, and Anilaeus himself among the rest: This bridle and curb of the Jews, which had lain so long and so heavy upon the Baby∣lonians being now taken off, they begin now to rise up and to curb and oppress the Jews: who for their safety flee to Seleucia: and there they reside quietly for the space of five years, but in the sixth year, a hot Plague driving the rest of them that had staied behind at Babylon, into Seleucia also, providence did as it were bring them all thither together to execution: for a quarrel being first between the Greeks and Syrians that dwelt in that City, and the Syrians getting the better through the help of the Jews, at last Greeks and Syrians joyn both together against the Jews, and destroy fifty thousand of them: And this was a second notable vengeance that hath ovetaken that Nation since the murder of the Lord of Life.