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.

CHAP. II. Of the several ranks of Priests, and several Officers of the Temple. (Book 2)

THE distinction of the Priests that attended the Temple Service, was into these several ranks and degrees.

• 1. The High-Priest, of whom there is so known, and common mention in the Scripture.
• 2. a 1.1 The Sagan or second Priest, as Jer. 52. 24. where the Chaldee Paraphrast useth the word Sagan; and which word in this sense, is most ordinary in all Jewish Writers; betokening the Vice-high-priest, or one next substitute to him.
• 3. There were two Katholici 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which were substitutes to the Sagan, as the Sa∣gan was to the High-priest.
• 4. There were seven Amarcalin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [the word is used by the Chaldee Paraphrasts exceeding often.]
• 5. There b 1.2 were three Gizbarin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Treasurers, these were in a manner un∣der the Amarcalin.
• 6. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chief Priest of every course that served interchangeably its week.
• 7. The 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 chief of any family that served in that course.
• 8. And lastly, there was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 An ordinary Priest, or one that was of none of these ranks, but an inferiour.

Now these degrees were one above another as they are named, the High-priest above the Sagan, the Sagan above the Katholici, the Katholici above the Amarcalin, the Amar∣calin above the Gizbarin, the Gizbarin above the chief of any course, and the chief of the course above the Head of any Family.

These several ranks [of the five first especially,] were as a constant and standing Coun∣cil, for the continual regulating and ordering of the Affairs of the Temple Service and attendance there.

These are those that are called the Beth din shel cohanim, The Consessus or Consistory of Priests: spoken of by the Talmud in the Treatise Ketubboth in these words, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. c 1.3 It is all one whether she be the Widow of an Israelite, or the Widow of a Priest, her contractive dower is a Maneh, The Consistory of Priests demanded 400 Zuzims for a Vir∣gin; and the Wise Men did not contradict them: which may be confirmed by hat passage of Maimonides: d 1.4 who relating how Women after Fluxes and Childbearing, brought Money to buy Turtles and Pigeons, and put it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 into the Treasury, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. saith that the Consistory of Priests departed not thence till they had taken out all the money, and offered Turtles and Pigeons answerable to it.

And these also we may well understand to be the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 e 1.5 Elders of the Priest∣hood, to whom the High-priest was delivered by the Sanhedrin, that they might pre∣pare him for the service of the day of Expiation, and these were the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Counsellers of the Temple, of which we have had occasion to speak elsewhere.

Besides these, there were f 1.6 fifteen Overseers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Presidents over fifteen seve∣ral companies, in so many several employments.

• 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer concerning the times: He or one of his Deputies, when it was now time to begin the service, cried aloud, O ye Priests to your service, O ye Levites to your Desks [to sing] and O ye Israelites to your station: and all of them upon his Proclamation went to their several duties.
• 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer for shutting of the doors: by whose appointment they were opened and shut, and by whose appointment the Trumpets founded when they were opened: He was some one appointed by the Amarcalin for this care; for they seven had the keeping and disposing of the keys of the seven Court gates.
• 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer of the Guards. This was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 g 1.7 The man of the mountain of the House: He went about among the Levites guards every night, walking as it were the round, and if he found any one asleep he cudgelled him, and set fire on his Coat.
• 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Overseer of the Singers. He appointed who should be every days Songs-men, and blowers of the Trumpets.
• 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Overseer of the Cymbal Musick: As the other appointed the Voi∣ces, Trumpets and strung Instruments, so did this take care for the Musick by the Cymbal, which was of another kind, as shall be shewed ere long.
• 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer of the lots: Who by lots every morning designed the Priests their several services at the Altar.
• ...

• 7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer about birds: He provided Turtles and Pigeons ready, that those that needed them might have them for their money, and he gave account of the mo∣ney to the Treasurers.
• ...

  8. The Overseer of the Seals, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. These Seals were such kind of things, as the Tickets or Stamps that Ministers have used to give to those they admitted to the Sa∣crament: h 1.8 There were four kinds of these Seals or Tickets, and they had four several Words written or stamped on them: on one was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Calf, on another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Male, on a third 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Kid, and on the fourth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a sinner.

  Now the use of them was this: Any Person that brought a Sacrifice, to which he must have a Drink-offering, went to this Overseer of the Tickets: He looked what his Sa∣crifice was, and so upon the sight of it, considered what Drink-offering was assigned by the Law to such a Sacrifice: Thereupon he gave him a Seal or Ticket, whose Inscription was suitable to his Sacrifice: as was it a Ram? he gave him a Ticket with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Male: was it a Sin-offering? then the Ticket 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Sinner, and so of the others: And for the Ticket he received from the Man, as much money as his Drink-offering would cost, with this Ticket the man went to

• 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Overseer of the Drink-offerings, who took care to provide them rea∣dy, and delivered them out to every man according to his Ticket, for by that he saw what nature his Sacrifice was of, and what Drink-offering it required, and so he suited them therewith accordingly: And at night this Overseer of the Drink-offerings, and the Over∣seer of the Seals, reckoned together what one had received, and the other had given out.
• 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer of the sick: The attendance of the Priests at the Altars bare-footed, and thin-clothed, and their eating much flesh, which in those parts was not so very agreeable, made them subject to Colds, Colicks, and other diseases: therefore was a skilful man appointed to look to such as were ill, and to give them Physick.
• 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Overseer of the Waters. Who was to look and take care that Wells, Cisterns, and Conduits should be digged and made, that the Temple and Jerusalem might never want Water: and more especially that there might be no such want at the three Festivals, when all Israel was gathered thither together. i 1.9 Nicodemus if he be the same with Nicodemus mentioned in the Talmud, seemeth to have been of this employment, for it relateth a strange Story of him tending to such a purpose.
• 12. The Overseer of the making of the Shew-bread.
• 13. The Overseer of the making of the Incense.
• 14. The Overseer of the Workmen that made the Veils.
• 15. The Overseer for the providing of Garments for the Priests.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Vide Maym. in k••l•• hammik, dash. per. 4.
• b 1.2

  Talm. in Shekalim per. 5.
• c 1.3

  Ketubboth. per. 1.
• d 1.4

  Maym. in ••••chosere Capa∣••ah per. 1.
• e 1.5

  Ioma. per. 1▪
• f 1.6

  Vid. Sheka∣lim. per. 6. Maymon. in Ke∣le. Mikdash. per. 7
• g 1.7

  Mid. per. 1
• h 1.8

  Shekalim. per. 5.
• i 1.9

  Avoth. R. Nathan. per. 6. Taanith. f••l. 19.