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.

SECT. II. Their Palm and Willow branches. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

IT was enjoyned by the Law, Ye shall take you on the first day (of the Feast of Taber∣nacles) fruit of goodly Trees, branches of Palm trees, boughs of thick Trees, and Wil∣lows of the brook, and ye shall rejoyce before the Lord your God seven days, Lev. 23. 40. Upon which Text there was * 1.1 a dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadduces, for what end these boughs and branches should be appointed: The Sadduces held that they were for the making of their Booths, but the Pharisees determined (and they carried it) that these were branches, and fruit of Trees, which at this Feast were to be carried in their hands.

* On the first day of the Feast therefore they prepared them branches of Palm, Wil∣low,* 1.2 and Mirtle, and tied them together with gold or silver twist, or with other strings or twigs, and these they carried continually in their hand all the first day of the Feast throughout. In the morning did a man go out of his house, he had his Lulabb in his hand, for so they called this bundle of branches. If he went to the Synagogue, if he prayed, if he went to visit the sick, he kept it still in his hand, and he might not leave it out of his hand all that day long. And all the rest of the days of the Feast they went

not to the Temple without these branches, and every day they went to the Temple pur∣posely with them.

* 1.3 There was a place a little below Jerusalem, which was called Motsa, thither they went and got Willow branches, (it seems upon the banks of Kidron) and every one got two, namely ‖ 1.4 one for his Lulabb, or to tye up with his Palm and Myrtle branches to carry in his hand, and one for the Altar. And once every day of the Feast, they went with these in their hands about the Altar, and stuck one of them there. At first it was their custom upon the first day of the Feast, to bring their branches into the Tem∣ple, and there to leave them till the next morning, sticking about the Cloyster that in∣compassed the mountain of the house, and the next morning to come and take them in their hands again. But this bred scuffling and scrambling and difference among them about which was which, so that the Sanhedrin saw cause to decree that every one should take his branch with him home, and bring it from home the next day.

Having therefore provided a Lulabb, or bundle to hold in their hands, and another Willow branch for the Altar, they came once every day into the Court, and went about the Altar, and set their boughs bending toward the Altar, and cryed Hosanna, or save now I beseech O Lord; O Lord I beseech thee send now prosperity, Psal. 118. 25. the Trum∣pets in the mean while sounding; and on the seventh day they walked about the Altar seven times, and this was called the great Hosanna: and every day when they went away they said 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beauty be to thee O Altar, Beauty be to thee O Altar.

The consideration of this custom giveth light to that passage, John 12. 12, 13. Matth. 21. 8, 9, 15. and to that in Rev. 7. 9, 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ab. Ez. Lev. 23.
• * 1.2

  (b) Maym. In Succah velul. per. 7.
• * 1.3

  Talm. in Suc∣cah per. 4.
• ‖ 1.4

  Tosapht. in Sucah per. 3.