SECT. III. Their Pomecitron apples. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
THere seemeth not to be either mention or footing of this matter that we have now in hand in all the Scriptures, yet have the Traditionaries drawn it into being and practise from that expression in the Text alledged even now, Ye shall take unto you 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the fruit of goodly trees, (as our English renders it, and the Seventy differ but little from it) which the Talmudists descant upon in this variety. * 1.1 It is written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is a tree whose fruit is goodly, and whose wood is goodly. And what is that, but a Pome∣citron? And if thou say a Pomegranate; his fruit is goodly, but his wood is not goodly. If thou say a Charob; his wood is goodly, but his fruit is not goodly. R. Simeon ben Jochai saith, A Tree whose fruit is goodly, and its wood goodly; the taste of its fruit like the taste of its wood, its wood like its fruit, and its fruit like its woods, and what is this? A Pomecitron. It is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 saith Rabbi Levi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because it stayeth upon the tree from one year to another. Rabbi Tauchuma saith Aquila rendreth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for it is a tree that grow∣eth by the waters. R. Abhu saith, read it not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for so in the Greek Tongue they call water 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Now what Tree is that that groweth besides all waters? It is a Pome∣citron. And according to this received construction doth the Chaldee Paraphrast roundly render that clause in the Text alledged, Ye shall take unto you the fruit of the Pomecitron tree, which construction is generally received of all the Jews.
And so generally received, that as they carried a branch or bundle of branches in the one hand at the Feast of Tabernacles, and held that an undispensable command, so did they also carry a Pomecitron in the other hand, and held that as strict a command and du∣ty as the other. About which Ceremonial Pomecitron (for so I may well call it) it would be tedious to produce the curiosities that are discussed, about the growth, quanti∣ty, quality, and complexion of it; I shall only relate one story about it, which is some∣what remarkable; and that is, of a * 1.2 Baithusaean, or Sadduce, who failing of the perfor∣mance of a piece of service at the Altar, at the Feast of Tabernacles (of which service we shall speak anon) and not doing it as he should, all the company fell upon him, and pelted him (the Talmudick expression is they stoned him) with their Pomecitrons. ‖ 1.3 Whereupon King Jannai being himself a Sadduce, called for a sword and slew divers of the wise men. Whether this were that King Jannai † 1.4 of whom there is the remarkable story in the Treatise Sanhedrin, in the place alledged in the margin, (a story that it may be hath some reference to this fact) it is not time and place to examine here.