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. V. Of Japhets Plantation by his son Javan. (Book 5)

JAvan is generally held to be Greece. And the Greek Tongue is by all Hebrews called the speech of Javan. The Arabians do so stile the same language. The Syrian in Romans the first Chapter, verse 16. calls the Graecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 upon what reason I cannot imagine. Javan the son of Japhet is held to have planted or peopled this Country, in memory of whose name the Jones are famous Monuments: Moses saith he had four sons, Elisha, Tarshish, Cittim and Dodonim: which it is likely planted all the Country of Greece as far as into Italy. Elisha and Dodonim dwelt at first near together, and so did Tar∣shish and Cittim, but their Posterity scattered far and near. The Jerusalem and Babilon Targums do almost resolve us of these four Mens Plantations: For Jonathan reads the fourth verse of the tenth of Genesis thus. And the sons of Javan, Elisha, Elis, Tarsus, Acacia and Dardania. Jeruselamy thus: And the sons of Javan, Elisha, and the names of their Provinces, Alastarasom and Dodonia. Which last word Alastarasom I take to be mi∣staken, by joyning two words together, and missing the last letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mem for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Samech, which is easily done they be so like. The word Alastarasom should without doubt be Alas or Elis Tarsus. Elis frequent in all Authors: Eilision in Homer in Baeot. Elensine in Plutarch in Theseo, are places in Greece bearing the name of their old Planter Elisha. Dodonim is registred in the name of old Dodona. Tarshish left a memorial of himself in Cilicia in the City of Tarsus. Which was as Pliny saith urbs libera a free City, nat. hist. lib. 5. and Saint Paul is free of that City, Act. 22.

Tarshish in Gen. 10. is the name of a man, in Jonah 1. 3. in Chald. Paraphrase it is used for the Sea. In Exod. 28. for a * 1.1 Pearl; in Act. 22. the name of a Town. I think I may safely suppose that the Town took the name from the Man, the Sea from the Town, and the Pearl from the Sea.

Cittim got into the Isle Cyprus near his brother Tarshish: from him that Island in old time was called Cethin as Ant. di Guenara nameth it in Relox de los princip. And the Men of Cyprus acknowledged Cythnon quendam, one Cythnus (or Cittim) for their Pre∣decessor as saith Herodotus lib. 7, That Island set out Colonies further to replenish the Western World: who bare the memory and name of their Father Cittim with them all along as they went. Macedon or Macetia is called Cittim, 1 Mac. 1. 1. At last they ar∣rived in Italy which is called Cittim, Num. 24. 24. and so rendered by the Chaldees. Thus Javans posterity grew great in Greece and Italy, and at last sent us men over into these Isles of the Gentiles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Pearl Tarshish in Ex. 28. 20. is rend∣red in English a Beryl: in the Chalde Tran∣slations it is k••rmum iamma, a Pearl of the S••a: Pliny▪ speaks of k••ra∣mides a Pearl near that name Terus: Targum thinks Tarshish was Ashers stone: but Jonathan that it was Ze∣bulons: And more likely for a Pearl of the Sea is not unfit for Zebulon a dweller by the Sea, Gen. 49. 13.