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. XXVI. The Gate of the Firstlings. (Book 26)

THIS Gate which was next beyond the buildings last mentioned, West-ward, was called by two names. Sometimes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 1.1 The gate of offering: so some read it: but most commonly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 b 1.2 The Gate of the Firstlings: both which names redound but to one and the same sense, for the Gate took its denomination, c 1.3 from the bringing of the Firstlings through it to be offered up.

The Law concerning consecrating to the Lord whatsoever first opened the Womb and Matrix, Exod. XIII. was intricated by the Jewish tradition with a World of difficulties, but for an ultimate resolution, of what Firstlings were fit to be offered and what not, there was one appointed whom they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mumcheh, who did determine it: of this title the Glossaries give this interpretation and account. d 1.4 Mumcheh is derived from the word Machah as it signifieth in that clause 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And it reacheth to the Sea of Cinnereth, Numb. 34. 11. which betokeneth going straight: And this word Mumcheh means that he was skilful: and he received authority from the President of the Sanhedrin, or from a Sanhe∣drin in the Land of Israel, of men ordained. e 1.5 The head of the Sanhedrin gave him power for this office, saying to him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Loose Firstlings concerning blemishes: that is, take thou power to bind and to loose as concerning blemishes of Firstlings, to determine what blemishes do hinder them from being offered and what not: The Talmudists do use the phrases of binding and loosing in reference to things prohibited or permitted: as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 f 1.6 Upon necessity they loosed salutation on the Sabbath, that is, they permitted it. g 1.7 The School of Shammai 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 bound working on the Eve of the Passover, that is, prohibited it; but the School of Hillel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 loosed it: that is, permitted it, or held and taught that it was lawful. h 1.8 The Scribes have bound leaven: And i 1.9 The wise men have loosed all fat things, &c. It were not a very hard task to produce hundreds of examples out of Jewish Writers to this purpose, wherein their use of this expression of binding and loosing doth most ordinarily refer to things, and to things lawful or unlawful, as they were so held out by the Law and by their Doctors: And particularly the binding and loosing of Firstlings, and the binding and loosing of vows, were of singular note and notice among them, k 1.10 And the loosing of First-lings (saith Abraham Za••••uth) was a matter of

more difficulty than loosing of vows: where, by loosing of vows, he meaneth not that any one had power to absolve and acquit from lawful vows once made, but that there were some appointed to judge of vows, and to determine concerning them whether they were lawful or not lawful, and whether they bound or bound not.

No Firstling must be kild or offered till it had been first viewed by the Mumcheh: l 1.11 And he that was not a Mumcheh (appointed by the Sanhedrin) and yet would take on him to view a Firstling, and so it was killed upon his approval, he was to make it good: and he that re∣ceived a reward or was hired to view a Firstling, it was not current, unless he were authori∣sed by the Sanhedrin so to do, as Ailah a wise man of Jabneh, to whom the wise men per∣mitted to take four 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Assarii for viewing a lean Firstling, and six for viewing a fat, &c.

A Firstling Lamb or Calf, approved by the Mumcheh as fit for sacrifice, and brought to the Temple for that purpose, was slain on the South side of the Altar, or at least on the South side of the Court. The Talmudick tract Zevachin in the fifth Chapter doth pur∣posely discuss what Sacrifices were to be slain on the North side of the Altar, and what otherwhere: And having nominated particularly what on the North side; it saith, m 1.12 That a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, the Nazarites Ram, the ordinary Peace-offerings, the Firstlings, Tithe, and Passover were slain in any part of the Court: where by any part of the Court, it meaneth the South side, in opposition to the North, of which it had spoken before, and it meaneth the South side in such a latitude, as not only just over against the Altar, but in a larger extent, as we shall shew more fully when we come to survey the sides of the Court it self.

The Firstlings then being to be slain on this South side of the Court, on which we are surveying the Gates and Buildings, they were brought in at this Gate which we are upon, and from thence it took the name of the Gate of the Firstlings: The Water-gate indeed was nearer the Altar, and a more direct way to it, but to have killed the Beasts there∣about would have hindred the passage to the Altar, from the Draw-well, Water-gate and Wood-room, unto which places there was very frequent recourse from the Altar, and therefore the Firstlings and other Sacrifices that were to be slain on the South side of the Court, were brought in at the Gate above, as more out of the way, and slain there∣about as in a place of less interruption. Now whereas the Tradition mentioned, doth allot the South side of the Court for the proper place of slaying those particular Sacri∣fices that it nameth, yet doth it speak it in this latitude 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 That their killing might be in any part of the Court: because that though ordinarily and regular∣ly they were to be slain on the South side of the Court, yet if they were numerous and could not conveniently be slaughtered in that place, they might be slain on the other side, as the Passover were killed on both the sides, because of their number: whereas the Sa∣crifices that were to be slain on the North side must be slain there, and there was no dis∣pensation to remove them thence.

The presenting of the Firstlings at the Gate that we are about, may put us in remem∣brance of presenting the first born; All the males of Israel were to appear before the Lord thrice every year, Exod. XXIII. 17. now this command did not take in Children (as their tradition did interpret it) n 1.13 till they were able to walk up out of Jerusalem to the Temple in their Fathers hand: and the presenting of the first born to the Lord, was not inforced by that command, but by that, Exod. XIII. 12. & XXII. 29. where both the Targums of Jonathan and Onkelos, do expound the setting apart of the first born to be before the Lord, or at the Temple: and so doth the Text of Scripture it self in Numb. XVIII. 15. Luke II. 23. The place where they were presented, was in the Gate of Nicanor▪ for that was both the most peculiar place of appearing before the Lord, and there Women that had born Children did stand to have their atonement made for them: And there it was where the Virgin Mary presented our Saviour, Luke II. and there she payed five shekels for his redemption, Numb. XVIII. And Hannah did the like at Shiloh: 1 Sam. I. 34. only she had kept her Son longer than ordinary, because when she did pre∣sent him at the Sanctuary, she meant to leave him there for ever, and for that reason, she redeemed him not neither, but gave him to the Lord.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Vid. C ••emp. pag. 17. in Mid.
• b 1.2

  Mid. per. 1. & 2. & Shekalim per▪ 6.
• c 1.3

  Bar••••••. i•• Mid.
• d 1.4

  Gloss. in Be∣coroth. per. 4.
• e 1.5

  Maym. in Be∣co••. per. 3.
• f 1.6

  Tanch. fol. 1 Cor. III.
• g 1.7

  Talm. in Ie∣••a••hin. per. 4.
• h 1.8

  Maym. in H••∣m••s &c. per. 1.
• i 1.9

  Tanch. fol. 74. Col. 3.
• k 1.10

  I••cha••••••••. 50.
• l 1.11

  Talm. in Be∣coroth per. 4.
• m 1.12

  Id. in Zeva∣chin. per. 5.
• n 1.13

  Id. in Nagiga per. 1.