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.

THE PREFACE.

AMONG all those, who have either published their own Chorographical Tables of the Land Canaan, or have corrected others, you can hardly find any, that have consulted with the Writers of the Tal∣mud in this matter. Whereas certainly their Con∣sent is by no means in this case to be despised, if indeed it be not rather especially to be regarded.

For, besides that they, above all other men, do most curiously en∣quire of the affairs and of the places of that Land, all the Doctors of the Mishnah, and the Gemarists also of Hierusalem were in∣habitants and dwellers there: and not a few also of those of Ba∣bylon well viewed it; Eye witnesses; and who, (any Reader being Iudge) could not but have beyond all others a most familiar knowledg of that Land, dwelling in it: and not only so, but being such as thought themselves bound by a religious necessity to inquire after the Situation and Nature of the places in that Land, and to trace them out with an exact search and curiosity.

Let Reason therefore determine, whether they above all others are either justly or prudently cast aside in the business of Chorogra∣phy? Whether among all the means used for the correcting and po∣lishing this, the means that the Talmud affords should with any me∣rit or equity be only refused? Why the Jewish Chorography of the Jewish Country should not be admitted? Certainly it is unjust, out of prejudice to reject, or out of ignorance not to entertain those things, which either might yield us the Profit of the Chorography of that Land, or stir up no unprofitable search into it. If a man would engrave Maps of Palestine, surely it is very fit, that he should to∣gether with others consult those Authors, as being the nearest wit∣nesses, inhabiters of the Country; and such who most studiously and most religiously describe it. And though you esteem them not wor∣thy of credit, because they are Jews, yet certainly they are worthy of examination, and may have leave to relate, as they are Cho∣rographers.

When in the reading of these Writers, I collected all those things, which I met with relating hitherto, and compared them with the

Maps and Tracts already published, I plainly saw, if my eyes de∣ceived me not, that very many things might be fetched and drawn out of these Authors, which might correct the Maps; very ma∣ny things, which might discover places unknown; very many, which might fix those that were uncertain; very many, which might il∣lustrate those that were certain; and infinite things, which might some way or other hold out a light to Chorography. And if any dextrous and happy Artist, versed in the Talmudic writings, and skilled in Chorography, would undertake a task and work of this nature, I should expect from such a hand a more polite and cor∣rect Map, and a more full, plain, and certain description of the Lands of Israel, than any the Christian World hath yet seen.

We are far from daring to enter upon such a thing. Nor is our Hand sufficiently taught for so great a Work, or indeed teach∣able. That only, which we have attempted in the following Cen∣tury, was this, that by some instance we might a little demonstrate those things, which we speak concerning the Writers of the Tal∣mud: and that some specimen might be set before our eyes, where∣by the Reader may judge of their study, style, use, benefit in the thing propounded. Nor did we think it the part of Modesty, to burthen the Reader with too much of those things, which perhaps are of dubious acceptation with him; nor the part of prudence, to expose and commit together at once all that we have to one wind and fortune.

From our Study May the XXII. MDCLVIII.

We have quoted Josephus according to the distinction of Chapters in the Greek Edition of Frobenius, Anno MDXLIV.