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CHAP. II. The Talmudic girdle of the Land under the second Temple taken out of the Hierusalem Sheviith. fol. 36. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ibid. Col. 4. (Book 2)
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. unto 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 What all these things mean, I cannot so much as con∣jecture, yea, nor can I scarce conjecture what the meanings is of some of them. Nei∣ther is there any Oedipus at hand, nor Shinx her self to explain and unriddle them. The Talmudists are silent from making any Comments here, nor have we the advantage of any other Commentator. We must therefore act here according to the uncertain in∣struction of nods and winks; and that either by saying nothing, or by meer conjecture, since that the mind of the Authors is either altogether unknown, or it is wholly doubt∣ful, whether it be known or no. Expect not, that I go from street to street to knock at all the gates of these places: it will be enough, if we can scrape out in what re∣gions these places ly, and are able to guess at what poynts of the Heaven they are disposed. We will at present take in hand only the first and last clause of this place quoted; which may have some tendency towards our entrance into our present busi∣uess. The rest (if there be any we can attain unto) we shall handle in their proper places.
These, say they are the bounds of the Land of Israel, which they possessed that came up out of Babylon.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Division, or Part, of the Walls of the Tower Sid. Nor dare I confidently to assert that this is spoken of the Tower of Strato, or Cesarea: nor yet do I know to what it may more fitly be applied. We observe in its place that that Tower is called by the Talmudists 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Tower Sir: which by how very little a point it differs from this word, and how very apt it is by want of care in wri∣ting to be confounded with it, the eye of any reader is witness. It may happily con∣firm this conjecture that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the name Aco, so soon follows, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 only coming between. Concerning which we have nothing to say, if that which we meet with in the Writers of the Babylonian Talmud, may not have any place here. They say a 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: which by the Glosser is rendred, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Go in the lowest way, below the mountains, and they will protect you from showers and rain. Hence there∣fore it may be supposed, that the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 doth denote some way at the foot of some mountanous place, which was as it were the dividing line between the Land of Israel, and Without the Land. Perhaps at the foot of Mount Carmel. But we do not assert it. We had rather profess silence or ignorance, then by a light conjecture either to deceive others or be deceived our selves.
These places, concerning which the Talmudists here treat, are of a different Conditi∣on from those which were called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The region of the Sea. For those pla∣ces were certain towns here and there on this sea coast and elsewhere; which were indeed inhabited by Heathens, and so could not properly be reckoned the land of Israel, yet they were such, as between which and the utmost bounds of the Land was again the Land of Israel. But these places, which we are now handling, are those which were the utmost bounds, and beyond which were no places at all, but what was reckoned the Land of the Heathen: the Phenicians, Syrians, or other Gentiles possessing all that Coast thence forward unto the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
We cannot also pass by those things that are said by the Gemarists in the very same page, from whence the Scheme before mentioned is taken. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. You see Isles in the Sea, and if a line were drawn from the Mountains of Amana to the River of Egypt, whatsoever is within the line belongs to the Land of Israel, whatsoever is without the line is without the Land. After the same manner speaks the Targum of Hie∣rusalem upon Numb. XXXIV. 4. And their Western bounds shall be the great Sea, and the Isles of it. Isles? What Isles? Let the Authors of the Maps well weigh these passages.