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. XV. Iabneh. Iamnia▪ (Book 15)

THE word Jabneh is passed into Jamnia by the same change of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mem and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beth, as the lake Samochonitis in the Hierusalem Writers is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Babylonian is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Pliny doth dispose the Towns here in this order; Azotus, the two Jamnes, Joppe. R. Benjamin in the order backward thus, Joppah, Jabneh, Azotus. That is Jabneh with this Author, that is Jamnia with the other.

A remembrance of this place is in 2 Chron. XXVI. 6. But the chief fame of it is for the Sanhedrin that was placed there, both before the destruction of Hierusalem and after.

a 1.1 Rabban Gamaliel, S. Pauls Master first presided there. b 1.2 Under whom came forth that cursed form of Prayer, which they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Prayer against Here∣ticks, composed by Samuel the little, who died before the destruction of the City. Ga∣maliel died eighteen years before the Temple was destroyed; and his son Rabban Simeon succeeded him, c 1.3 who perished with the City.

Jerusalem being destroyed, d 1.4 Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai obtained of Titus the Con∣queror, that he might still receive and retain the Sanhedrin of Jabneh: which being granted by him, Jochanan himself was first President there, and after him Rabban Gama∣liel the second, and after him R. Akibah. And this place was famous above all the other Universities, except only the latest of all, viz. Tiberius: so that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Vin∣yard of Jabneh became a proverb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 e 1.5 For there there they sat in order as a Vinyard. And it is reported, f 1.6 that there were there three hundred classes of Scholars, or at least eighty. How long time Rabban Jochanan sat here, is doubted.

g 1.7 There are some, who attribute to him two years only; and h 1.8 others five: with whom we consent. This Rabban Jochanan I very much suspect to be the same with that John mentioned, Act. IV. 6. Omitting those things, which were done by him, while he remained at Jafneh; let me produce his dying words, as they are recited by his friends.

i 1.9 When Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai now laid languishing, his Scholars came to visit him. Whom he seeing began to weep. To whom they said, O thou light of Israel, thou right hand pillar, thou strong hammer, whence are those tears? To whom he re∣plied, If men were about to carry me before a King of flesh and blood, who to day is here and to morrow is in his Grave; if he were angry with me, his anger is not ever∣lasting; if he should cast me into bonds, his bonds are not eternal; if he should kill me, his killing would not be eternal: and I might perhaps pacifie him with words, or soften him with a gift. But they are ready to lead me before the King of Kings, the Lord, holy and blessed, who lives and lasts for ever, and for ever and ever; who if he be angry with me, his anger is eternal; if he bind me, his bond is eternal; if he kill me, his killing is eternal; and whom I cannot either appease with words, or soften with a gift. And moreover there are two ways before me, one to Paradice, another to Hell; and I know not which way they will lead me. Should I not therefore weep?

Ah! the miserable and fainting confidence of a Pharisee in death!

Rabban Gamaliel of Jabneh, a busie and severe man, succeeded Jochanan. k 1.10 Being to be slain with his father, Rabban Simeon, by the intercession of Rabban Jochanan he was delivered. l 1.11 Being also sought for to be slain, when▪ Turnus Rufus (in m 1.12 Josephus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Terentius Rufus) plowed up the floor of the Temple, he was delivered by a way scarcely credible. n 1.13 Sitting in Jafneh he removed R. Akibah, Head at that time of the School of Lydda, from his Headship: o 1.14 and he at last was removed from his, and over him was placed R. Eleazar ben Azarias. R. Akibah succeeded him, and sat forty years, and died a fool, being deceived by ben Cozba, and slain with him: and the Uni∣versity was removed from Jabneh to Usha.

Jafne stands two Parsae (that is eight miles) from Azotus: and was at last called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ivelyn. They are the words of Benjamin in his Itinerary.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Juchas, fol. 21. 2.
• b 1.2

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, fol. 65. 3.
• c 1.3

  Juchas, fol. 57. 1.
• d 1.4

  Avoth R. Na∣than, cap. 4.
• e 1.5

  Jevamoth, cap. 8. & R. Sal. ib••.
• f 1.6

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, fol. 67. 4.
• g 1.7

  See Juchasin, fol. 20. & 21.
• h 1.8

  Tsemach Da∣vid.
• i 1.9

  Bab. Beracoth, fol. 28. 2.
• k 1.10

  Juchas. f. 53. 2
• l 1.11

  Bab. Taanith, fol. 29. 1.
• m 1.12

  Josep. de Bell. lib. 7. cap. 7.
• n 1.13

  Rosh Hasha∣nah, c. 1. Hal. 7.
• o 1.14

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, fol. 67. 4.