Page 19
CHAP. XIX. The Northern coast of Iudea. Beth-horon. (Book 19)
THIS Coast is marked out Jos. XVIII. 12. where at vers. 12. are very many Versions to be corrected, which render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Sea; such are The Syriac, the Seventy, the Vulgar, the Italian, ours, &c. whence ariseth a sense of insuperable difficulty to a Chorographical eye. When it should indeed be rendred Of the West, as the Chaldee, Arabic, R. Solomon, &c. rightly do.
We read of a double Beth-horon in the Old Testament, but one only under the second Temple. a 1.1 This in Josephus is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and according to him stood b 1.2 an hundred fur∣longs or thereabouts from Jerusalem, viz. Twelve miles and an half.
At that place that great Canaanitish Army perished, Jos. X. not with hail, (the Jews being judges) which presently melted, but with stones, which hardned, and lasted unto all following ages. Hence is that, c 1.3 Whosoever shall see the place, where the Israelites passed through the Sea, where they passed through Jordan, where they passed by the rivers of Arnon, or those great stones, (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) in the going down of Beth-horon, is bound to bless.
They believe, in the same place also the army of Sennacherib fell. For so the Gloss upon the words before spoken, d 1.4 The going down of Beth-horon was the place, where the army of Sennacherib fell.
This was an high way. Josephus in the place above cited, relating a story of one Ste∣phen, a servant of Cesar, who suffered hardly by robbers in this place, saith that it was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the publick way of Beth-horon: namely in the Kings high way, which goes from Jerusalem to Cesarea.
Yet the passage and ascent here was very strait, which the Talmudists do thus describe, e 1.5 If two Camels go up together in the ascent of Beth-horon, both fall. The Gloss, The ascent of Beth-horon was a strait place, nor was there room to bend to the right hand or to the left.
The story of Cestius the Roman Captain in Josephus is sad, but not unseasonable in this place. f 1.6 He entrenched against Jerusalem in a place called, The Scope (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) on the North part of the City, (which we shall shew hereafter) and being at length forced by the Jews to retreat, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he came near to Gabaon to his former Camp. And being pressed further by them he betook himself to Beth-horon. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He led his forces to Beth-horon.
But the Jews, whilst he marched along places where there was room, did not much press him▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but they getting before the Romans, who were shut up within the straits of the descent (of Beth-horon) stopped them from going out: others thrust them that came in the rere down into the valley. And the whole multitude being spred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, at the opening of the way covered the army with their darts.
Behold! the way leading from Jerusalem to Beth-horon.
I. From the City to Scopo (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of which we shall speak afterwards) is seven furlongs. For so Josephus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
II. From Scopo to Gabao, or Geba, forty three furlongs. For Gabao was distant from Jerusalem, the same Josephus relating it, fifty furlongs, that is six miles and more.
III. From Geba to Beth-horon fifty furlongs, or thereabouts. And about Beth-horon was avery great roughness of Hills, and a very narrow passage.