CHAP. XXII. The parts of the City. Sion. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the upper City. Which was on the North part. (Book 22)
THERE is one who asserts Jerusalem to stand on seven hills; but whether upon a reason more light, or more obscure is not easie to say. a 1.1 The Whale shewed Jonah, saith he, the Temple of the Lord, as it is said, I went down to the bottom of the moun∣tains: whence we learn, that Jerusalem was seated upon seven mountains. One may sooner almost prove the thing it self, then approve of his argument. Let him enjoy his argu∣ment to himself; we must fetch the situation elsewhere.
b 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The City it self, saith Josephus, was built upon two hills, divided with a valley between, whereby in an opposite aspect it viewed it self; in which valley the buildings meeting ended.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Of these hills that which contained the upper City was by far the higher, and more stretched out in length: and because it was very well fortified, it was called by King David THE CASTLE: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ but by us it is called The Upper Town.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. But the other, which was called ACRA, bearing on it the lower Town was steep on both sides.
Against this was a third Hill, (MORIAH) lower than Acra, and disjoyned from it by a broad valley. But when the Asmoneans reigned, they filled up the valley, de∣siring that the Temple might touch the City, and they took the top of Acra lower, that the Temple might overlook it.
Bezetha and Ophel were other little hills also: of which in their place when we shall first have taken a view of these two, Sion and Acra, and the situation of each.
It is an old Dispute and lasts to this day, whether Sion or Jerusalem lay on the North part of the City. We place Sion on the North, convinced by these reasons.
I. Psal. XLVIII. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
The joy of the whole Earth is Mount Sion on the North side.Where Aben Ezra hath this note 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
Mount Sion is on the North side of Jerusalem:and Lyranus, Mount Sion is in the North part of Jeru∣salem. The Seventy 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Mountains of Sion on the sides of the North. Apollinar.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Sions fair Hills stand on cold Boreas coast.
II. When the Prophet Ezekiel takes a prospect of the new Jerusalem in a vision, he saith that he stood upon a very high mountain, near which was as it were the building of a City on the South, Ezek. XL. 2. On which place Kimchi thus,
He placed me upon a very lofty mountain. That mountain was the Mount of the Temple: for the Temple was to be built in a mountain, as before.And the City Jerusalem is near it on the South. And Lyranus again, after the reciting the explication of some upon that verse, and his re∣jecting it;
And therefore, saith he, the Hebrews say, and better, as it seems, that the Prophet saw two things, namely the City and the Temple, and that the Temple was in the North part, but the City in the South part.
Behold! Reader, Zion on the North part in the Psalmist, and the City on the South part in the Prophet!