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. XXV. Gihon, the same with the fountain of Siloam. (Book 25)

I. IN 1 Kings I. 33, 38. That which is in the Hebrew, Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: And they brought him to Gihon; is rendred by the Chaldee, Bring ye him to Siloam: And they brought him to Siloam. Where Kimchi thus, Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his Kingdom be. So also the Hierusalem Writers, a 1.1 They do not anoint the King, but at a fountain, as it is said, Bring Solomon to Gihon.

The bubblings up of Siloam yielded a type of the Kingdom of David, Esa. VIII. 6. Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah, that go softly, &c. Where the Chaldee Paraphrast thus, Because this people are weary of the house of David, which deals gently with them, as the waters of Siloam slide away gently. And R. Salomon, Siloam is a fountain, whose name is Gihon and Siloam. See also the Aruch in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

II. That fountain was situate on the West part of the City, but not far from the South-West corner.

Josephus speaking of that deep Valley, which runs between Sion and Acra, saith, b 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it is extended to Siloam; for so we call the sweet and large fountain. But now the Mounts Sion and Acra, and likewise the Valley that cut between them, did run out from East to West. And the same Author in the same place speaking of the compass of the outtermost wall, saith these things among other, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. And thence it bends to the South behind the fountain Siloam. After the tumult raised at Jerusalem by the Jews under Florus, the Neapolitane Tribune coming thi∣ther with King Agrippa is beseeched by the Jews c 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that taking only one servant he would go about through the City as far as Siloam: (that is from the East to the West through the whole City) and that thence from the peace∣able and quiet behaviour of the people towards him he might perceive, that the peo∣ple were not in a heart against all the Romans, but against Florus only.

III. Siloam was on the back of Hierusalem, not of Sion. Let that of Josephus be no∣ted; d 1.4 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. The Romans, when they had drove out the Sediti∣ous from the lower City, burnt it all to Siloam. This we therefore observe, because we may see some Maps, which placing Siloam behind Sion, do deceive here, and are deceived:

when in truth it ought to be placed behind Acra. The pool indeed of Siloam was be∣hind some part of Sion, Westward: but the fountain of Siloam was behind Acra.

IV. It emptied it self by a double rivolet into a double pool, to wit, the upper and the lower, 2 Kings XVIII. 17. Esa. VII. 3. The Lower was on the West, and is called The Pool of Siloam, Joh. IX. 7. Nehem. III. 15. The Upper perhaps was that which is called by Josephus, The Pool of Solomon, in the place lately quoted. And thence, saith he, the outermost wall bends to the South behind the fountain of Siloam: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. And thence again bends to the East at the Pool of Solomon. See 2 Chron. XXXII. 30. And Esa. XXII. 9, 11.

V. They drew waters out of the fountain of Siloam in that solemn festivity of the feast of Tabernacles, which they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The pouring out of water: con∣cerning which the Fathers of the Traditions thus; e 1.5 The pouring out of water in what manner was it? There was a golden cup, containing three logs, which one filled out of Siloam, &c. The Gemarists inquire, f 1.6 Whence was this custom? From thence, that it is said, And ye shall draw waters with joy out of the wells of salvation. g 1.7 R. Levi saith, Why is it called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The place of a draught? Because thence they draw out the holy Spirit.

h 1.8 Thence also they drew the water, that was to be mingled with the ashes of the red Cow, when any unclean person was to be sprinkled.

i 1.9 The Priests eating more liberally of the holy things drunk the waters of Siloam for digestion sake.

l 1.10 Let us also add these things; but let the Reader unriddle them. He that is unclean by a dead carkas entreth not into the mountain of the Temple. It is said, that they that should appear, should appear in the Court. Whence do you measure? From the wall, or from the houses? Samuel delivers it, from Siloam, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. And Siloam was in the middle of the City.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Hieros. Sotah fol. 22. 3.
• b 1.2

  Joseph. de Bell. lib. 5. cap. 13.
• c 1.3

  Idem, ibid. lib. 2. cap. 28.
• d 1.4

  Idem, ibid. lib 6. cap. 36.
• e 1.5

  Succah. cap. 4. ••al. 7.
• f 1.6

  Bab. ibid. fol. 48. 2.
• g 1.7

  Hieros. ibid. fol. ••5. 1.
• h 1.8

  Parah. cap. 3. hal. 2.
• i 1.9

  Avoth. R. Na∣than, fol. 9. 1.
• l 1.10

  Hieros. Chagi∣gah, fol. 76. 1.