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. XXIX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chel. The Court of the Women. (Book 29)

THE Court of the Gentiles compassed the Temple and the Courts on every side. The same also did 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chel, or the Ante-murale. a 1.1 That space was ten cubits broad, divided from the Court of the Gentiles, by a Fence ten hands bredth high; in which were thirteen breaches, which the Kings of Greece had made: but the Jews had again re∣paired them, and had appointed thirteen adorations answering to them.

b 1.2 Maimonides writes: Inwards (from the Court of the Gentiles) was a Fence that incompassed on every side, ten hands bredth in height: and within the Fence Chel or the Ante-murale: of which it is said in the Lamentations, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And he cau∣sed Chel and the Wall to lament, Lam. II. 8.

Josephus writes, c 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. The second Circuit was gone up to by a few steps: which the partition of a stone wall surrounded: where was an inscription forbidding any of another Nation to enter upon pain of death. Hence happened that danger to Paul because of Trophimus the Ephe∣sian, Act. 29.

d 1.4 The Chel, or Ante-murale (or second Inclosure about the Temple) was more sacred than the Court of the Gentiles: for hither no Heathen, nor any unclean by that which died of it self, nor who lay with a menftrous woman, might come.

e 1.5 From hence they ascended into the Court of the Women by twelve steps.

On the East it had only one Gate, called in the Holy Scripture, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Beautiful, Act. III. 2. In Josephus, The Corinthian gate: f 1.6 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. saith he, Of the Gates nine of them were every where overlaied with Gold, and Silver, likewise the Posts, and the Lintels. But one without the Temple made of Corinthian brass, did much exceed in glory those that were overlaid with Silver and Gold. And two Gates of every Court were each thirty cubits high, and fifteen broad.

On the South was only one Gate also, and one on the North; and Galleries, or Court-walks within joyning to the Wall in the same manner, as in the outer Court, but not g 1.7 double. Before which were the Treasuries placed, or h 1.8 thirteen chests (called by the Talmudists 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Schopharoth) in which was put the mony offered for the various services of the Temple, and according to that variety the chests had various titles written on them: whence the Offerer might know into which to put his Offering, according to his quality.

i 1.9 Upon one was inscribed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The new Shekles: into which were cast the Shekels of that year. Upon another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The old Shekles, into which were ga∣thered the shekels owing the last year. Upon another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Pigeons and Turtles. Upon another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The burnt sacrifice. Upon another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Wood. Upon ano∣ther 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Frankincense. Upon another 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gold for the propitiation. And six chests had written on them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 voluntary sacrifice.

l 1.10 The length of the womens Court was an hundred thirty five cubits, and the bredth an hun∣dred thirty five cubits. And there were four chambers in the four corners of it, each forty cu∣bits, but not roofed. See Ezek. XLVI. 21, 22.

At the South East was the Court of the Nazarites: because there the Nazarites boyled their Thank-offerings, and cut their hair, and put it under the pot.

At the North East was the chamber of Wood: where the Priests, defiled with any spot, searched the Wood, whether it was unclean by Worms. And all Wood, in which a Worm was found, was not fit for the Altar.

At the North West was the Chamber of the Leprous.

At the South West was the Chamber of Wine and Oyl.

On the highest sides (we follow the version of the famous Constantine l'Empereur) was the smooth and plain Court of the Women, but they bounded it round about with an inward Gallery, that the women might see from above, and the men from below, that they might not be mingled.

m 1.11 In this Court of the Women was celebrated the sacred and festival dance in the feast of Tabernacles, called the pouring out of water: the Ritual of which you have in the place cited in the margin.

n 1.12 The Court of the Women was more sacred, than 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Chel, because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 any who had contracted such an uncleanness, that was to be cleansed the same day, might not enter into it.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Middoth, cap. 2. hal. 3.
• b 1.2

  Beth-habbe∣chir, cap 5.
• c 1.3

  Antiq. lib. 15 cap. 14.
• d 1.4

  Miemon, in the place be∣fore, cap. 7.
• e 1.5

  Middoth, in the place above.
• f 1.6

  De bello, lib. 5 cap. 14.
• g 1.7

  Id. ibidem.
• h 1.8

  Shekalim, cap. 6. hal. 1.
• i 1.9

  Ibid. hal. 5.
• l 1.10

  Middoth, in the place above, hal. 5. B••••h. Joma, fol. 16. 1.
• m 1.11

  Succah, cap. 5 hal. 2. &c.
• n 1.12

  Maimon. in Beth habbish. in the place above.