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. XLVI. The Country of Iericho, and the situation of the City. (Book 46)

HERE we will borrow Josephus his Pensil, a 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Jericho is seated in a Plain, yet a certain barren Mountain hangs over it, narrow indeed but long; for it runs out Northward to the Coun∣try of Scythopolis, and Southward to the Country of Sodome, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites.

Of this Mountain mention is made, Jos. II. 22. where the two Spies sent by Josua, and received by Rahab are said to conceal themselves.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Opposite against this lyes a Mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from Julias on the North, and stretched Southward as far as Somorrha, which bounds the Rock of Arabia. In this is a Mountain, which is called the Iron Mountain, reaching out as far as the land of Moab. But the Country which lies between these two Mount anous places is called The Great Plain, (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) extended from the Village Ginnaber to the lake Asphaltites in length a thousand two hundred furlongs, (an hun∣dred and fifty miles,) in bredth an hundred and twenty furlongs: (fifteen miles,) and Jordan cuts it in the middle.

Hence you may understand more plainly those things that are related of the Plains of Jericho, 2 Kings XXV. 5. and what 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Region about Jordan, means, Matth. III. 5.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Je∣richo is distant from Jerusalem an hundred and fifty furlongs, (eighteen miles, and three quarters) and from Jordan sixty furlongs, (seven miles and an half.) The space from thence to Jerusalem is desert and rocky; but to Jordan and the Asphaltites more plain indeed, but alike desert, and barren.

This our Author asserts the same distance between Jericho and Jordan elsewhere in these words: b 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But the Israelites travailing forward fifty furlongs from Jordan, encamped the distance of ten furlongs from Jericho: that is, in Gilgal in the East coast of Jericho, Jos. IV. 19.

But concerning the distance between Jericho and Jerusalem he does not seem to agree with his Country-men. For however they according to their Hyperbolical style feign very many things to be heard from Jerusalem as far as Jericho, to wit, c 1.3 the sound of the gate of the Temple, when it was opened, the sound of Migrepha, or the little bell, &c. yet there are some of them, who make it to be the distance of Ten Parsae, d 1.4 Rabbath bar Bar Channah saith, Rabbi Jochanan saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From Jeru∣salem to Jericho were ten Parsae: and yet from thence thither the voice of the high Priest in the day of expiation pronouncing the name Jehovah was heard, &c. The hinges of the gates of the Temple are heard 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as far as the eighth bound of the Sabbath, that is, as far as a Sabbaths days journey eight times numbred. The Gloss hath these words, The hinges indeed not further, but the gates themselves are heard to Jericho. There is an Hy∣perbole in their measuring of the space, as well as in the rest.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. And that Plain burns in the Summer, and by too much heat renders the air unhealthful: for it is all without water, except Jordan; the Palms that grow in whose banks are more flourishing, and more fruitful, than those that grow more remote.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Near Jericho is a very plentiful spring, and very rich for watering, and moistening the ground; it riseth near the old City, and Jesus the Son of Nave took it. Of which Spring there is a report, that in former times it did not only make the fruits of the Earth and of the Trees to decay, but also the offspring of women; and was universally unwholsom and harmful to all: but it was changed into a better condition by Eli∣zeus, &c. (See 2 King. II. 21.) So that those waters, which before were the cause of bar∣renness and famine, did thenceforth produce fruitfulness and abundance▪ and they have so

great a vertue in their watering, that whatsoever place they touch, they bring on to a very speedy ripeness.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And they overflow the Plain seventy furlongs in length, and twenty in bredth: and there they nourish very fair and thick gardens of Palm-trees of divers kinds, &c. That place also feeds Bees, and produceth Opobalsamum, and Cyprinum, and Myrobalanum: so that one might not call it amiss 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A divine Country, &c.

Strabo speaks like things, e 1.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Jeri∣cho is a plain cirrounded with Mountains, which in some places bends to it after the manner of a Theatre. A grove of Palmtrees is there, with which are mixed also other garden plants, a fruitful place, abounding with Palmtrees for the space of an hundred furlongs, all well water∣ed, and full of habitations. The Royal Court and Paradice of Balsom is there, &c.

And Pliny, f 1.6 Jericho planted with Groves of Palms, and well watered with springs, &c.

Hence the City is called the City of Palmtrees, Deut. XXXIV. 3. and Judg. I. 16. where for that, which in the Hebrew is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, From the City of Palmtrees, the Tar∣gum hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From the City Jericho: which nevertheless Kimchi approves not of, reckoning the City of Palmtrees to be near Hebron: whom see. See also the Tar∣gum upon Judg. III. 13. and Kimchi there; and the Targum upon Judg. IV. 5.

When you take a view of that famous fountain, as it is described by Josephus, thence you understand what waters of Jericho the Holy Ghost points out in Jos. XVI. 1. And when you think of that most pleasant Country watered from thence, let that Rabbinical story come into your mind of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Gift of Jericho of five hundred cubits square, granted to the sons of Hobab, Moses father in Law: of which see Baal Turim upon Numb. X. 29. and the Rabbins upon Judg. I.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Joseph. de Bello, lib. ••. cap. 27.
• b 1.2

  Antiq. lib. 5. cap. 1.
• c 1.3

  Tamid. cap. 3 hal. 8.
• d 1.4

  Bab. Joma, fol. 20. 2. & 39. 2.
• e 1.5

  Strabo. Geogr. lib. 16.
• f 1.6

  Plin. lib. 5. cap. 14.