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. LV. Divers matters. (Book 55)

1. BETH-CEREM, Nehem. III. 14. a 1.1 The stones as well of the Altar, as of the as∣cent to the Altar were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the Valley of Beth-Cerem, which they digged out beneath the barren land. And thence they are wont to bring whole stones, upon which the working iron came not.

The Fathers of the Traditions treating concerning the blood of womens terms, reckon up five colours of it; among which that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, b 1.2 which is like the water of the Earth out of the valley of Beth-Cerem. Where the Gloss writes thus, Beth-Cerem is the name of a place: whence a man fetches turf, and puts it into a pot, and the water swims upon it: that is, He puts water to it, until the water swims above the turf.

The Gemarists examining this clause have these words: c 1.3 R. Meir saith, He fetcheth the turf out of the valley of Beth-Cerem. R. Akibah saith, Out of the valley 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Jota∣pata. R. Jose saith, Out of the valley 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Sicni. R. Simeon saith, Also out of the valley of Genesara.

II. d 1.4 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Let the Author of Aruch render it for me; The Mount of Simeon brought forth three hundred bags of broken bread for the poor every Sabbath evening. But instead of The Mount of Simeon brought forth (whence it might be taken for the lot of the land of Simeon) he renders it, Rabbi Simeon brought forth, &c.

But why was it laid waste? Some say, For Fornication. Others say, because they played at bowls. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Town Simonias is mentioned by Josephus in his life, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the confines of Gallilee.

III. e 1.5 Two Tribes had nine hundred Cities. The Gloss is, There were nine hundred Cities in the Tribe of Judah, and in the Tribe of Simeon: therefore nine became the Priests and Levites. See Jos. XXI. 16. and weigh the proportion.

IV. f 1.6 Nittai the Tekoite brought a Cake out of Bitur, (In the Jerusalem Talmud it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) but they received it not. The Alexandrians brought their Cakes from Alexandria: but they received them not. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Inhabitants of Mount Zeboim brought their first fruits before Pentecost; but they received them not, &c. The Gloss is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Bi∣tar was without the land. Therefore this was not that Bitar, of whose destruction we have mentioned before.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Mount Zeboim (wheresoever it was) was certainly within the land: for otherwise the first fruits were not to be received from thence: now they refused them, not because they were unlawful in themselves, but because they were brought in an un∣lawful time. For g 1.7 they offered not the first fruits before Pentecost, saith the Tradition; where also this same story is repeated.

Mention is made of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Migdal. Zabaaia (a word of the same etymology) in that notable story. h 1.8 Three Cities were laid waste; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chabul for discord: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Shi∣chin for Magical arts: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And Migdal Zabaaia (or the Town of Dyers) for fornication.

V. Socoh, Jos. XV. 35. Thence was Antigonus, sometime President of the Sanhedrin. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i 1.9 Antigonus of Soco received the Cabbala of Simeon the Just.

VI. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Be Teri, and Kubi. The Gemarists speaking of Davids battel with Ishbi-benob, 2 Sam. XXI. make mention of these places. l 1.10 When they were come to Kubi, say they, they said, Let us arise up against him: when they were come to Be Teri, they said, Do they kill the Lion between the two She-Whelps? Where the Gloss writes thus, David pursued them flying, and he approached near to the land of the Philistins: and when he came to Kubi, which was between the land of Israel and the Philistins, they said, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be Teri, is also the name of a place.

VII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gophna. Concerning the situation of this place it is doubted, whether it is to be assigned to Judah, or to the land of Samaria. These thins certainly seem plainly to lay it to Judea. Josephus saith these words concerning Titus marching with his army to Jerusalem. m 1.11 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. He passeth swiftly through the Country of Samaria unto Go∣phna: where tarrying one day, in the morning he marches forward, and after some days pitches his station along the valley of thorns unto a certain Town, called Gabath-Saul.

The Hierusalem Talmudists write thus: n 1.12 Fourscore pair of Brethren Priests married fourscore pair of Sisters Priestesses in Gophna, in one night. You will scarce find so many Priests in the Country of Samaria.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 o 1.13 The Synagogue of the men of Gophna was in Zippor: whom you will scarcely believe to be Samaritanes.

p 1.14 Of the eleven Toparchies, the second after Jerusalem was Toparchia Gophnitica, in Pliny q 1.15 Zophanitica, the Toparchy of Gophna.

The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gophna is derived from the Vinyards.

VIII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Valley of Rimmon. r 1.16 Seven Elders came together to intercalate the year in the Valley of Rimmon: namely, R. Meir, R. Juda, R. Jose, R. Simeon, R. Ne∣hemiah, R. Lazar Ben Jacob, and R. Jochanan Sandelar. And a little after: There was a marble rock there: into which every one fastned a nail, therefore it is called to this day, The Rock of nails.

IX. s 1.17 They do not bring the Sheaf (of first fruits) but from some place, near Jerusalem. But if some place near Jerusalem shall not produce those first fruits, then they fetch it further off. There was a time, when a Sheaf was brought out of the Gardens 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Zeriphin, and the two loaves out of the Valley 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of En Socar.

X. They sometime asked R. Josua, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, What concerning the sons of the en∣vious woman? (as I Sam. I. 6.) he answered, Ye put my head between two high mountains, namely, the School of Shammai, and of Hillel, that they may dash out my brains: but I testi∣fie concerning the family 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Beth Anubai of Beth Zebuim; and of the family 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. of Beth-Nekiphi of Beth-Koshesh, that they were the sons of the envious women; and yet their posterity stood great Priests, and offered at the Altar.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Middoth, cap. 3. hal. 4.
• b 1.2

  Niddah, cap. 2. hal. ult.
• c 1.3

  Bab. Niddah, fol. 20. 1.
• d 1.4

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, fol. 69. 1.
• e 1.5

  Bab. Sanhedr. fol. 111. 2.
• f 1.6

  Challah, cap. 4. hal. 10.
• g 1.7

  Biccurim, cap. 1. hal. 3.
• h 1.8

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, in the place before.
• i 1.9

  Avoth, cap. 1. hal. 3. Juchas. fol. 15.
• l 1.10

  Bab. Sanhedr. fol. 95. 1.
• m 1.11

  Joseph. de Bell. lib. 5. cap. 6
• n 1.12

  Hieros. Taa∣nith, fol. 69. 1.
• o 1.13

  Id. Nazir. fol. 56. 1.
• p 1.14

  Joseph. de▪ Bell. lib. 3. cap. 4.
• q 1.15

  Plin. lib. 5. cap. 14.
• r 1.16

  Hieros. Cha∣gig. fol. 78. 4.
• s 1.17

  Gloss. In Bab. Sanhedr. fol. 11. 2.