CHAP. LXIV. Acon. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Ptolemais.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉a〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Ptolemais (which is also called Acon) is a City of Galilee on the Sea coast, situate in a great champaign, but it is com∣passed with hills; on the East, sixty furlongs off, with the hill Country of Galilee; on the South, with Carmel distant an hundred and twenty furlongs; on the North, with a very high mountain, which is called Climax (or The Ladder,) belonging to the Tyrians, and is an hundred furlongs distant. Two miles off of that City, the River Beleus flows, a very small one, near which is the Sepulchre of Memnon; having about it the space of an hundred cubits, but well worthy admiration. For it is in the form of a round Valley, affording glassie sand, which when many ships coming thither have gathered, the place is again replenished.

:〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉bFrom Acon onwards to the North (is Heathen land,) and Acon it self is reckoned for the North, (that is, for Heathen land.)

cIn Acon the land of Israel is, and is not. And thereforedR. Josi ben Hananiah kissed the Arch of Acon, and said, Hitherto is the land of Israel.

eR. Simeon ben Gamaliel said, I saw Simeon ben Cahna drinking wine in Acon, &c. But was it within the bounds of the land, or no? See the Author of Juchasin disputing largely of this matter, in the place in the marginf

There was the Bath of Venus in Acon: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]g Where R. Gamaliel washing, was asked by a certain Heathen (whose name in the Jerusalem Mish∣nah is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Babylonian〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Proculus the son of the Philosopher) What have you to do with the Bath〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉of Ve∣nus, when it is written in your Law, There shall not cleave to thy hand any of the accur∣sed thing? He answered, I must not answer you in the Bath, (Because you must not speak of the law when you stand naked.) When he came out therefore, he said, I went not into her bounds, but she came into mine. (The Gloss is, The Bath was, before she was.) And we say not, Let us make a fair Bath for Venus, but let us make a fair Venus for the Bath, &c.

A story done at Acon before R. Judah is related, not unworthy to be mentioned.hRabbi came to a certain place, and saw the men of that place baking their dough in unclean∣ness. When he enquired of them, why they did so, they answered, a certain Scholar came hi∣ther, and taught us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉The waters〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉are not of those waters, (that bring pollution.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉He spake of the waters〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (that is, of eggs;) but they thought that he spake of〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉the waters of the Marshes. These things we have the more willingly produced, that the Reader may see, that the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Ain was of no sound with these; examples like to which we bring elsewhere. Now hear the Glosser; Rabbi saw this, saith he, in Acon, in which is Israelitic land, Heathen land: now he saw them standing within the limits of Israe∣litic land; and baking their dough in uncleanness, and wondred, until they told him, A cer∣tain Scholar came hither, &c.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Caphar Acon, is very frequently mentioned by the Talmudists.

iA City which produceth fifteen hundred footmen, as〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Caphar Acon, if nine dead persons be carried out thence in three days successively, behold! it is the Plague: but if in one day, or in four days, then it is not the Plague. And a City, which produceth five hundred foot, as〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Caphar Amiku, &c.

Page  61Hence are the names of some Acon Rabbins, as

kR. Tanchum, the son of R. Chaia of Caphar Acon.

lR. Simeon ben Judah,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A man of Caphar Acon.

m〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉R. Abba of Acon: and others.

Weigh this story:nOne brought a bill of divorce to R. Ismael; who said to him, Whence are you? He answered〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉From Caphar Samai, which is in the confines of Acon. Then it is needful, saith he, that you say, it was written, I being present, and sealed, I being present. When he went out, R. Illai said unto him, Is not Ca∣phar Samai of the land of Israel, being nearer to Zippor than Acon? And a little after: The Cities which are in the borders of Zippor, near to Acon, and which are in the borders of Acon near to Zippor, what will you do concerning them? As Acon is, so is Zippor.