Near Panium, as they call it, saith he, is a most delightsom Cave in a Mountain, and under it the land hollowing it self into a huge Vale, full of standing waters. Over it a great Mountain hangs, and under the Cave rise the springs of the River Jordan.
And again, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. By the springs of Jordan: now the place is called Panium.
And elsewhere, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Panium seems to be the fountain of Jordan: and more may be read there.
The Talmudists write thus, Rabh saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jor∣dan riseth out of the Cave of Paneas: and so is the Tradition.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 R. Isaac saith, Leshem is Pamias. The Gloss is, Leshem is a City, which the Danites subdued. (Judg. XVIII. 29.) Pamias is a place, whence Jordan ariseth.
And Pliny, The River of Jordan ariseth out of the Fountain Paneas.
II. That fountain of Jordan was the so much famed fountain of little Jordan, as it is called. For so it is plainly collected from Josephus. Concerning the Danites invading Laish, or Leshem, which being subdued they called Dan, he speaks thus; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. But they travailing a days journey through the great Plain of Sidon, not far from Mount Libanus, and the springs of lesser Jor∣dan, observe the land to be good and fruitful, and shew it unto their Tribe, who invading it with an army build the City Dan.
In like manner speaking of Jeroboam, he saith these things; He built two Temples for the Golden Calves, one in Bethel: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: The other in Dan, which is at the springs of little Jordan.
You may certainly wonder, and be amazed, that the fountain of little Jordan should be so famed and known; and in the mean time the fountain of great Jordan to lie hid, not to be spoken of, and to be buried in eternal obscurity. What? Is the less worthy of so much fame; and the greater of none at all? Let us have liberty to speak freely what we think, with the leave of Chorographers.
I. It does not appear, that any other River of Jordan flows into the lake Samochonitis, beside that, which ariseth from Paneas. In what Author will you find the least sign of such a River? But only that such a conjecture crept into the Maps, and into the minds of men, out of the before alledged words of Josephus, misconceived.
II. We think therefore, that Jordan is called the Greater and the Less, not upon any account of two fountains, or two rivers different, and distant from one another; but upon account of the distinct greatness of the same River. Jordan rising out of Paneas was called little, until it flowed into the lake Samochonitis, but afterwards coming out of that lake, when it had obtained a great encrease from that lake, it was thenceforth called Jordan the Greater. Samochonitis received little Jordan, and sent forth the Great. For since both that lake, and the Country adjacent was very fenny, as appears out of Josephus, the lake was not so much encreased by Jordan flowing into it, as it encreased Jordan flowing out of it. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Moors and Fenny places possess the parts about the lake Samochonitis. The River therefore be∣low Samochonitis seems to be called Jordan, above Samochonitis, little Jordan.
Cesarea Philippi was built at Paneas, the fountain of Jordan: which let the Maps ob∣serve that they place it not too remote thence. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Philip built the City Cesarea in Paneas at the springs of Jor∣dan. And also, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. m Having finished Paneas he named it Cesarea.