CHAP. LXIX. The Lake Samochonitis. (Book 69)
IN the Holy Scriptures, it is the Water of Merom, Jos. XI. 5. In the Babylonian Talmu∣dists, it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Sibbechean Sea. Hence is that, a 1.1 Jordan ariseth out of the Cave of Paneas, and flowes into the Sibbechean Sea. In the Jerusalem Talmu∣dists, sometimes it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Sea of Cobebo, as we have noted before, and sometimes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Sea of Samaco; whence in other Languages it is Samochonitis.
b 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Lake Semechonitis is thirty furlongs in bredth, and sixty in length. The Fens of it are stretched out unto the Country Daphne; a Country, as it is otherwise pleasant, so containing fountains: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The scruple lies concerning the pointing of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The sentence and sense seems indeed to flow more smoothly, if you should render it thus, The springs which nourishing little Jordan, as it is called, send it out into the Great, under the Temple of the Golden Calf: but then a just doubt ariseth of the situation of that Temple. That clause therefore is rather to be referred to the foregoing, so that the sense may go thus, The springs, which nourishing little Jordan, as it is called, under the Temple of the Golden Calf, send it into the Great: and so you have the Temple of the Golden Calf at the springs of Jordan, and the place adjacent called Daphne, and the Marshes of Samochonitis reaching thither.
c 1.3 The Jerusalem Gemarists do thus explain those words of Ezekiel, Chap. XLVII. 8. These waters go forth into the East coast: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is, into the Lake Samo∣chonitis. And they shall go down into the Plain, that is, into the Sea of Tyberias. And they shall go out into the Sea, that is, into the dead Sea.
d 1.4 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The City Hazor, saith Josephus, lies on the Lake Samachonitis. This City is the Metropolis of Canaan, that is, of that Northern Country, which is known by that name: which is called also Galilee of the Gentiles. Jabin the King of Hazor, and others fight with Joshua at the waters of Merom, that is, at the Lake Samochonitis, Jos. XI. 4. e 1.5 And Jonathan in the same place, as it seems, with the Army of Demetrius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the Plain of Asor, as the same Josephus writes. But in the book of the Maccabees it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The plain of Nasor, 1 Macc. XI. 67.