Talmud, written there for certain. That very Volume does openly speak the place where it was published: in which the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 hither, do most plainly design Tiberias, almost in infinite places. But there is a greater controversie about the time: it is agreed upon by very many learned Men, that this Talmud was writ∣ten about the year of Christ CCXXX. which I do indeed wonder at, when the menti∣on of the Emperor Diocletian, unless I am very much mistaken, does occur in it. Let us note the places.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 When the King Docletinus came hither (to Tiberias,) they saw R. Chaija bar Abba climing a Sepulchre to see him. This sto∣ry is repeated in Nazir, and he is there called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Doclinus, by an error, as it seems, of the Coppiers.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dicletinus gathered the Rivers together, and made the Sea of Apamia. And this story is recited in Chetubboth, and there he is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Docletianus.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Docletinus had 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 most fine gold, even to the weight of a Gordian peny.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 When Docletianus came thither, he came with an hundred and twenty myriads.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The boys of R. Ju∣dah the Prince bruised Diclot the keeper of hogs with blows. That King at length escaped, and coming to Paneas, sent for the Rabbines, &c. He said to them, Therefore, because your Creator worketh miracles for you, you contemn my Government. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 To whom they said, we con∣temned Diclot the hogheard, we contemned not Diocletianus the King. Hence arose a su∣spition among some learned Men, that this was not to be understood of Diocletian the Emperor, but of some little King. I know not whom, of a very beggerly original: of which opinion I also was sometime, until at last I met with something, that put the thing past all doubt.
That you find in Avodah Zarah. There enquiry is made by one 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 What of the Mart of Tsur? There is this Inscription there▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I Diocletianus the King built this Mart of Tsur (or Tyre) to the fortune of my Brother Herculius eighty days. The very sound perswades to render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Herculius, and the agreeableness of the Roman History, from which every one knows, how near a kin there was between Diocletian, and Maximian Her∣culius.
Eusebius mentions the travailing of Diocletian through Palestine; and all the Ro∣man Historians speak of his sordid and mean birth; which agree very well with the things, that are related by the Talmudists.
These are all the places, unless I am much mistaken, where this name occurs in this Talmud, one only excepted, which I have reserved for this place, that after we have dis∣covered by these quotations, that this was Diocletian the Emperour, some years after him might be computed. That place is in Sheviith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Diocletianus afflicted the men of Paneas: they said therefore to him, We will depart hence: but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a certain Sophist said to him, Either they will not depart, or, if they do, they will return again: but if you would have an Experiment of it, let two young Goats be brought hither, and let them be sent to some place afar off, and they will at last come back to their place. He did so: for the Goats were brought; whose horns he gilded, and sent them into Africa: and they after thirty years returned to their own place. Consider that thir∣ty years passed from this action of Diocletian, which if you compute even from his first year, and suppose that this story was writ in the last year of those thirty, you come as far as the ninth or tenth year of Constantine.
Mention also of King Sapor occurs, if I do not fail of the true reading. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Serpent under Sapor the King devoured Ca∣mels. Yea, I have I know not what suspicion, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lulianus the King, of whom there is mention in that very same place, does denote Julianus the Em∣peror. When Lulianus the King, say they, came thither, an hundred and twenty myriads accompanied him. But enough of this.
There are some, who believe the Holy Bible was pointed by the wise men of Tiberias. I do not wonder at the Impudence of the Jews, who invented the story; but I wonder at the credulity of Christians who applaud it. Recollect, I beseech you, the names of the Rabbines of Tiberias, from the first situation of the University there to the time that it expired: and what at length do you find, but a kind of men mad with Pharisaim, be∣witching with Traditions and bewitched, blind, guileful, doting, they must pardon me, if I say, Magical and monstrous? Men, how unfit, how unable, how foolish, for the