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. LXXXII. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sippor. (Book 82)

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. a 1.1 Sippor is the greatest City of Galilee, and built in a very strong place.

b 1.2 Kitron (Judg. 1. 29, 30.) is Sippor: and why is it called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sippor? Because it is seated upon a mountain 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Sippor, a bird.

c 1.3 Sixteen miles on all sides from Sippor was a land flowing with Milk and Hony.

This City is noted in Josephus for its warlike affairs, but most noted in the Talmudists for the University fixed there, and for the Learning, which Rabbi Judah the Holy brought hither, as we have said before. d 1.4 He sat in this place seventeen years, and used most frequently to say this of himself, Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and Judah li∣ved in Zippor seventeen years.

e 1.5 He sat also in Beth-Shaarim, as also in Tiberias, but he ended his life in Zippor. There is this story of his death, f 1.6 The men of Sippor said, Whosoever shall tell us, that Rabbi is dead, we will kill him. Bar Kaphra, having his head vailed, looked upon them and said, Holy Men, and Angels both took hold of the Tables of the Covenant, and the hand of the Angels prevailed, and they snatched away the Tables. They said to him, Is Rabbi dead? He said, Ye have said. They rent their garments after that manner, that the Voice of the renting came as far as Papath, that is the space of three miles. R. Nachman in the name of R. Mena said, Miracles were done on that day. When all Cities were gathered together to lament him, and that on the Eve of the Sabbath, the day did not waste, until every one was gone home, had filled a bottle with water, and had lighted up a Sabbath candle. The Bath Kol pronoun∣ced blessedness upon those that lamented him, excepting only one; who knowing himself except∣ed, threw himself headlong from the Roof, and died.

g 1.7 R. Judah died in Zippor, but his burial was in Beth-shaarim; dying he gave in command to his son, When ye carry me to my burial, do not lament me in the small Cities, through which

ye shall pass, but in the great, &c. What say you to this, R. Benjamin? In you it is, h 1.8 His Sepulchre is in Zippor in the mountain, as also the Sepulchre of R. Chaija, and Jonah the Prophet, &c. Do you make up the controversie with your kinsmen now cited.

There were many Synagogues in Zippor. In the story but now alledged concerning the death and burial of R. Judah, mention is made of eighteen Synagogues that bewailed him; but whether all these were Synagogues of Zippor, or of other places, it is questi∣oned not without cause.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i 1.9 The Synagogue of Gophna was certainly in Zippor. There was also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 k 1.10 The Synagogue of Babylon in Zippor. There are also many names of famous Doctors there.

l 1.11 R. Honna Rabba.

m 1.12 R. Abudina, of Zippor.

n 1.13 R. Bar Kaphra in Zippor.

R. Chaninah of Zippor. o 1.14 The mention of whom is most frequent above others.

p 1.15 A controversie risen at Zippor was determined before R. Simeon ben Gamaliel, and R. Jose.

Among many stories acted on this stage, which might be produced, we shall offer these only.

q 1.16 An Inquisition was sometime made after the men of Zippor: they therefore, that they might not be known, clapped patches upon their noses, but at last they were discovered, &c.

r 1.17 One in the upper street of Zippor, taking care about the scripts of paper fixed to the door posts, was punished a thousand zuzees. These words argue some persecution stirred up in that City against the Jews.

s 1.18 A certain Butcher of Zippor sould the Jews flesh that was forbidden, namely dead carcasses, and that which was torn. On one Sabbath Eve, after he had been drinking Wine, going up into the roof, he fell down thence and died. The Dogs came and licked his blood. R. Chani∣nah being asked, Whether they should drive away the Dogs? By no means, said he, for they eat of their own.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 t 1.19 Councellors and Pagans in Zippor are mentioned.

And also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 u 1.20 The sons of Ketzirah, or the Harvest, of Zippor.

Zippor was distant from Tiberias, as R. Benjamin tells us in his Itinerary, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Twenty miles.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zipporin with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zain is once writ in the Jerusalem Talmud, one would su∣spect it to be this City: x 1.21 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 When R. Akiba went to Zippor, they came to him, and asked, Are the Jugs of the Gentiles clean? A story worthy of consideration; if that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zipporin, denote ours, was R. Akibah in Zippor? He died almost forty years, before the University was translated thither. But Schools haply were there before an University.

In the Talmud, the story of y 1.22 Ben Elam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Zippor (once it is written z 1.23 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Zippor) is thrice repeated, who, when the High Priest, by reason of some uncleanness contracted on the day of Expiation, could not perform the Office of that day, he went in, and officiated.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Joseph. de bell. lib. 3. cap 3.
• b 1.2

  Bab. M••gill. fol. 6. 1.
• c 1.3

  Hieros. Biccu∣rim, fol. 64. 2. Bab. Megill. in the place above.
• d 1.4

  Hieros. Ki∣laim, fol. 32. 2.
• e 1.5

  Juchasin, fol. 2. 2.
• f 1.6

  Hieros. in the place before.
• g 1.7

  Gloss. in Bab. Sanhedr. fol 47 1.
• h 1.8

  R. Benjam. ••n Itinerar.
• i 1.9

  Hieros. Berac. fol. 6. 1. & Na∣zir, fol. 56. 1.
• k 1.10

  Id. Berac. fol. 9. 1. & Shab. fol. 8. 1.
• l 1.11

  Id. Shekalim, fol 46 1.
• m 1.12

  Id. Niddah, fol. 50. 2.
• n 1.13

  Bab. Sanhedr. fol. 91. 1.
• o 1.14

  Hieros. Maasar Sheni, fol. 55. 4 Schab. fol. 9. 2. Trumoth, fol. 45 3. &c.
• p 1.15

  Bava Mizia, cap. 8. hal. 8.
• q 1.16

  Hieros. Jeva∣moth, fol. 15. 3. & Sotah, fol. 23. 3.
• r 1.17

  Bab. Joma, fol. 11. 1.
• s 1.18

  Hieros. Tru∣moth, fol. 45. 3.
• t 1.19

  Id. Horasoth, fol. 48. 3.
• u 1.20

  Id. Nedarim, fol. 38. 4.
• x 1.21

  Hieros. Avod. Zarah, fol. 41. 2
• y 1.22

  Joma, f. 38. 4. Megill. f. 72. 1.
• z 1.23

  Horaioth, fol. 47. 1.