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CHAP. XCVI. The Consistories of more note: out of the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedr. fol. 32. 2. (Book 96)
THE Rabbins deliver, Follow after righteousness, follow after righteousness. Go to (Beth-Din) the famous Consistory, to R. Eleazar to Lydda, to Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: A Tradition. The sound of mills 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 In Burni. The sons week, the sons week. A Candle in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beror Chel. A Feast is there, a Feast is there.
These things are something obscure, and do require light.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beror Chel, seems to design a place: but what place? Indeed the San∣hedrin of R. Jochanan was in Jafne, but his Consistory, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 his seat of Judg∣ment, seems to be distinguished from the Sanhedrin. So Paul was brought up at the feet of Rabban Gamaliel; not in his Sanhedrin, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in his Consistory, or School. So you may conjecture, that Rabban Jochanan, besides that he sat President of the chief Sanhedrin, had his peculiar Consistory in Jafne it self, or in some neighbour place.
That which follows, A Tradition, The sound of mills, &c. is cleared by the Glossers.
The sound of mills in Burni was a sign, that there was a Circumcision there; as if it had been publickly proclaimed, The Infants week expires in this place. And the sound of a mill was a sign, that spices were ground to be applied to the wound of the Cir∣cumcision. It was a time of persecution, wherein it was forbidden to circumcise: they feared therefore by any publick notice to make known, that there was to be a Circum∣cision: but they appointed this sign.
A candle in Beror Chel, The Gloss writes, The light of one candle in the day time, but many candles burning in the night, gave a sign, as if one had given notice by a pub∣lick Proclamation, that a feast of Circumcision was there, &c.
Another Gloss is thus,
They were wont to light candles at a Circumcision. It was also a custom, to spread a Table cloth at the door: hence is that, A custom prevailed at Jerusalem, that as long as the Table cloth was spread at the door, travailers went in.
The Aruch writes thus, a 1.1
In the time of persecution they could not celebrate publick matrimony, nor publick Circumcision: therefore they did them secretly: wheresoever therefore were lighted candles on the lintel of the door, they knew that there was a wedding feast there, and wheresoever was the sound of mills, there was a Circum∣cision.
The Jerusalem Talmudists add, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 b 1.2 Although the Persecution ceased, yet that custom ceased not.
The Babylonian Talmudists go on. Go to R. Josua 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to Pekiin. In the Je∣rusalem Talmudists it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bekiin, in this story, that follows.
c 1.3 R. Jochanan ben Bruchah, and R. Eliezer the blind, travailed from Jabne to Lydda, and received R. Josua in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bekiin.
Go to Rabban Gamaliel to Jabne.
Go to Rabbi Akiba to Bene Barak.
Go to R. Mathia to Roma.
Go to R. Chananiah ben Teradion to Si••ni.
To R. Jose to Zippor.
To R. Judah ben Betirah to Nisibin.
To R. Josua to the Captivity (viz. to Pombiditha.)
To Rabbi to Beth-Shaaraim.
To the wise Men in the chamber Gazith.