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. XCVIII. Some Miscellaneous matters, respecting the face of the land. (Book 98)

1. LET us begin with that Canon concerning reading the book of Esther in the feast of Purim. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 1.1 Towns that were begirt with walls from the days of Joshua, read it the fifteenth day (of the month Adar:) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Villages, and great Cities read it the fourteenth day. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Unless that the Villages anticipate it, to the day of the Congregation.

You see a threefold distinction of Cities and Towns.

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Fortifications, or Towns girt with walls from the days of Joshua. But whence shall we know them? They are those, which are mentioned in the book of Jo∣shua, b 1.2 which however in after times they were not begirt with walls, are nevertheless reckoned under the Catalogue of them, as to the reading of that book.

2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Great Cities. That was called a great City, in which was a Synagogue. So it is defined by the Piske Tosaphoth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 c 1.3 That is a great City, in which are ten men at leisure, to pray and read the Law. See what we say concerning these things on Matth. Chap. IV. vers. 23. when we speak of Synagogues.

3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Villages. That is such, where there was not a Synagogue. Yea, saith the Piske Harosh, a fortified Town, wherein are not ten men of leisure (or such as ceased from the things of the World; and these made up a Synagogue) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is reputed as a Village, &c.

That which is added in the Text of the Mishna, Unless the Villages do anticipate it to the day of the Congregation, is thus explained by the Glossers. When Towns girt with walls read the book of Esther on the fifteenth day, and those that were not walled, on the fourteenth, (see Esth. IX. 21.) and yet it is said before (in the same Text of the Mishna) that that book is read the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth day; the wise Men granted liberty to the Villages, to preoccupate the reading, namely on that day, wherein they resorted to the Syna∣gogue: that is, either the second day of the week that went before the fourteenth day of the month, or the fift day of the week: which were days of Assembly, in which the Villages re∣sorted into the Cities to judgment. For the second and fift days of the week, the Judiciary Consistories sat in the Cities, by the appointment of Ezra. Now the Villagers were not skilful in reading, therefore it was needful, that they should have some reader in the City, &c.

II. Let the Canons, and cautions of the spaces and places, next joyning to the City or Town, be observed.

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 d 1.4 A Dovecoat was not built within fifty Cubits from the City: and that least the Pigeons might do injury to the Gardens that were sown.

2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They permitted not a tree within five and twenty Cubits from the City. And this (as the Gloss speaks) for the grace of the City.

3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They allowed not a barn-floor within fifty cubits from the City: that, when they fanned their corn, the chaff might not offend the Citizens.

4. They permitted not dead carkasses, or burying places, nor a Tanners shop to be within fifty Cubits from the City (because of the stink.) Nor did they allow a Tanners Work∣shop at all but on the Eastside of the City. R. Akiba saith, On any side, except the West, but at the distance of fifty cubits.

III. From the Cities let us walk forth into their plowed grounds and fields.

Here you might see in some places e 1.5 certain tokens hung upon some figtrees, to shew of what year the fruit that grew there, was. See what we say on Matth. XXI. 19. In other places you might see barren trees stigmatized with some mark of infamy. f 1.6 A tree, which shook off its fruits before they were ripe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they mark with red, and load it with stones.

You might see the plowing and mowing of their fields, the dressing of their Vines, and their Vintage to be done by the rules of the Scribes, as well as by the art of the Husbandman, or the Vinedresser. For such was the care and diligence of the Fathers of the Traditions, concerning tithing Corn and Fruits, concerning leaving a corner for the poor, concerning the avoiding of sowing different seeds, and of not transgressing the Law concerning the seventh year; that they might not plow, nor sow, nor reap, but

according to the Traditional rule. Hence are those infinite Disputes in the books Peah, Demai, Kilaim, Sheviith, g 1.7 of the corner of the field to be left, what and how much the portion of it was, and of what things such corners ought to consist? h 1.8 Of those that divide the field so, that a double corner of it is due to the poor: i 1.9 Whether a corner is due from beds of corn that grow among Olive-trees? Whether from a field, whose sow∣ing and reaping is various? k 1.10 What are the trees, whose fruits are Demai? l 1.11 Of what things is the tithing of the Demai? m 1.12 How long the same plot of ground may be sown with different seeds, so as not to offend against the Law? Of sowing different seeds: n 1.13 How many Vines make a Vineyard? Of their rows, of the beds of the Vineyard, of sowing within the Press, &c. and innumerable decisions of that nature, which did so keep the Countryman within bounds, that he could not plow nor mow his land accor∣ding to his own will, but according to the rule of Tradition.

o 1.14 The Inhabitants of Beth-Namer measured out a corner for the poor with a line, and they gave a corner out of every row. Abba Saul saith, They make mention of them to their praise, and to their dispraise, because they gave one part out of an hundred; to their praise, because measuring with a line, they collected and gave a corner out of every row: that is, meeting with a measuring line they yielded the hundredth part of the field to the poor, and that out of every row of sheaves.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Megill. cap. •• hal. 1.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 artic. 2
• c 1.3

  Piske Tosaph. artic. 2.
• d 1.4

  Bava bathra, cap. 2. hal. 5.
• e 1.5

  Hieros. She∣viith, fol. 35. 4▪
• f 1.6

  Ibid. Col. 3▪
• g 1.7

  Peah. cap. 1.
• h 1.8

  Id. cap. 2.
• i 1.9

  Id. cap. 3.
• k 1.10

  Demai, cap. 1
• l 1.11

  ••••. cap. 2.
• m 1.12

  ••ila••m, c 3.
• n 1.13

  Ibid. c. 4. & 5
• o 1.14

  Hieros. Peah. fol. 18. 2.