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.

VERS. I.

Βίβλος Γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. The Book of the Generation of Iesus Christ.

ע 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉:

TEN a Stocks came up out of Babylon: 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Priests. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Levites. 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉a 1.1 Israelites. 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Common Persons, as to the Priesthood: such whose Fa∣thers indeed were sprung from Priests, but their Mothers unfit to be admitted to the Priests Marriage Bed. 5. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Proselytes. 6. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Liberti, or Ser∣vants set Free. 7. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nothi: for such as were born in Wedlock; but that which was unlawful. 8. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nethinims. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bastards: such as came of a certain Mo∣ther, but of an uncertain Father. 10. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Such as were gathered up out of the Streets, whose Fathers and Mothers were uncertain.

A defiled Generation indeed! and therefore brought up out of Babylon in this com∣mon sink, according to the Opinion of the Hebrews, that the whole Jewish Seed, still remaining there, might not be polluted by it. :〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 For Ezra went not up out of Babylon, until he had rendred it pure as flower. They are words of the Babylonian Gemara, which the gloss explains thus: He left not any there that were illegitimate in any respect, but the Priests and Levites only, and Israelites of a pure and undefiled stock. Therefore he brought up with him these ten kinds of Pedigrees, that these might not be mingled with those when there remained now no more a Sanhedrin there, which might take care of that matter. Therefore he brought them to Jerusalem, where care

might be taken by the Sanhedrin fixed there, that the legitimate might not marry with the illegitimate.

Let us think of these things a little, while we are upon our entrance into the Gospel History.

• I. How great a cloud of obscurity could not but arise to the people concerning the original of Christ, even from the very return out of Babylon, when they either cer∣tainly saw, or certainly believed that they saw, a purer spring of Jewish blood there, than in the Land of Israel it self?
• ...

  II. How great a care ought there to be in the Families of pure blood, to preserve themselves untouched and clean from this impure sink; and to lay up among themselves Genealogical Scrols from generation to generation, as faithful witnesses and lasting mo∣numents of their legitimate stock and free blood?

  Hear a complaint and a Story in this case, b 1.2 R. Jochanan said, By the Temple, it is in our hand to discover who are not of pure blood in the Land of Israel: But what shall I do when the •••••••••• m•••• of this generation lie hid? (that is, when they are not of pure blood, and yet we must not declare so much openly concerning them.) He was of the same Opinion with R. Isaac, who said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Family (of the poluted blood) that lies hid, let it lie hid. Abai also saith, We have learned this also by tradition, that there was a certain Family called the Family of Beth-Zeripha, beyond Jordan, and a son of Zion removed it away. (The gloss is, some eminent Man by a publick Proclama∣tion declared it impure.) But he caused another, which was such (that is, impure) to come near. And there was another which the Wise-men would not manifest.

• ...

  III. When it especially lay upon the Sanhedrin, sealed at Hierusalem, to preserve pure Families, as much as in them lay, pure still; and when they prescribed Canons of pre∣serving the legitimation of the people (which you may see in those things that follow at the place alledged) there was some necessity to lay up publick Records of Pedigrees with them: whence it might be known what Family was pure, and what defiled. Hence that of Simon Ben Azzai deserves our notice; c 1.3 I saw, saith he, a Genealogical s••rol in Jerusalem, in which it was thus written, N. a Bastard of a strang Wife. Observe, that even a Bastard was written in their publick Books of Genealogy, that he might be known to be a Bastard, and that the purer Families might take heed of the defilement of his seed. Let that also be noted, d 1.4 They found a Book of Genealogy at Jerusalem, in which it was thus written, Hillel was sprung from David. Ben Jatsaph from Asaph. Ben Tsitsith ha••ceseth from Abner. Ben Cobesin from Achab, &c. And the Records of the Genealo∣gies smell of those things which are mentioned in the Text of the Mishnah concerning Wood-carrying. e 1.5 The Priests and Peoples times of Wood-carrying were nine. On the first day of the month Nisan, for the Sons of Erach the Son of Judah: the twentieth day of ••am∣muz, for the Sons of David, the Son of Judah: the fifth day of Ab, for the Sons of Parosh, the Son of Judah: the seventh of the same month, for the Sons of Jonadab; the Son of Re∣chab: the tenth of the same for the Sons of Senaah the Son of Benjamin, &c.

  It is therefore easie to guess whence Matthew took the last fourteen generations of this Genealogy, and Luke the first forty Names of his: namely, from the Genealogi∣cal Scrols, at that time well enough known, and laid up in the publick 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Reposi∣tories, and in the private also. And it was necessary indeed, in so noble and sublime a subject, and a thing that would be so much inquired into by the Jewish people, as the Lineage of the Messiah would be, that the Evangelists should deliver a truth not only that could not be gain-said; but also, that might be proved and established from certain and undoubted Rolls of Ancestors.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

Of Iesus Christ.

That the Name of Jesus is so often added to the Name of Christ in the New Testa∣ment, is not only, that thereby Christ might be pointed out for the Saviour; (which the Name Jesus signifies) but also that Jesus might be pointed out for true Christ: against the unbelief of the Jews; who though they acknowledged a certain Messiah, or Christ, yet they stifly denyed that Jesus of Nazareth was he. This observation takes place in numberless places of the New Testament, Act. ii. 36. & viij. 35. 1 Cor. vi. 22. 1 John ii. 22. & iv. 15, &c.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

The Son of David.

That is, the true Messias. For by no more ordinary, and more proper Name did the Jewish Nation point out the Messiah, then by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Son of David. See Mat. XII. 23. & XXI. 9. & XXII. 42. Luke XVIII. 38. and every where in the Talmudic Writings,

but especially in f 1.6 Bab. Sanhedrin: where it is also discussed, what kind of times those should be when the Son of David should come.

The things which are devised by the Jews concerning Messiah Ben Joseph (which the Targum upon Cant. IV. 5. calls Messiah Ben Ephraim) are therefore devised, to comply with their giddiness, and loss of judgment in their opinion of the Messiah. For since they despised the true Messiah, who came in the time foreallotted by the Prophets, and Crucified him; they still expect I know not what Chimerical one, concerning whom they have no certain opinion: whether he shall be one, or two; whether he shall arise from among the living, or from the dead; whether he shall come in the clouds of Hea∣ven, or sitting upon an Ass, &c. They expect a Son of David, but they know not whom, they know not when.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Talm. in Kid∣dush. cap. 4. Art. 1.
• b 1.2

  Hi••••••••. Kid∣d•• ••. fol. 6••. ••. Bab. ibid, fol. 71.
• c 1.3

  Bab. I••va∣mo••••, fol. 49. 2.
• d 1.4

  Hieros. Taa∣ni••••, fol. ••••. 1.
• e 1.5

  Taanith, cap. 4 hal. 5.
• f 1.6

  fol. 97. 1.