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. XLVI.

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

Do not even the Publicans the same?

HOW odious the Publicans were to the Jewish Nation, especially those that were sprung of that Nation, and how they reckoned them the very worst of all mankind, appears many ways in the Evangelists; and the very same is their character in their own Writers.

n 1.1 It is not lawful to use the riches of such men, of whom it is presumed that they were thieves; and of whom it is presumed, that all their wealth was gotten by rapine; and that all their busi∣ness was the business of extortioners, such as Publicans and robbers are; nor is their money to be mingled with thine, because it is presumed to have been gotten by rapine.

o 1.2 Publicans are joined with cut-throats and robbers. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They swear to cut-throats, to robbers, and to Publicans, (invading their goods) This is an offering, &c. He is known by his companion.

p 1.3 Among those who were neither fit to judg, nor to give a testimony in judgment, are numbred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Collectors of Taxes, and the Publicans.

They were marked with such reproach, and that not without good reason, partly by reason of their rapine, partly that to the burthen laid upon the Nation they themselves added another burthen.

q 1.4 When are Publicans to be reckoned for thieves? when he is a Gentile: or when of him∣self he takes that office upon him, or when being deputed by the King, he doth not exact the set summ, but exacts according to his own will. Therefore the father of R. Zeira is to be repu∣ted for a rare person, r 1.5 who, being a Publican for thirteen years, did not make the burthens of the taxes heavier, but rather eased them.

s 1.6 When the King laid a Tax, to be exacted of the Jews, of each according to his Estate: these Publicans being deputed to proportion the thing, became respecters of persons, burthe∣ning some, and indulging others, and so became Plunderers.

By how much the more grievous the Heathen yoak was to the Jewish people, boasting themselves a free Nation, so much the more hateful to them was this kind of men; who though sprung of Jewish bloud, yet rendred their yoke much more heavy by these ra∣pines.

Notes

• n 1.1

  Maimon. in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 cap. 5.
• o 1.2

  Nedarim, cap. 3. hal. 4.
• p 1.3

  ••••••. S••••••••dr. fol. 25. 2.
• q 1.4

  M••i••on. in ••h•• place a∣bove.
• r 1.5

  〈…〉〈…〉. 2.
• s 1.6

  Gaon in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ruch in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉