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. II.

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

Do not sound a Trumpet before thee, as the Hypocrites do in the Synagogues, and in the Streets.

IT is just scruple, Whether this sounding a trumpet be to be understood according to the latter, or in a borrowed sense. I have not found, although I have sought for it much and seriously, even the least mention of a trumpet in Almsgiving. I would most willingly be taught this from the more Learned.

You may divide the ordinary Alms of the Jewes into three parts.

I. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Alms Dish, They gave Alms to the publick dish or basket, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tamch••i, (according to the definition of the Author of Aruch, and that out of Bava Ba∣thra in the place lately cited,) was a certain Vessel, in which bread and food was gathered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for the poor of the World, You may not improperly call it The Alms basket, he calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Dish. By the poor of the world are to be understood any beggers begging from door to door, yea even Heathen Beggers. Hence the Jerusalem Talmud in the place above quoted, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Alms Dish was for every man. And the Aruch moreover 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 This Alms was gathered daily by three men, and distributed by three. It was gathered of the Townsmen by Collectors within their doors; which appears by that caution; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Collectors of Alms may not separate themselves one from another, unless that one may go by himself to the gate, and another to the shop. That is, as the Gloss explains it, They might not ga∣ther this Alms separately and by themselves, that no suspition might arise, that they privily converted what was given, to their own use and benefit. This only was al∣lowed them, when they went to the gate, one might betake himself to the gate, and another to a shop near it; to ask of the dwellers in both places: yet with this proviso, that withall both were within sight of one another. So that at each door it might be seen, that this Alms was received by the Collectors. And here was no probability at all of a Trumpet, when this Alms was of the lowest degree, being to be bestowed upon vagabond strangers, and they very often Heathen.

II. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The poors chest. They gave Alms also in the publick poors box: which was to be distributed to the poor only of that City. The Alms dish is for the poor of the world, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But the Alms chest for the poor only of that City. This was col∣lected of the Townsmen by two Parnasin, of whom before, to whom also a third was added, for the distributing it. The Babylonian Gemarists give a reason of the num∣ber, not unworthy to be marked: A Tradition of the Rabbins. The Alms chest is ga∣thered by two, and distributed by three. It is gathered by two, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Because they do not constitute a superior office in the Synagogue less than of two, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And it is distributed by three, as Pecuniary judgments are transacted by three.

This Alms was collected in the Synagogue, on the Sabbath, (compare 1 Cor. XVI. 2.) and it was distributed to the poor, on the Sabbath Eve. Hence is that, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Almes chest is from the Sabbath Eve to the Sabbath Eve; the Alms dish every day.

Whether therefore, the Trumpet sounded in the Synagogue, when Alms were done it again remains obscure, since the Jewish Canonists do not openly mention it, while yet they treat of thess Alms very largely. Indeed every Synagogue had its Trumpet. For,

• 1. They sounded with the Trumpet in every City, in which was a Judiciary Bench, at the coming in of the new year. But this was not used, but after the destruction of the Temple. See k 1.1 Rosh hashanah.
• 2. They sounded with the Trumpet, when any was excommunicated. Hence among the untensils of a Judge is numbred l 1.2 a Trumpet. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the instruments of Judges, as appears there, were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Rod, A Whip, A Trumpet, and a Sandal. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Trumpet, saith the Gloss, for Excommunication and Anathematizing: and a Sandal, for the taking off the shoe of the husbands brother. m 1.3 And in the same place, mention is made of the excommunicating of Jesus, four hundred trumpets being brought for that business.
• 3. The Trumpet sounded six times at the coming in of every Sabbath: that from thence by that sign given all people should cease from servile works. Of this matter discourse is had in the Ba••ylonian Talmud n 1.4 in the Tract of the Sabbath.

Thus there was a Trumpet in every Synagogue, but whether it were used while Alms were done, I still enquire. That comes into my mind 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 o 1.5 The Collectors of Alms do not proclaim on a feast day, as they proclaim on a common day: but collect it privately, and put it up in their bosom. But wether this Proclamation did publish what was giving by every one, or did admonish of not giving any thing, but what might rightly be given, let the more learned Judge by looking upon the place.

III. They gave Alms also out of the field, and that was especially fourfold. 1. The Corner of the field not reaped. 2. Sheaves left in the field, either by forgetfulness, or voluntarily. 3. The ••leaning of the Vintage; of which see Levit▪ XIX. 9, 10. Deut. XXIV. 19. And 4. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Poors Tenth; of which the Talmudists large∣ly in the Tracts, Peah, Demai, and Maasaroth. To the gathering of these the poor were called, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 p 1.6 By three manifestations in the day, namely in the morning, and at noon, and at Minchah, (or, the Evening) That is, the Owner of the field openly shewed himself three times in the day, for this end, that then the poor should come and gather. In the morning, for the sake of nurses, because in the mean time while their young children slept, they might the more free∣ly go forth for this purpose: at noon, for the sake of children, who also at that time were prepared to gather: at Mincha, for the sake of old men. So the Jerusalem Ge∣marists, and the Glossers upon the Babylonian Talmud.

These were the ordinary Alms of the Jewish people: in the doing which, seeing as yet I cannot ••i••d so much as the least sound of a trumpet in their Writers, I guess that either our Saviour here spoke Metaphorically, or, if there were any trumpet used, that it was used in peculiar and extraordinary Alms.

The Jews did very highly approve of Alms done secretly; hence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Treasury of the silent was of famed memory in the Temple; whither q 1.7 some very religious men brought their Alms in silence and privacy, when the poor children of good men were main∣tained. And hence is that Proverb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, r 1.8 He that doth Alms in secret, is greater than our Master Moses him self. And yet they laboured under such an itch to make their Alms publick, lest they should not be s••en by men; that they did them not without a trumpet, or which was as good as a trumpet, with a proud affectation of making them known: that they might the more be pointed at with the singer, and that it might be said of them, These are the men.

Notes

• k 1.1

  Cap. 4. hal. ••▪
• l 1.2

  Bab. Sanhedr. fol. 7. 2.
• m 1.3

  fol. 107. ••.
• n 1.4

  fol. 35. 2.
• o 1.5

  Hieros. Demai▪ fol. 23. 2.
• p 1.6

  Peah, cap. 4. hal. 5.
• q 1.7

  Aruch in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• r 1.8

  Bab. Bava Ba••hra, fol. 9. ••.