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. XXX.

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

An heard of many swine feeding.

WERE these Gadarens Jews or Heathens?

I. It was a matter of infamy for a Jew to keep swine. k 1.1 R. Jonah had a very red face; which a certain woman seeing said thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Seignior, Seignior, either you are a Winebibber, or a Usurer, or a keeper of hogs.

II. It was forbidden by the Canon. l 1.2 The Wise men forbad to keep hogs any where, and a dog, unless he were chained. Hogs, upon a twofold account. 1. By reason of the hurt and dammage that they would bring to other mens feilds. Generally m 1.3 the keep∣ing of smaller cattle was forbid in the Land of Israel, (among which you may very well reckon hogs even in the first place.) And the reason is given by the Gemarists, That they ••••eak not into other mens grounds. 2. The feeding of hogs is more particu∣larly forbidden for their uncleanness. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 It is for∣bidden to trade in any thing that is unclean. n 1.4

III. Yea, it was forbid under a curse. The o 1.5 Wise men say, Cursed is he that keeps dogs and swine, because from them ariseth much harm.

p 1.6 Let no man keep hogs any where. The Rabbins deliver, When the Asmonean family were in hostility among themselves, Hyrcanus was beseiged within Jerusalem, and Aristobulus was without. The besieged sent mony in a box let down by a rope, and they which were without, bought with it the daily sacrifices, which were drawn up by those that were within. Among the beseigers there was one, skilled in the Greek learning, who said, As long as they thus perform the service of the Temple, they will not be delivered into your hands. The next day therefore they let down their mony, and these sent them back a hog. When the hog was drawing up and came to the middle of the Wall, he fixed his hoofs to the Wall, and the Land of Israel was shaken, &c. From that time they said, Cursed be he who keeps hogs, and cursed be he who teacheth his son the Wisdom of the Greeks. This Story is cited in q 1.7 Menacoth.

Therefore you will wonder, and not without cause, at that which is related in their Talmud. r 1.8 They said sometimes to Rabh Judah, There is a plague among the Swine. He therefore appoynted a fast. What? Is a Jew concerned for a plague among swine? But the reason is added, For Rabh Judah thought, that a stroak laid upon one kind of cattle, would invade all.

You may not therefore improperly guess, that these hogs belonged not to the Jews, but to the Heathen dwelling among the Gadaren Jews; for such a mixture was very usual in the Cities and Countries of the land of Israel. Which we observe elsewhere of the Town Susitha or Hippo, but some small distance from Gadara.

Or if you grant that they were Jews, their manners will make that opinion probable, as being persons, whose highest Law the purse and profit was wont to be▪ Since Brawn, and Swines flesh were of so great account with the Romans and other Heathens, there is no reason to believe that a Jew was held so straightly by his Canons, as to value them be∣fore his own profit, when there was hope of gain.

Notes

• k 1.1

  Hieros. She∣kalim, fol. 47. 3.
• l 1.2

  Maimon. in Nizke Mam∣mon. cap. 5.
• m 1.3

  Bava Kama, cap. 7. hal. 7.
• n 1.4

  Gloss. in Ka∣ma, in the place above.
• o 1.5

  Maimon in the place be∣fore.
• p 1.6

  Bab. Kama, fol. 82. 2.
• q 1.7

  fol. 64. 2.
• r 1.8

  Bab. Taanith, fol. 21. 2.