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. | Early English Books Online | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

VERS. XXIII.

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

Seeing the Minstrels.

DJon Cassius n 1.1 concerning the funeral of Augustus. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Tiberius, and Drusus his son, sacrificed frankinsence themselves; but they used not a Minstrel.

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〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 o 1.2 Even the poorest among the Israelites (his wife being dead) will afford her not less, than two pipes, and one woman to make lamentation.

:〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 p 1.3 He that hireth an Ass keeper, or a Wagoner, to bring pipes, either for a Bride, or for a dead person: that is, either for a wedding, or a funeral.

q 1.4 The husband is bound to bury his dead wife, and to make lamentations and mournings for her, according to the custom of all Countries. And also the very poorest among the Israelites, will afford her not less, than two pipes, and one lamenting woman: but if he be rich, let all things be done according to his quality.

r 1.5 If an Idolater brings pipes on the Sabbath, (to the house where any one is dead) an Israelite shall not lament at those pipes.

This multitude was got together on a sudden: Neighbours for civility sake, Minstrels perhaps for the sake of gain; both the more officious in this business, as we may guess, by how much the Parents of the deceased Maid were of more eminent quality. She died, when Christ together with Jairus was going forward to the house (Mark V. 35.) and yet, behold what a solemn meeting and concourse there was to lament her. There were two things, which in such cases afforded an occasion to much company to assemble themselves to the house of mourning.

First, Some, as it is very probable, resorted thither to eat and drink: for at such a time some banqueting was used. s 1.6 A Tradition. They drink ten cups in the house of mourning: two before meat, five while they are eating, and three after meat. And a little after: When Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel died, they added three more. But when the Sanhedrin saw, that hence they became drunk, they made a decree against this.

Secondly, Others came to perform their duty of charity, and neighbourhood: for they accounted it the highest instance of respect, to lament the dead, to prepare things for the burial, to take care of the funeral, to put themselves under the Bier, and to con∣tribute other things needful for that solemnity with all diligence. Hence they appro∣priated 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The rendring, (or bestowing) of mercies to this Duty, in a pecu∣liar sense, above all other demonstrations of charity. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 t 1.7 One of the Disciples of the Wise men died, and Mercy was not yeilded him: that is, No care was taken of his funeral. But a certain Publican died, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And the whole City left off work, to yeild him Mercy.

Mourning for the dead is distinguished by the Jewish Schools into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aninuth, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ebluth. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 was on the day of the funeral only, or until the Corps was car∣ried out; and then began 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and lasted for thirty days. Of these mournings take these few passages. u 1.8 He that hath his dead laid out before him, and it is not in his power to bury him, useth not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Aninuth, that kind of mourning. For example: If any dye in prison, and the Magistrate, or Governour of the place, permits not his burial, he that is near of kin to him, is not bound to that mourning, which is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. And the reason is given a little after; namely, because he, who hath his dead laid out before him, or upon whom the care of his burial lays, is forbidden to eat flesh, to drink Wine, to eat with others, to eat in the same house, (under which Prohibition thou, Jairus, now art) and he was free from reciting his Phylacteries, and from prayer, and from all such like precepts of the Law. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But when the funeral is car∣ried out of the door of the house, then presently begins the mourning called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From thence he is free from the foregoing prohibitions, and now is subject to others. Hence

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The bending down of the beds, of which the Talmudists speak very much. From what time, say they, are the beds bended? From that time, the dead body is carried out of the gate of the Court of the house; or, as R. Josua, From that time, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Grave stone is stopped up. (For so it is commonly rendred, but the Gloss some where, the Cover, or, the uppermost board, of the Bier.) What this Bending of the beds should mean, you may observe from those things which are spoken in the Tract Beracoth. x 1.9 Whence is the bending of the beds? R. Crispa, in the name of R. Jochanan, saith, From thence because it is said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And they sat with him to the Earth (Job II. 13.) It is not said, Upon the Earth, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 To the Earth: it denotes a thing not far from the Earth. Hence it is that they sat upon beds bended down.

2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He that laments, all the thirty days is forbid to do his work; and so his sons, and his daughters, and servants, and maids, and cattel, &c. y 1.10

These things concerned him, to whom the dead person did belong His friends and neighbours did their parts also, both in mourning, and in care of the funeral, employ∣ing themselves in that affair by an officious diligence, both out of duty and friendship. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Whosoever sees a dead corps, say they, and does not accommodate, (or, accompany) him to his burial, is guilty of that, which is said, He that mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker, &c. But now, say they, no man is so poor, as the dead man, z 1.11 &c.