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. XXXII.

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

God is not the God of the dead.

READ, if you please, the beginning of the Chapter Chelek, * 1.1 where you will ob∣serve with what arguments and inferences 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Talmu∣dists maintain the Resurrection, out of the Law; namely, by a manner of arguing not un∣like this of our Saviours. We will produce only this one, R. Eliezer Be R. Josi said, In this matter I accused the Scribes of the Samaritans of falshood, while they say that the Resur∣rection of the dead cannot be proved out of the Law. I told them, You corrupt your Law, and it is nothing which you carry about in your hands; for you say that the Resurrection of the dead is not in the Law, when it saith, That soul shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity is up∣on him. t 1.2 Shall be utterly cut off, namely in this world. His iniquity is upon him. When? Is it not in the world to come? I have quoted this, rather than the others which are to be found in the same place; because they seem here to tax the Samari∣tan Text of corruption; when indeed both the Text and the Version, as may easi∣ly be observed, agree very well with the Hebrew. When therefore the Rabbin saith that they have corrupted their Law (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) he doth not so much deny the purity of the Text, as reprove the vanity of the interpretation: as if he had said, You interpret your Law falsly, when you do not infer the Resurrection from those words which speak it so plainly.

With the present argument of our Saviour compare first, those things which are said by R. Tanchum. u 1.3 R. Simeon ben Jochai saith, God, Holy and Blessed doth not joyn his Name to holy men while they live; but only after their death: as it is said, w 1.4 To the Saints that are in the Earth. When are they Saints? When they are laid in the Earth; for while they live, God doth not joyn his name to them; because he is not sure but that some evil affection may lead them astray: but when they are dead, then he joyns his name to them. But we find that God joyned his name to Isaac while he was living. (I am the God of Abraham and

the God of Isaac x 1.5) The Rabbins answer, He looked on his dust, as if it were gathered upon the Altar. R. Berachiah said, since he became blind, he was in a manner dead. See also R. Menahem on the Law. y 1.6

Compare also those words of the Jerusal. Gemara. z 1.7 The righteous even in death are said to live; and the wicked even in life are said to be dead. But how is it proved that the wicked even in life are said to be dead? From that place where it is said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I have no delight in the death of the dead. Is he already dead that is here called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dead? And whence is it proved that the righteous even in death are said to live? From that passage, And he said to him, this is the land concerning which I sware to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 What is the meaning of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ? He saith to him, Go and tell the Fa∣thers, whatsoever I promised to you, I have performed to your children.

The opinion of the Babylonians is the same, a 1.8 The living know that they shall dye: They are righteous who in their death are said to live: as it is said, And Benaiah the son of Je∣hojada the son of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 •• living man, &c. And a little after, The dead knew nothing: They are the wicked, who even in their life are called Dead, as it is said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And thou, dead wicked Prince of Israel. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is commonly rendred Profane in this place, they render it also in a sense very usual, namely for one wounded or dead.

b 1.9 There are further, divers stories alledged, by which they prove that the dead so far live, that they understand many things which are done here; and that some have spoke after death, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In Bab. San∣hedr.
• t 1.2

  Numb. XV. 31.
• u 1.3

  Fol. 13. 3.
• w 1.4

  Psa. XVI. 3.
• x 1.5

  Gen. XXVIII. 13.
• y 1.6

  Fol. 62. 1.
• z 1.7

  Berac. sol. 5 4
• a 1.8

  Berac. sol. 18. 1
• b 1.9

  Ibid. col. 2.