VERS. LVI.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Mary Magdalen.
THAT Magdalen was the same with Mary the sister of Lazarus, Baronius proves at large a 1.1, whom see. It is confirmed enough from this very place; for if Mary Mag∣dalene was not the same with Mary the sister of Lazarus, then either Mary the sister of Lazarus was not present at the Crucifixion of Christ, and at his burial; or else she is past over in silence by the Evangelists, both which are improbable; whence she was called Magdalene, doth not so plainly appear; whether from Magdala a Town on the Lake of Genesareth, or from the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which signifies a playting or curling of the hair, a thing usual with harlots. Let us see what is spoken by the Talmudists concerning 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mary Magdala, who they say was Mother of Ben Satda b 1.2.
They stoned the Son of Satda in Lydda, and they hanged him up on the evening of the Pass∣over. Now this Son of Satda was Son of Pandira. Indeed Rabh Chasda said, the husband (of his mother) was Satda, her husband was Pandira, her husband was Papus, the Son of Juda: but yet I say his mother was Satda, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 namely Mary the plaiter of women's hair; as they say in Pombeditha, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 she departed from her husband. These words are also repeated in Schabbath c 1.3: Rabh Bibai at a time when the Angel of death was with him, said to his Officer, Go, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 bring me Mary the plaiter of womens (hairs.) He went and brought to him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mary the plaiter of young mens (hair), &c. The Gloss,
The Angel of death reckoned up to him what he had done be∣fore; for this story of Mary the Plaiter of women's hair was under the second Temple, for she was the mother of N. as it is said in Schabbath.See the Gloss there at the place before quoted.
There are some who find a fly in their cup, and take it out and will not drink; such was Papus ben Judas, who lockt the door upon his wife, and went out.Where the Glossers say thus,
Papus ben Juda was the husband 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Mary the Plaiter of womens hair; and when he went out of his house into the street, he lockt his door upon his wife, that she might not speak with any body; which indeed he ought not to have done; and hence sprang a difference between them, and she broke out into adulteries.See Alphesius on Gittim e 1.5.
I pronounce 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ben Satda, not that I am ignorant, that it is called Ben Stada by very learned men. The reason of our thus pronouncing it, we fetch from hence, that we find he was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ben Sutdah by the Jerusalem Talmudists f 1.6, to which the word Satda more agrees than Stada. By the like agreement of sounds they call the same Town both 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Magdala, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mugdala, as we have observed elswhere.
As they contumeliously reflect upon the Lord Jesus, under the name of Ben Satda, so there is a shrewd suspition that under the name of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mary Magdala, they also cast reproach upon Mary Magdalen. The title which they gave their Mary, is so like this of ours, that you may with good reason doubt, whether she was called Magdalene from the Town Magdala, or from that word of the Talmudists 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Plaiter of hair. We leave it to the learned to decide.