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.

SECT. III. A Scheme of Asphaltites, and of the Wilderness of Judah, or Idumea adjacent.

[illustration]

WE are now indeed out of our bounds (but we hope not out of the bounds of truth.) Therefore in one or two words we thus confirm the situation that we have assigned to these places.

I. In Gen. X. 19. Gaza and Sodom are made to lye in a parallel line.

II. Lasha is Callirrhoe. So Jonathan renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Unto Lasha: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Unto Callir∣rhoe. So also d 1.1 Bereshith Rabba, and the e 1.2 Jerusalem Talmudists, in the places cited at the Margent.

You have the situation of it in Pliny on the same coast, with Macherus. f 1.3 Arabia of the Nomades looks upon Asphaltites on the East, Macherus on the South. On the same side is Callirrhoe a warm spring of a medicinal wholsomness.

And now let it be observed from the place alledged out of Genesis, that after the same manner, as Sidon and Gaza, the limits on the West part are placed, so are Sodom and Lasha seated on the East, one on the South, and the other on the North; and the other Cities stood in this order: From Lasha Southward Zeboim, after it Admah, after it Go∣morrha, and after it on the utmost Southern coast, Sodom.

III. g 1.4 The Asphaltites, saith Josephus, is extended in length, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unto Zoar of Arabia; and Deut. XXXIV. 3. Moses from Mount Nebo beheld Zoar from the utmost bounds of the land on that side, as he had beheld the utmost bounds of it from other sides.

IV. Engedi is Hazezon Tamar; so the Targum, Onkelos in Gen. XIV. 7. See 2 Chron. XX. 2. and Tamar was the utmost South border. Ezek. XLVII▪ 19▪ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 h 1.5

V. i 1.6 The border of Judea, saith Solinus, was the Castle Masada. And that not far from Asphaltites l 1.7

m 1.8 Josephus indeed saith, that this Castle was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not far from Jerusa∣lem; which seems to thwart me in placing it as I have done. But besides, that we might contend about that reading, when it is very usual with Historians to use the words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not far off, and near, in a very wide and loose sense, one can hardly build any thing upon this. So Solinus, n 1.9 Callirrhoe is a fountain very neer Jerusalem, when yet how far off was it? And in Strabo, o 1.10 Lecheus is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, A Port neer Italy, when yet it was distant many hundreds of miles.

Masada in Hebrew is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Matsada, which implies fortification: and that with good reason, when that Castle was fortified even to a miracle. The name is taken from 1 Sam. XXIII. 14▪ & 24. where the Seventy, the Syriack and Arabick seem to have read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Resh, and not with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Daleth. For they read in the former place 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the strait places: and in the latter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Maserem, (otherwise 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Masereth) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the strait places. The Syriack and Arabick read Masroth; as though they had read in the Original 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 So p 1.11 Josephus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. He (David) with those that were with him went up to the strait place of Mastheri.

Notes

• d 1.1

  Sect. 37.
• e 1.2

  Megill. fol. 71. 2.
• f 1.3

  Nat. Hist. lib. 5. cap. 16.
• g 1.4

  De Bell. lib 4. cap. 27.
• h 1.5

  Bereshith Rabba, Sect. 26.
• i 1.6

  Solin. cap. 38.
• l 1.7

  Plin. lib. 5. cap. 17.
• m 1.8

  De Bell. lib. 4. cap. 24.
• n 1.9

  Solin. in the place above.
• o 1.10

  Geograph. lib. 8.
• p 1.11

  Antiq. lib. 6. cap. 14.