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. VI. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Region round about Iordan, Matth. III. 5.

HERE that of Borchard is not unuseful. b 1.1 Know, that from the rise of Jordan un∣der Libanus, unto the Desert of Pharan, almost an hundred miles, Jordan it self on both shores, hath spacious and pleasant fields, which are compassed behind with very high moun∣tains. The truth of which, if his Eyes had not experienced it, he might have learned from Josephus, who speaks thus.

c 1.2 Over Jericho hangs a mountain stretched forth Northward, even to the Country of Scytho∣polis; and Southward to the Country of Sodome, and the utmost borders of the Asphaltites. It is craggy, and not habitable by reason of barrenness. Against it runs out a mountain near Jordan, beginning at Julias, and the North Country, and stretched out Southward unto Go∣morrha, where it bounds the Rock of Arabia. The Middle between these two Mountanous Regions is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The great Plain, extended from the Town Ginnabri unto the Asphaltites: in length MCC furlongs, in breadth CXX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And it is cut in the middle by Jordan. The Plain of Jordan before the over∣throw of Sodome, &c. Gen. XIX. is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Country about it, in the LXX.

Those words teach, what is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Region about Jordan: and the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 All, added by the Evangelist, may perswade us, that the further side may also be taken in, especially if it be considered, how small a distance the River made. The space was so little, that, as the Gemarists relate, d 1.3 a fire kindled on one side reached over to the other. And they suppose, water on this side, might be spurted to the other, in that Caution; e 1.4 Let no man take the waters of purification, and the ashes of purification, and carry them beyond Jordan. Nor let him stand on this side, and spurt to the other.

However, The River was not so broad, but that two standing on each bank, might look upon one another, cast something over from the one side to the other, yea, and talk together. And then think, whether the Inhabitants of the further side resorted not to the Baptist, being so near him, and as it were within sight of him.

The Masters dispute, whether Jordan be to be esteemed, as the bounds of the Land of Israel, or as the Land it self: and the occasion of that dispute, ariseth from another question, namely this, The flock of one man is separated and divided into two parts, and those two parts feed in distant places: it is asked, Whether tithe is to be taken as of one flock, or two? Hence the discussion of the point glides to Jordan; one part of the flock is on this side Jordan, the other on the other. If Jordan be to be esteemed for the bounds of the Land, then one part is within the Land, the other without. But if it be to be reputed for the Land it self, then the business is otherwise. Among other things in this dispute,

f 1.5 Saith Rabbah Bar bar Channah, R. Jochanan saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jordan is not, but inwards from Jericho, and beneath it. You would think me more skil∣ful than a Diver, to fetch this secret from the bottom. Jordan is not Jordan above Jericho, is a paradox that vexes the Glossers themselves, much more therefore may it me. One understands the thing according to the bare letter; for he that voweth, saith he, that he will not drink of Jordan, may drink above Jericho. Another understands it of Jericho, as being a bounds, yea as the bounds named below Jericho only, Josh. XVIII. 20. We make no tarrying upon the business. But if Jordan had such a limitation, that Jordan was not above Jericho, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Region about Jordan, is to be under∣stood in the same limitation, namely, that it is only below Jericho. See the LXX on Gen. XIII. 10, 12.

The Masters sifting this business out of one scruple move another; for they speak these words, Jordan sloweth out of the Cave of Paneas, goes along by the Sibbechean Sea, by the Sea of Tiberias, by the Sea of Sodome, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And passeth on, and glides into the great Sea, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But Jordan is not but inwards from Jericho, and below it. Let any shew me where Jordan flows out of the Sea of Sodome into the Mediterranean. The River Shihor, carrying blackness in its name,

may be taken for it, if it be any other, but neither does this appear concerning it.

While you see multitudes gathered together to John, and gladly baptized in Jordan, without fear, without danger, alas! how much was Jordan changed from that Jordan in that story of Saligniac. Jordan, saith he, g 1.6 in which place Christ was baptized, is fa∣mous for a ruinous building. Here therefore all we Pilgrims went into the holy River, and washed our Bodies, and our Souls; those from silth, and these from sin, a matter of very great joy and health, had not an unhappy accident disturbed our joys. For a certain Physician a French man of our company, an honest man, going something farther into the River, was caught with a Crocodile (whether one should call it a Dragon, or a beast, it is uncertain) and swallowed him up, not without the common grief of our brethren.

The Wilderness also, where our Saviour underwent his forty days temptation, was on the same bank of Jordan where the baptism of John was, St. Luke witnessing it, that Jesus being now baptized 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, returned from Jordan, namely from the same Tract, whereby he came thither.

Notes

• b 1.1

  Borch. cap. 7. 26.
• c 1.2

  Jos. de bell. lib. 4. cap. 27.
• d 1.3

  Hieros. Bava Kama, fol. 5. 3.
• e 1.4

  Ba••. Jevamoth, fol. 116. 2.
• f 1.5

  Becoroth, fol. 55. 1.
• g 1.6

  Salign. Tom. IX. cap. 6.