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.

CHAP. II. The Wilderness. Mark I. 4, 12.

I. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The wilderness, of different signification. II. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Wilderness of Iudah. III. A Scheme of Asphaltites, and the Wilder∣ness of Iudah, or of adjacent Idumea. IV. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Wil∣derness of Iudea, where Iohn the Baptist was. V. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Wild hony, Mark I. 6. V. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Region about Iordan. Mat. III. 5.

THE word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Wilderness, stops us in a Wilderness, if it is of so various, and doubtful signification.

I. Sometimes it denotes only the Fields, or the Country in opposition to the City: which we observed at Mat. III. 1. Where if any one be displeased, that I ren∣dred, Seah of the Wilderness, by the Country Seah, when it might be rendred, and per∣haps ought, the Seah which the Israelites used, when they encamped in the Wilder∣ness, let him, if he please, take another example for it.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 1.1 They do not water, and kill the Cattle of the wil∣derness. The Gloss is, It was usual to water Cattel before killing them, that they might the more easily be stayed. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 But they water domestic (or tame) Cat∣tel. And these are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cattel of the Wilderness, Those that go out to pasture in time of the Passover, and return home at the first rain, that is, in the Month Marheshvan. Rabba saith, These are Cattel of the Wildernes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 namely, all that feed in the meddows and come not home. The Gloss is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Cattel of the Wilder∣ness are those that are abroad in the fields.

II. The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The wilderness, denotes a Campain Country, where one mans ground is not distinguished by fences from anothers.

b 1.2 They do not breed up smaller cattel in the Land of Israel, but in Syria they do. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and in the Wildernesses of the Land of Israel. Where the Gloss thus, They do not breed such cattel in the Land of Israel, that they feed not down the fields: now the fields in the Land of Israel do belong without doubt to some Israelite. But they fed in the deserts, that is, where field was not distinguished from field, but all was common. Hence you may understand what is signified by the Desert of Ziph, of Maon, of Tekoah, &c. name∣ly, a Region, or Country, near to Cities, where also were scattered houses; but espe∣cially, either Champaign, where no fences were to make distinction of Lands, or Moun∣tainous, and that which was barren and without improvement.

III. There is no need to speak of the deserts that were altogether desolate, and with∣out inhabitant, such as the Deserts of Arabia, of Lybia, &c.

SECT. II. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Wilderness of Iudah.

PErhaps I shall be laughed at, if I distinguish between the Wilderness of Judah, and the Wilderness of Judea. And formerly such a distinction did deserve laughter; but when the name of Idumea, as I have shewed, swallowed up a great part of Judea, then it was not only to be born with, but necessary also, to distinguish between the Wilder∣ness of Judah, of which Josh. XV. 61. and the Title of Psal. LXIII. and the Wilderness of Judea where John Baptized.

The Title of that Psalm in the original Hebrew is thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Psalm of David when he was in the desert of Judah. But the Greek Interpreters render it, A Psalm of David when he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in the wilderness of Idumea. And the Vulgar, A Psalm of David when he was in the desert of Idumea: acting the part of no good Interpreters, but of no ill Paraphrasts. So Jer. IX. 26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Upon Idumea, and upon Edom.

If you ask where David was when he composed that Psalm, it is answered, 1 Sam. XXIV. 1. In the wilderness of Eugaddi: and if you search further for the precise place, it was there where the Castel Masada was afterwards built. For I doubt not at all, that that place, as c 1.3 Josephus describes it, was the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Rocks of the wild Goats.

I appeal here to the Maps and their Authors, in whom Engedi and Masada (and Lots Cave) are placed not very far from the utmost North coast of Asphaltites; let them say whether Idumea stretched out it self so far. If not, let them correct the Interpreters whom we have named; and though it be so, they might shew by what authority they place those places there, and let them friendly correct me putting them far elswhere.

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 1.4 Bereshith Rabba, and the e 1.5 Jerusalem Talmudists, in the places cited at the Margent.

You have the situation of it in Pliny on the same coast, with Macherus. f 1.6 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 1.7 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 1.8

V. i 1.9 The border of Judea, saith Solinus, was the Castle Masada. And that not far from Asphaltites l 1.10

m 1.11 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 1.12 Callirrhoe is a fountain very neer Jerusalem, when yet how far off was it? And in Strabo, o 1.13 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 1.14 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.

SECT. IV. The Wilderness of Iudea, where Iohn Baptist was.

THUS far we have lanched out into the Wilderness of Judah, or Idumea, and that the more willingly, because in describing it, I have described also some part of new Idumea, of which discourse was had in the Chapter aforegoing. Now we seek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Wilderness of Judea, concerning which the Gospels speak in the History of the Baptist.

I. And first we cannot pass it over without observation, that it was not only without Prophetical prediction, that he first appeared Preaching in the Wilderness, Isa. XL. 3. but it was not without a mystery also. For when the Heathen world is very frequently in the Prophets called the Wilderness, and God promiseth that he would do glorious things to that Wilderness, that he would produce there Pools of waters, that he would bring in there all manner of fruitfulness, and that he would turn the horrid desert into the plea∣sure of a Paradice (all which were to be performed in a spiritual sense by the Gospel) it excellently suited even in the letter with these promises, that the Gospel should take its beginning in the Wilderness.

II. I indeed think the Baptist was born in Hebron, a City of Aaron, in the Hill-Coun∣try of Judea, Josh. XXI. 11. Luk. I. 5, 39. he being an Aaronite by Father and Mother. The house of his Cradle is shewn to Travellers elswhere, concerning which enquire whe∣ther Beth Zachariah, mentioned in q 1.15 Josephus, and the Book of the r 1.16 Maccabees, afforded not a foundation to that Tradition. It was distant from Bethsura only seventy furlongs or thereabouts, as may be gathered from the same Josephus, (by which word the Seventy

render South Bethel in 1 Sam. XXX. 27.) and whether the situation does not agree, let them enquire who please.

A little Cell of his is also shewed further in the Wilderness, as it is called, of Judea, cut out of a rock, together with his bed, and a fountain running by, which we leave to such as are easie of belief; the Wilderness certainly where he preached and baptized is to be sought for far elswhere.

III. Luke saith, That the word of the Lord came to John in the Wilderness, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and he went into all the Country about Jordan. He sojourned from Wilderness to Wilderness. In the Wilderness in the Hill-country of Judea, he passed his youth as a private man; not as an Eremite, but employed in some work or study; and assumed nothing of austerity, besides Nazariteship, before the thirtieth year of his age. Then the spirit of Prophesie came upon him, and the word of the Lord came unto him, teaching him concerning his function and office, instructing him about his food and cloth∣ing, and directing him to the place where he should begin his Ministry.

The region about Jericho was that place, or that Country that lay betwixt that City and Jordan, and so on this side of it and on that about the same space; also on this side Jeri∣cho towards Jerusalem. A Country very agreeable to the title which the Evangelists give it, and very fit for John's Ministry. For,

I. It was sufficiently desert, according to what is said, John came preaching in the Wilderness.

s 1.17 The space, saith Josephus, from Jericho to Jerusalem, is desert and rocky; but towards Jordan and the Asphaltites more level, but as desert and barren. And Saligniac writes, t 1.18 The journey from Jerusalem is very difficult, stony and very rough; the like to which I do not re∣member I have seen. Jericho is distant from Jordan almost ten miles, &c.

II. This Country might for distinction be called the Wilderness of Judea, because other Regions of Judea had other names: as The Kings Mountain, The Plain of the South, The Plain of Lydda, The Valley from Engedi, The Region about Betharon, u 1.19 &c.

III. Although that Country were so desert, yet it abounded very much with people. For besides that abundance of Villages were scattered here and there in it, 1. Jericho it self was the next City to Jerusalem in dignity. 2. There were always twelve thousand men in it, of the courses of the Priests. 3. That way was daily trodden by a very numerous multitude, partly of such, who travailed between those Cities, partly of such, who went out of other Parts of Judea, and likewise out of the Land of Ephraim into Perea, and of them who went out of Perea into those Countries. 4. John began his Ministry about the time of the Passover, when a far greater company flocked that way.

IV. This Country was very convenient for food and provision, in regard of its Wild Hony; of which let me say a few things.

SECT. V. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Wild Hony, Mark I. 6.

WHEN it is so often repeated in the Holy Scripture, that God gave to his people Israel a Land flowing with Milk and Hony, hence 1. One would conclude that the whole Land flowed with it. And 2. hence one would expect infinite hives of Bees. But hear what the Talmudists say of these things.

x 1.20 R. Jonah saith, The Land flowing with Milk and Hony is the Land, some part of which flows with Milk and Hony. And that part, they say, is in Galilee; for thus they speak, For sixteen miles every way from Zippor is a Land flowing with Milk and Hony: of which thing and Country we shall speak elsewhere.

y 1.21 R. Jose of Galilee saith, They bring not the first fruits out of the Country which is beyond Jordan, because that is not the Land flowing with Milk and Hony. And he that brought the first fruits was to say, The Lord gave us this Land flowing with Milk and Hony; And now I have brought the first fruits of the Land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. Deut. XXVI. 9, 10.

But that part that flowed, how did it flow with Hony? Learn that from Ramban up∣on the place: When he saith, And Hony, he understands 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Hony of Palms. For the Palm Trees which are in the Plain and in the Vallies abound very much with Hony.

There was Hony also distilling from the Fig-trees. z 1.22 R. Jacob ben 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Dositheus saith, I went on a certain time from Lydda to Ono before day break, up to the ankles in the Hny of Figs.

This is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The wild Hony, of which the Evangelists speak, as of the Baptists food. And how convenient for this the Region about Jericho was, which was

called The Country of Palm-trees, is clear to every Eye. Diodorus Siculus hath these words of a certain Nation of Arabians; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ a 1.23 They have Pepper from the Trees, and much Hony, called wild Hony, which they use to drink with water. Whether it were also as plentiful in Locusts, we do not say; certainly in this also it gave place to no Country, if either barrenness or fruitfulness served for the breeding them: for Jericho, and the adjacent parts was like, a garden of pleasure, in the midst of a Desert. Certain∣ly the place was very convenient for that great Work to be performed by the Baptist, that is, Baptizing in Jordan.

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 1.24 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 1.25 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 1.26 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 1.27 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 1.28 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 1.29 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

• a 1.1

  Schab. fol. 45. 2. & Be∣zah, fol. 40. 1.
• b 1.2

  Bava Kama, fol. 79. 2.
• c 1.3

  De Bell. lib. 7. cap. 13.
• d 1.4

  Sect. 37.
• e 1.5

  Megill. fol. 71. 2.
• f 1.6

  Nat. Hist. lib. 5. cap. 16.
• g 1.7

  De Bell. lib 4. cap. 27.
• h 1.8

  Bereshith Rabba, Sect. 26.
• i 1.9

  Solin. cap. 38.
• l 1.10

  Plin. lib. 5. cap. 17.
• m 1.11

  De Bell. lib. 4. cap. 24.
• n 1.12

  Solin. in the place above.
• o 1.13

  Geograph. lib. 8.
• p 1.14

  Antiq. lib. 6. cap. 14.
• q 1.15

  Antiq. lib. 12. cap. 14.
• r 1.16

  1 Mac. VI. 33.
• s 1.17

  De bello, lib 4 cap. 27.
• t 1.18

  To••. IX. cap. 5.
• u 1.19

  Hieros. She∣viith, fol. 38. 4.
• x 1.20

  Hieros. Bic∣curim, fol. 64. ••
• y 1.21

  Biccurim, cap. 1. hal. 15.
• z 1.22

  Chetub. fol. 111. 2.
• a 1.23

  Diod. Sic. lib. 19.
• b 1.24

  Borch. cap. 7. 26.
• c 1.25

  Jos. de bell. lib. 4. cap. 27.
• d 1.26

  Hieros. Bava Kama, fol. 5. 3.
• e 1.27

  Ba••. Jevamoth, fol. 116. 2.
• f 1.28

  Becoroth, fol. 55. 1.
• g 1.29

  Salign. Tom. IX. cap. 6.