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. The Talmudists measuring the bredth of the Land within Iordan.

THere was a Traditon and National Custom famous among them, concerning which we have mention somewhere, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 l 1.1 That a Vineyard of four years old should go up to Jerusalem in a days journey on every side. The sense of the Tradition is this; The second Tithes were either to be eaten at Jerusalem, or being sold at home, the mony was to be brought to Jerusalem, whence somethings were brought, that were eaten there. Now provision is made by this Ca∣non,

that the tithe of Vineyards which were within a Diet of the City should not be sold, but that they should be brought to Jerusalem, and eaten there.

But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 What are the bounds say they, of that days journey.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉:

Elath on the South. Acrabat on the North. Lydda on the West. Iordan on the East.

So both Mishnahs. But the Babylonian Gemara in the m 1.2 places noted in the margin reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Elath on the North, Acrabat on the South. By what reason, and in what sense these words agree, Commentators endeavour to resolve obscurely enough: but it is not of so much moment, to detain us.

Elath recals to my mind some things which are spoken by the Notitia of the Eastern Empire. Where, under the Disposition of the Honourable man the Duke of Palestine, is sub∣stituted among others, Praefectus Legionis Decim•• Fretensis Ailae, The Lieutenant of the Tenth Fretensian Legion at Aila. Where Pancirollus writes, that Aila was seated on the shore of the Red Sea. S. Hieron. upon Ezek. XLVII. writes thus, The tongue of the Red Sea, on the shore of which Aila is seated, where a Roman Legion and Garrison is now quar∣tered. And the same Father n 1.3 elsewhere, Aila, saith he, is in the utmost borders of Pa∣lestine, joyned to the South Desert, and the Red Sea, whence men sail out of Egypt into In∣dia, and thence into Egypt. And there also is a Roman Legion called Decima, The Tenth.

We dare not contradict so great an oracle, otherwise my thoughts would run back to this our Elath: and that upon this reason especially, because it seems somewhat hard, to substitute a Garrison at the Red Sea under the Duke of Palestine, when that was so far distant from Palestine, and since there was a Duke of Arabia (in which Elath at the Red Sea was) as well as of Palestine.

You see the Fathers of the Traditions measuring from Lydda by Jerusalem to Jordan in a double diary: but here also they leave us again at uncertainties of the bredth of the Land; because Lydda was not upon the utmost coast of the Land on that side. Un∣less perhaps you might say, that whatsoever space went between Lydda and the Sea, was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Region of the Sea, esteemed as Heathen Land; when Caphar Lodim, which was seated in that Interval, and not far from Lydda, was of no better o 1.4 account, Let us get therefore, if we can, more certain accounts, and more faithful direction.

Notes

• l 1.1

  Maasar Shen•• cap. 5. hal.
• m 1.2

  Berah, f. 5. 1. Rosh Hashanah, fol. 31. 2.
• n 1.3

  De loc. Hebr.
• o 1.4

  Gittin, cap. 1. hal. 1.