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. IV.

VERS. I.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

He began to teach.

THAT is, he taught, by a Phrase very usual to these holy writers, because very usual to the Nation. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a 1.1 Rabh Canah began to be tedious in his oration; that is, He was tedious 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 b 1.2 That Scholar began to weep, that is, He wept. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 c 1.3 The Ox began to low, that is, He low∣ed. When the Tyrants letter was brought to the Rabbins 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they began to weep, d 1.4 that is, They wept.

This our Evangelist useth also another word, and that numberless times almost: the others also use it, but not so frequently: namely, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, presently; which answereth to the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Out of hand, most common among the Talmudists. We meet with it in this our Evangelist seven or eight times in the first Chapter, and else∣where very frequently: and that not seldom according to the custom of the Idiom, more than out of any necessity of the thing signified.

VERS. IV.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

And some fell.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 e 1.5 According to what falls. The Gloss there, According to the measure which one sows. And there the Gemarists speak of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seed falling out of the hand: that is, that is cast out of the hand of the sower: and of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seed falling from the Oxen: that is, that which is scattered and sown by the sowing Oxen. For, as the Gloss speaks, sometimes they sow with the hand, and sometimes they put the seed into a cart full of holes, and drive the Oxen upon the plowed earth, and the seed falls through the holes.

VERS. V.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Because it had not depth of earth.

FOR it was rocky, whose turf nevertheless was thick enough, and very fruitful. But this ground which the parable supposeth, wanted that thickness. f 1.6 You have not a more fruitful land among all lands, than the land of Egypt: nor a more fruitful Country in Egypt, than Zoan. And yet Hebron, which was rocky, exceeded it sevenfold. Note that, It was rocky, and yet so fruitful.

VERS. VII.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Upon thorns.

THE Parable supposeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A field not freed from thorns. g 1.7

VERS. XI.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

To them that are without.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without in Jewish speech were the Gentiles; a phrase taken hence, that they called all Lands and Countries, besides their own 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Without the land. Would you have an exact instance of this distinction. h 1.8 A tree, half of which grows with∣in the land of Israel, and half without the land, the fruits of it which are to be tithed, and the common fruits are confounded. They are the words of Rabba. But Rabban Simeon Ben Gamaliel saith, That part which grows within the place, that is bound to tithing (that is, within the land of Israel) is to be tithed: that which grows in the place free from tithing (that is, without the land) is free. The Gloss is, For if the roots of the tree are without the land, it is free, although the tree it self extends it self sixteen cubits within the land.

Hence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Books 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that are without, are Heathen Books. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Extraneous books of Greek wisdom. i 1.9

This is the common signification of the phrase. And certainly it foretels dreadful things, when our blessed Saviour stigmatizeth the Jewish Nation with that very name, that they were wont to call the Heathens by.

The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without, occurs also in the Talmudists, when it signifies the Jews themselves, that is some of the Jewish Nation. l 1.10 Here 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Karaites, who rejected Traditions; there 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those without, are opposed to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The wise Men. He that puts his Phylacteries on his forehead, or in the Palm of his hand 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Behold! he follows the custom of the Karaites. And he that overlays one of them with gold, and puts it upon his garment, which is at his hand, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be∣hold! he follows the custom of those that are without. Where the Gloss, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 are men, who follow their own will, and not the judgment of the wise Men. They are supposed to wear Phylacteries, and to be Jews; but when they do according to their pleasure, and de∣spise the rules of the wise Men, they are esteemed as Those that are without, or Heathens. So was the whole Jewish Nation according to Christs censure, which despised the Evange∣lical Wisdom.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

All things are done in Parables.

• ...

  I. How much is the Jewish Nation deceived concerning the times of the Messias? They think his forerunner Elias will explain all difficulties, resolve scruples, and will render all things plain; so that when the Messias shall come after him, there shall be no∣thing obscure or dark in the Law and in Religion. Hence these expressions and the like to them. m 1.11 One found a bill of contracts in his keeping, and knew not what it meant. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Let it be laid up till Elias shall come. And more in the same Tract concerning things found, when it is not known to whom they are to be restored, Let them be laid up till Elias come. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 n 1.12 That passage Ezek. XLV. 18, 19. Where 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A burnt offering is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A sacrifice for sin, Elias will unfold. Infi∣nite examples of that sort occur.

  But alas! thou art deceived, O Jew! all things are made clear which make to eter∣nal Saluation, Elias and Messias, John and Christ preaching the Gospel, when they came; but they are obscure to you, both by reason of your voluntary blindness, who have shut your eyes and your mind against the saving Doctrine of the Gospel; and from the just judgment of the Messias, who justly preached in clouds and in covered expressions to them, who would not see the Sun, and the open light.

• II. How those words have wracked Interpreters, Is a Candle put under a bushel? &c. And, There is nothing hidden, &c. You see also without a Candle. A very easie sense of them is gathered from the context. When Christ speaks in Parables, A light is put under a b••shel. But the light, saith he, is not come for this end, that it should be so hidden; nor indeed were it sit so to hide it, but that the Divine Justice would have it so, that they who will not see the light, should not enjoy the light. But There is nothing hid which shall not be made manifest by the brightness of the Doctrine of the Gospel, so there be Eyes, that do not refuse the light, nor voluntarily become purblind. Therefore take you heed how you hear, lest ye be like them, and Divine Justice meet to you by the same measure, as is measured to them, namely, that they shall never hear, because they will not hear.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Hieros. San∣hed. fol. 18. 3.
• b 1.2

  Ibid. f. 23. 3.
• c 1.3

  Berish. rabb. §. 33.
• d 1.4

  Ibid. §. 64.
• e 1.5

  Rava Mezia, fol. 105.
• f 1.6

  Setah, fol. 34. 2 & Chetub. 112. 1
• g 1.7

  See Sheviith, cap. 4. hal. 2.
• h 1.8

  Bava Bathra, fol. 27. 2.
• i 1.9

  Aruch in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• l 1.10

  Megill. fol 24 2.
• m 1.11

  Bav. Mezin, cap. 1. hal. ult.
• n 1.12

  Menacoth, fol. 45. 1.