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. ITUREA.

THE Reader must excuse me if I make a narrower search into the situation of Iturea, although Barradius may confidently enough have told him (upon his own trust meerly, as far as I can learn) That the Country is in the Tribe of Nepthali, at the foot of Mount Libanus. Perhaps he hath followed Borchard, who himself writes only upon the credit of Jacobus de Vitriaco: Scias regionem Decapolin quàm variè in Scripturis denominari, &c. You must know the Region of Decapolis hath several names in Scripture. Sometimes it is called Iturea, sometimes Trachonitis; sometimes the plain of Libanus, sometimes the Land of Moab: in one place Gabul, in another place Galilee of the Gentiles, and the upper Ga∣lilee; but every where it is all one and the same Country. Thus he confusedly enough.

a 1.1 Pliny places some Nation or other, called by the name of the Itureans, in Cyrristica of Syria: Et inde Cyrristica, &c. Next that is Cyrristica, the Irneates, the Gindarèni, the Gabeni, two Tetrarchies, which are called Granii Com••titae, the Emisenes, the Hylatae, a Na∣tion of the Itureans, and those of them also called the Betarreni, the Mariamitani, &c.

b 1.2 After Macra, is Marsyas, wherein are some hilly places, on one of which stands Chalcis a Garrison of Marsyas. The beginning of it is Laodicea, about Libanus. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ The Itureans and Arabs hold all the Mountanous places, a very mischievous sort of people, all of them.

c 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ David made war with the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Itureans, the Nabbathites and Nabdites, He had said before, That he had sub∣dued the Syrians dwelling by Euphrates and Commagene, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Assyrians and Phenicians that were in Galladene.

d 1.4 Secus Mare Galilaeae viam carpentes, &c. Taking the way by the Sea of Galilee, we entred Phenice, and leaving Paneas, which is Cesarea Philippi, on the right hand, we came to Iturea.

e 1.5 Rex pertransiens agrum Sydonensem, &c. The King passing through the Country of Si∣don, and going up some hilly places, which lay between ours and the enemies borders, he

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came to a place every way accomodated with all necessaries, a fruitful soil, and well watered; the name of it Messahara. Going thence into the Valley called Bacar, he found the Land which hath been said to flow with Milk and Honey. Some are of opinion, that this Country was of old called Iturea. But long before that, viz. in the days of the Kings of Israel, it was called the Grove of Libanus.

Where at length shall find this Iturea? Had Philip any part of his Tetrarchy within Cyrristica, Chalcidice of Syria? And yet, if you believe either Pliny or Strabo, there were the Itureans. I suspect there is something coucht in the Etymology of the word, that may as much puzzle as the situation of the place.

If Bacar, as it is described by Tyrius, be indeed Iturea, it may be derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hittur, which signifies wealth; or from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which denotes crowning, especially when the Country its self is crowned with so much plenty. It is a notion familiar enough a∣mongst the Talmudick Authors.

Indeed, if I could believe that Iturea were the same with Decapolis, then I would sup∣pose the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ten, might have been altered by the change of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Shin into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thau, ac∣cording to the Syriack manner; but I neither can believe that, nor have I ever met with such a change made in that word, but rather that it would go into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Samech.

May it not therefore be derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hitture, diggings; because of the Caves and hollows under-ground? So that the Iturei might signifie the same with Troglodyte, those that dwell in Caverns and holes. And so the Troglodytes which were on the North of Israel, are distinguisht from those that were on the South, viz. the Horites in Edom. Now that these Countries of which we are treating, were peculiarly noted for Caves and Dens; and they not only numerous, but some very strange and wonderful, Strabo, Jo∣sephus, Tyrius and others do abundantly testifie.

f 1.6 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. There are beyond Damascus two Mountains called Trachones. Afterward; Toward Arabia and Iturea, there are some cragged Hills, famous for large and deep Caves; one of which was capable of receiving four thousand men in it. But that was a prodigious Cave of Zedechiah's, whereever it was, that was XVIII. miles space; at least if those things be true which are related concern∣ing it g 1.7.

There was a Cave beyond Jordan, about XVI. miles from Tiberias, that was three stories high; had a lower, a middle, and an upper Dining-room h 1.8. Which indeed was fortified, and held a Garrison of Souldiers in it.

So that we may, not without reason, conjecture the Iturea of which we now speak, might be so called from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chitture, such kind of diggings under ground. And that Pliny and Strabo when the talk of the Nation of the Itureans in Cyrristica and Chalcis, do not place the Country of Iturea there; only hinted that the Troglodytes, who dwelt in Dens and Caves were there.

Iturea therefore, mentioned by our Evangelist was in the Country beyond Jordan, viz. Batanea, and Auranitis or Auranitis alone, as may appear out of Josephus, compared with this our Evangelist. For St. Luke saith, That Philip was Tetrarch of Iturea and Tracho∣nitis: Josephus, That he was Tetrarch of Trachonitis, Batanea, and Auranitis: Either therefore Auranitis and Batanea in Josephus, is the Iturea in St. Luke, or else Batanea in Josephus is confounded with Trachonitis mentioned in St. Luke, and Auranitis alone is Iturea. For that passage in Josephus i 1.9 ought to be taken notice of: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Caesar in∣vests Agrippa with the Tetrarchy that Philip had, and Batanea, adding moreover Trachoni∣tis with Abella. Where it is observable, that there is mention of the Tetrachy of Philip distinct from Batanea and Trachonitis; And what is that? certainly Auranitis in Jose∣phus, and perhaps Iturea in St. Luke.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Lib. 5. 23.
• b 1.2

  Strabo, lib. 16.
• c 1.3

  Eupolemus in Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. lib. 9. cap. 30.
• d 1.4

  Gal. Tyr. de bell. Sacro lib. 9. cap. 15.
• e 1.5

  Ibid. lib. 2••. cap. 11.
• f 1.6

  Strab. lib. 16.
• g 1.7

  Bemidbar rab. fol. 21 1. 2.
• h 1.8

  Gul. Tyr. lib. 22. 15.
• i 1.9

  Antiqu. lib. 20. cap. 5.