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. SAREPTA.

I. Zarephath, Obad. ver. 20. where. II. Sepharad. where. III. The situation of Sarepta.

SECT. I. Zarephath. Obad. vers. 20. where.

SAREPTA in the Story of Elijah, 1 King. XVII. is written in Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tzarephath, and with the same Letters in Obad vers. 20. and therefore it may be reasonably enquired whether it be one and the same place. Indeed, there would hardly be any doubt in it, but that the Jews ordinarily by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 understand France, and by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sepharad, which by the Prophet is used in the very same verse, Spain. The words of the Prophet are very variously rendered, and yet in all that variety, nothing hinders but that Zarephath there may be understood of the Zarephath mentioned in the Kings. For, whether the passage concern the Captivity's being detained in Zarephath, or the Captivity's possessing the Land to Zarephath (for in that variety chiefly, the words are expounded) in either sense, it may well enough be, that the Sarepta that belongs to Zidon, may be the scene of the affair. As to the former, if we compare but that passage concerning Tyre, the Sister of Sidon, Amos I. 9. and withal the potency and dominion of the Sidonians, it may not be improbable but that the Israelites might be captived in Sarepta of Sidon. And as to the latter, whereas in the vers. immediately before, the discourse is of the possession of the Mount of Esau, of the Fields of Ephraim, Samaria, and Gilead, and then there is mention of possessing the Land of Canaan, as far as Zare∣phath; who would seek Zarephath in France, and not in some neighbouring place, ac∣cording to all the rest of the places their named, which were all very near. Let me add moreover, that whereas there is mention of possessing the Land of the Canaanites even unto Zarephath, the Greek Interpreters will tell you who those Canaanites were, that are distinguisht from the rest of the Nations in the Land of Canaan, viz. the Phe∣nicians, Josh. V. 1. And by the Kings of the Hittites mentioned 1 Kings X. 29. and 2 Kings VII. 6. I would likewise suppose the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Phenician Kings.

SECT. II. SEPHARAD. Where.

THE Italian Interpreter for Sepharad, retains Zarphath: For so he, Et i transferiti de questo esercito de figlioli de Israel, che sono de Chenahanei, in fino a Zarphath, & i transferiti di Jerusalem, che Sono in Zarphath, &c. Whether too warily, or too un∣warily he hath thus done, let him look to that himself.

The Greek hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ephratha, with which the Arabian Interpreter agrees. But the Syriack with the Targumist, Spain. The vulgar, Bosphorus, confusedly, besides that it makes the preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a radical Letter: And yet Nobilius hath this passage. St. Je∣rom tells us, the other Interpreters agreed with the Hebrew word Sepharad, which he ren∣dered Bosphorus. If he means that all agreed in acknowledging the word Sepharad, he tells us no news: but who agreed with his word Bosphorus?

I must confess, Sepharad is not a place so obvious as Zarephath, nor can any thing be offered in it, but conjecture only: and if I might be allowed my guess; I would look for Sepharad in Edom, rather than in Spain: and that because Obadiah prophesies against the Edomites, properly so called. Whereas therefore he tells us, That the Captivity of Israel in Sarepta of the Phenicians shall possess the Land of the Canaanities: It is pro∣bable he means by the Captivity in Sepharad, those Captives in Edom, who shall pos∣sess the Cities of the South. The Zarphathani, or Sareptani were of the North, the Sepharadeni of the South: amongst the a 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Whom you may rightly call the Troglodyte Arabs, saith Strabo, b 1.2 That is, probably the Horims in Mount Seir; for I suspect Horim, by ill use, might form it self into Eremb.

If we consider that the Jews do generally by Edom, understand the Roman Empire, and indeed all the Christian Nations in the West, we shall easily perceive why they fix these places Zarephath, and Sepharad so far from Palestine. For Obadiah prophesying against the Edomites, properly so called, the Jews change the scene and persons, ac∣cording to the vulgar construction of Edom, which they had received amongst them∣selves.

SECT. III. The situation of Sarepta.

a 1.3 INDE [à Tyro] Euhydra, ac Sarepta, & Ornithon oppida▪ Et Sidon artifex vitri•• Thebarumque Baeotiarum parens. From Tyre is Euhydra, and Sarepta, and Ornithon, certain Towns so called: Sidon where Glass is made, and from whence sprung the Beoti∣an Thebes.

Borchard. A Tyro ad tres leucas admodum breves, &c. About three very short leagues from Tyre, the River Eleutherus runs into the Sea; About two leagues from that River is Sarepta: About two leagues from Sarepta is Sidon. Sarepta at this time doth not consist of above eight Houses, though the ruines do still say it was once a brave Town.

Some would have Zarephath signifie as much as a place of melting; from boiling and melting metals, but especially Glass.

b 1.4 Between Acon and Tyre there is a shoare all spread over with little hillocks of sand; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that bears a glassey sand: the Glass indeed is not cast here, but be∣ing carried to Sidon, there it is made fusile, &c.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Hom. Odyss. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  Strab. lib. 1.
• a 1.3

  Plin. lib. 5. cap. 19.
• b 1.4

  Strabo, lib. 16.