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. III. NAIN. Luk. VII. 11.

I. Concerning Naim near Tabor, shewn to strangers. II. Concerning Nain in Iosephus and the Rabbins. III. The Greek Version of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Eugannim.

SECT. I. Concerning Naim near Tabor, shewn to strangers.

IN the Alexandrian Copy 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ijon is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nain, 1 Kings XV. 20. In the Roman, it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain. So Hazar-Enan Numb. XXXIV. 9. in the Roman Copy is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Arsenain, in the Alexandrian, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Asernain; neither of them agrees with our Nain. For it is very absurd to conceive that our Saviour ever was at Hazar-Enan the ut∣most borders of the Land toward Syria; nor can we suppose him in Ijon, that seeming to be according to the order of the places as they are ranked in the Text above quoted, either beyond Dan, or in the extreamest borders of the Land on that side.

As to our Nain, Borchard saith thus, A Nazareth duabus leucis, &c. Two leagues from Nazareth, not much above one from Mount Tabor, Southward is Mount Hermon the less, on the North side of which is the City Nain; at whose Gates Jesus recovered a Wi∣dows Son from death, as we read, Luke VII. So also Breidenbach: So some Tables as to the situation of Hermon near Tabor, and the situation of Naim near Hermon.

I am well enough satisfied that they should place Naim in the Tribe of Issachar, if there be no mistake among them as to Mount Tabor. For whereas Tabor is indeed the very utmost border of Issachar, Northward, Jos. XIX. 22. a 1.1 It must needs be that what is beyond that, Southward, a league or two, should be reckoned within that Tribe. But I much suspect the Tabor mentioned by them, and that which is now shewn to Travellers, is not the true Tabor: nor do I much question but that Hermon of which they talk, is made out of a mistake, and misconstruction of Psal. LXXXIX. 12. Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name. My scruple as to Mount Tabor, ariseth hence; because

that Tabor which is shewn to strangers, as our Country-man Biddulph, and another ac∣quaintance of mine own, who were on the top of it, do describe it, does not at all agree with the description Josephus gives us of the true Mount Tabor. Our Country∣man tells us, It is an hill not very steep, nor very high, nor very large; but a round beauti∣ful hill, &c. On the contrary, * 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Mount Tabor is in height thirty furlongs, very difficult of ascent on the North-side; the top is a great plain of about six and twenty furlongs.

The Persian Interpreter instead of Nain hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nabelis, that is, Neapolis, which is also Sychem: but for what reason I know not. Nor do I suppose that it was conceived by any one Expositor, that the Widow's Son whom Christ raised from death, was a Samaritan; he was indeed upon the borders of Samaria, but at a great distance from Sychar.

SECT. II. Concerning the Nain in Iosephus and the Rabbins.

THE a 1.3 Darshanim (Expositors) upon Beresh. rabb. speak of a certain place called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Naim, upon this occasion. Issachar is a bony (or strong) Ass, [Gen. XLIX. 14.] It is spoken of Issachar's Country. For as an Ass is low before and behind, and high in the middle; so is it in the Tribe of Issachar; it is a Valley here and a Valley there, and hilly otherwhere; it couches between two borders. These are the two valleys, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Valley of Pislan, and the Valley of Jezreel. And he saw that rest was good, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 this is Tinaam: And the Land, that it was pleasant 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 this is Naim.

We have here by the way a tast of those allegorical and far-fetcht ways of expound∣ing the Scriptures, wherein these egregious Commentators do so much please and value themselves. However, we are thus sar beholding to them, that they have given us to understand, that there was a Naim in the Tribe of Issachar, called so from the pleasant∣ness of its situation (as indeed Tinaam bears the same derivation) which we have some reason to judge was the same Naim with ours in the Evangelist, and that in Josephus.

b 1.4 It was usual for the Galileans, coming up to the holy City to the Feasts, to take their journey through the Samaritans Country, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And then their way lay through a Town called Nais. (I confess the Greek expressions are something perplext; but it is no great matter.) It happened that some of the Samaritans and inhabitants of the great plain, fought with them, and killed a great number.

You may think he repeats the very same Story, though differing in some circumstan∣ces c 1.5. There was another fight betwixt the Galileans and Samaritans; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. ••or hard by a Town called Gema situated in the great plain of Samaria, multitudes of Jews going up to the Feast there was a certain Galilean slain.

It is not much worth our examining whether they be one and the same story with the other, or whether this Gema be the same Town with Nain; but this we may gather hence, that Nain was in the extreme borders of Issachar, touching upon the Samaritan Country, and Gema in the extreme borders of Samaria that were next adjoining to Issa∣char. And when the Galileans went down from Nain, a Town in Issachar, into the great plain of Samaria, the first Town in their way is Gema, there the enemy meets and fights them: if at least Gema and Nain be not one and the same place.

SECT. III. ENGANNIM.

THere is a great inclination in me to believe, that Naim is the same with Engannim, mentioned Josh. XIX. 21. and Chap. XXI. 29. For, I. Both of them were with∣in the Tribe of Issachar; Engannim, as the H. Scriptures, and Naim as the Jewish Do∣ctors tell us; and why we should not take their word in such a thing as this, I know no reason. II. Both of them signifie pleasantness: Naim in the very Etymon implies plea∣santness: and Engannim, a Fountain and Gardens. III. The Engannim mentioned Jos. XXI. 29. in 1 Chron. VI. 73. is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Anem. Now if you transpose the Letters (as is done in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) it will be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Naim. IV. Let me add, That Engannim (if there be any credit to those guides, that commonly shew these places to Travellers) lies di∣rectly in the way, going from Galilee to Jerusalem; and so, as is very evident, was our Naim. Of this place, thus our Country-man Biddulph: a Town, commonly called Je∣nine, of old Engannim: exceedingly pleasant, abounding with waters and gardens, and delightsome walks.

Why the LXX should render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Engannim by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a fountain of letters, Jos. XXI. 29. let those that are more learned search out. It is true the Children of Issachar are celebrated for their skill in computing the times, 1 Chron. XII. 32. where the Targumist; They were skilled in calculating the beginnings of the Years, the Calends of the Months, and the intercalation both of Years and Months 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 So∣phists [skilful] in new Moons 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Astrologers [conversant] about Planets and Stars, &c.

If we would include the Levites that dwelt amongst the Tribe of Issachar, under the general name of Issachar, then might Engannim (being a Levitical City) be an Academy for that kind of Mathematical learning; but in both we are very uncertain. Nor is it less obscure that the same Greek Interpreter hath instead of Remeth, Engannim, Enhad∣dah, and Bethpazes rendered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Rem∣mas, and Jeon, and Tomman, and Aemerec, and Bersaphes, Jos. XIX. 21.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Joseph. Antiq. lib. 5. cap. 1.
• * 1.2

  Joseph. de excid. lib. 4. cap. 16.
• a 1.3

  Sect. 98.
• b 1.4

  Antiqu. lib. 20. cap. 5.
• c 1.5

  In Lib. 2. de excid. cap. 21.