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.

VERS. XI.

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

Having a spirit of infirmity.

I. THE Jews distinguish between Spirits, and Devils, and good Angels. i 1.1 All things do subserve to the Glory of the King of Kings the Holy blessed one 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 even Spirits 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, also Devils 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 also ministring Angels.

The difficulty is, in what sense they take spirits, as they are distinguisht from Angels and Devils, when it is probable they did not mean humane souls. But these things are not the business of this place.

II. Therefore as to this phrase in St. Luke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a spirit of infirmity. Let us begin our enquiry from this passage: k 1.2 It is written, if I put the plague of Leprosie in an house of the land of your inheritance. l 1.3 R. Judah saith, this foretells such plagues to come upon them. R. Simeon saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He excepts those violent plagues that do not render a man unclean. Where the Gloss is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If those plagues come by the insufflation of the Devil, which do not defile the man. And the Gemara a little after, Rabba saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 he excepts the plagues of spirits. Rabh Papa saith, he ex∣cepts the plagues of inchantments. Where the Gloss again hath it, Those plagues which are inflicted by the insufflation of the Devil, not by the hands of men.

1. You see therefore first, that it was a most received opinion amongst the Jews that diseases or plagues might be inflicted by the Devil. Which is plain also from the Evan∣gelists, because our Saviour in this very place tells us that the bowing together of this Woman, was inflicted upon her by Satan.

2. They conceived further that some diseases were inflicted that were unclean, and some that were not unclean. The unclean were the Leprosie, Issues, &c. Not unclean were such as this Woman's infirmity, &c.

III. They distinguish betwixt 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an evil spirit, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an unclean spirit. Not but they accounted an unclean spirit ill enough, and an evil spirit to be unclean enough, but that they might distinguish the various operations of the Devil, as also con∣cerning the various persons possest and afflicted by him.

1. They acknowledged that evil Spirits might inflict diseases. m 1.4 Whomsoever either the Gentiles, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 evil spirits drive [i. e. beyond the bounds of the Sabbath.] Where the Gloss is, The evil spirit is the Devil that hath entred into him, disturbs his in∣tellectuals, so that he is carried beyond the bounds. But Rambam saith, They call all kind of melancholy an evil spirit. And elsewhere 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 an evil spirit, i. e. a disease.

2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The unclean spirit, amongst them was chiefly and more peculiarly that Devil that haunted places of burial, and such like, that were most unclean. n 1.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The unclean spirit, i. e. the devil that haunts burying places. Thither the Necromancer betook himself (as the Gemara hath it, which I have also quoted in ano∣ther place) and when he had macerated himself with fasting, he lodgeth amongst the Tombs, to the end that he might be the more inspired by the unclean spirit. Nor is it much other∣wise (as they themselves relate it) with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Python, or prophesying spirit. For the Rabbins deliver 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Python is he that speaks be∣tween the parts. The Gloss is, He that raiseth a dead person, and sits between the parts of the bones, &c.

Hence that reason of our conjecture, concerning that demoniack, Luke IV. 33. that he was either a Necromancer, or Pythonist, taken from that unusual way expressing it which is there observable, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having an unclean spirit, nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having an unclean devil; but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, having a spirit of an unclean devil.

There were therefore two sorts of men, whom they accounted under the possession of an unclean spirit, in their proper sense so called. Those especially who sought and were ambitious to be inspired of the devil, amongst tombs and unclean places: And those also who being involuntarily possessed by the Devil, betook themselves amongst Tombs and such places of uncleanness, And whether they upon whom the Devil inflicted unclean diseases should be ranked in the same degree, I do not determine. There were others who were not acted by such diabolical furies, but afflicted with other kind of diseases whom they accounted under the operation 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of an evil spirit of disease or infir∣mity. Not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of uncleanness, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of infirmity. And perhaps the Evan∣gelist speaks according to this Antithesis: that this Woman had neither a spirit of un∣cleanness, according to what they judged of a spirit of uncleanness, nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a disease of uncleanness, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a spirit of infirmity.

Notes

• i 1.1

  Bemidb. rabb. fol. 157. 2. & Midras Schir. fol. 2. 3.
• k 1.2

  Horaioth, fol. 10. 1.
• l 1.3

  Levit. XIV. 34.
• m 1.4

  Erubhin, fol. 41. 2.
• n 1.5

  Gloss. in San∣hedr. fol. 65. 2.