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. XXIII.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉;

Are there few that be saved?

THIS question, Lord are there few that be saved? when it was a received opinion amongst the Jews, that all Israel should have their part in the world to come, makes it doubtful, whether it was propounded captiously, or meerly for satisfaction.

This very matter is disputed amongst the Doctors. r 1.1 Therefore hell hath enlarged her self, and opened her mouth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 beyond the statute. s 1.2 Resh Lachish saith, this is for him who forsaketh one statute. (The Gloss is, He that leaves one statute unobserved, shall be condemned in hell.) But R. Johanan saith, Their Lord will not have it so as thou sayest concerning them. (The Gloss is, He will not have thee judge so concerning Israel.) For the sense is, Although a man have not learnt but one statute only, he shall escape Hell. It is said, t 1.3 It shall come to pass that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts of it shall be cut off, and dye, and the third part shall be left. Resh Lachish saith, The third part of Shem. R. Johanan saith unto him, Their Lord will not have it so as thou saist concerning them, for it is the third part of Noah. It is said, u 1.4 I will take you, one of a City and two of a Tribe▪ Resh Lachish saith, These words are to be understood in the very letter. R. Johanan saith unto him, Their Lord will not have it so as thou sayest concerning them, but one of a City shall expiate for the whole City, and two of a family for the whole family. It is said, I will take them for my people, and it is said, I will bring you into the land. He compares their going out of the land of Egypt, with their coming in to their own land: Now how was their coming in into the land of Canaan? There were only two persons of threescore Myriads that entred in. Rabba saith, So also shall it be in the days of the Messiah. A man would hardly have expected such ingenuity from a Jew, as we here meet with in Resh Lachish and Rabba.

Notes

• r 1.1

  Sanhedr. fol. 111. 1.
• s 1.2

  Isa. V. 14.
• t 1.3

  Zechar. XIII. 8.
• u 1.4

  Jerem. III. 14.