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. XXV.

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

When the heavens were shut up three years and six months.

THIS number of three years and six months is much used both in the Holy Scriptures, and in Jewish Writings; concerning which, we have more largely discoursed in another place. And although both in the one and the other, it is not seldom used allu∣sively only, yet in this place I can see nothing hinder why it should not be taken accor∣ding to the letter in its proper number, however indeed there will be no small diffi∣culty to reduce it to its just account. That there was no rain for three years together is evident enough from 1 Kings XVII. &c. But whence comes this addition of six months?

Elijah said to Ahab, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If there shall be these years. These words include three years at the least, because he saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Years, in the plural, and not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Years, in the Dual.

And Chap. XVIII. The word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go shew thy self unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. In the third year, where then shall we find the six Months?

I. Doubtless both our Saviour, and his Apostle St. James, Chap. V. vers. 17. in adding six months, do speak according to the known and received opinion of that Nation; which is also done elsewhere sometimes, in Historical matters in the New Testament.

St. Stephen tells us, Acts VII. 16. that the bones of the twelve Patriarchs were carried over from Egypt, and buried in Sichem, when Holy Writ mentions only the bones and burial of Joseph. Wherein he speaks according to the vulgar opinion of the Nation a 1.1.

Again Vers. 30. he tells us, That Moses was forty years old when he fled into the Land of Midian, and that he tarried there forty years more, when Moses himself mentions nothing of this circumstance: This he speaks agreeably to the opinion of that people b 1.2.

II. Neither our Saviour, nor St. James say that Elijah shut up the Heavens three years and six months; but Christ tells us, That the Heaven was shut up, in the days of Elias, three years and six months. And St. James, That Elias prayed that it might not rain, and it rained not upon the Earth by the space of three years and six months.

May I therefore have leave to distinguish in this manner. Elijah shut up the Hea∣ven for three years, that there might be no rain, as in the Book of Kings. And there was no rain for three years and a half, as our Saviour and St. James relate.

III. The words of Menander in Josephus, may help a little toward the untying this knot. c 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Menander also makes mention of this drought in the acts of lihobalus King of Tyre, saying: There was no rain from the month of October, to the month of October the year following.

It is true, he shortens the space of this drought, by making it continue but one year; but however, having placed the beginning of it in the Month of October, gives us a key, that opens us a way into things more inward and secret.

IV. Consider the distinction of the former and the latter rain 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Deut. XI. 14. Jerem. V. 24. Joel II. 23.

d 1.4 The Rabbins deliver 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The former is in the Month Marhesh∣van, the latter, in the Month Nisan.

The Targumist in Joel II. 23. Who hath given you the first rain in season 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the latter, in the month Nisan. See also our Note upon Chap. II. vers. 8.

R. Solomon upon Deut. XI. differs a little, but we are not solicitous above the order, which should be the first either that in the Month Marheshvan, or that in the Month Ni∣san; that which makes to our purpose is, that rains were at those stated times, and for the rest of the year generally there was no rain.

V. Those six Months mentioned by our Saviour and St. James must be accounted be∣fore the beginning of the three years, and not tackt to the end of them, as is very evi∣dent from this, that it is said, The third year, Elijah shewed himself to Ahab, &c.

In the beginning therefore of those three years, we believe Elijah shut up Heaven, up∣on the approach of that time wherein the rains were wont to fall in the Month of Mar∣heshvan, and opened Heaven again the same Month at the end of three years. Nor is it nothing that Menander speaks of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the drought, taking its beginning in the Month October, which in part answers to the Jews Marheshvan; For consult that passage Chap. XVIII. Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land unto all the fountains and all the vallies, perhaps we may find grass to save the Horses alive. No one will say this search was made in Winter but in the Summer: not before, or in the Month Nisan, when the rains were wont to fall, for what hay or grass could be expected at that time? but when the year grew on to the Summer, then was it a seasonable time to enquire after hay and grass. Reckon therefore the time of Ahab's and Obadiah's progress in this search: the time, wherein Elijah and Obadiah meeting together, Ahab fell in with them: the time, wherein the Israelites and the Prophets of Baal were gathered together at Mount Carmel; when Elijah sacrificed there, and the followers of Baal were killed; and cer∣tainly it will be more probable that the unlocking of the Heavens, and the fall of the rains happened in that usual and ordinary season, the Month Marheshvan than any other part of the year. Three years agone, in that month when the rains were expected, ac∣cording to the common season of the year, Elijah shut Heaven up, that it should not rain; and now at the close of three years, when the season for those rains recurred, he unlocks the Heavens, and the rains fall abundantly.

VI. Now, go back from Marheshvan, the Month wherein the Prophet lockt up Hea∣ven, to the Month Nisan preceeding, and those six Months between they were also with∣out rain according to the ordinary course of the year and climate. In the Month Nisan it rained, the rest of the year to Marheshvan, it was fair and held up: when that Month came, the rains were expected, but Elijah had shut the Heavens up, and they remained shut up for the space of three years ensuing. So that, though he did not shut up Hea∣ven above the space of three years, yet there was no rain for three years and six months.

Notes

• a 1.1

  See Hieros•…•… Sotah, fol. 18▪ 3. and Bab. Bava. kama, fol. 92. 1.
• b 1.2

  See Beresh. rab. sect. 100.
• c 1.3

  Antiq••. lib. 8. cap. 7.
• d 1.4

  Taanith, fol. 6. 1.