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. I.

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

On the second Sabbath after the first.

I Have spoken to this already, in notes upon Matth. XII. Let me add a few things in this place.

It is a controversie amongst the Jewish Doctors, and the Baitheuseans, about the exposition of these words that concern the offering of the sheaf of the first fruits; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 On the morrow of the Sabbath, Levit. XXIII. 10, 11.

Gloss. a 1.1 The Baithuseans desired that the first day of the Passover should be on the Sab∣bath, that the offering of the sheaf might fall on the first day of the week: And that the Feast of Pentecost might also fall on the first day of the week: For they interpreted those

words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Priest shall wave the sheaf on the morrow of the Sabbath, as if the sense of them were on the morrow of the Sabbath of the Creation.

Against this the Rabbins dispute, with one consent, and indeed truly enough affirm∣ing that by the morrow after the Sabbath must be understood the morrow after a sabbatical day, or after the first day of the Feast. So the Targumist, Siphra, Solomon, Menatiem, &c. So also the Greek Version. We may see their Arguments b 1.2. The principal Argu∣ment is that of Rabban Johanan disputing with a Baithusean, in the place last quoted. One Scripture (saith he) saith, you shall number fifty days, (that is, from the day wherein you offer your sheaf, unto Pentecost) Levit. XXIII. 16. Another Scripture saith, ye shall count seven Sabbaths, Levit. XXIII. 14. Deut. XVI. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 This, if the first day of the Feast happen on the Sabbath. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 That, if the first day of the Feast happen in the middle of the week.

His meaning is this: If the first day of the Seven-days Feast of the Passover happen on the Sabbath, then, the sheaf being offered the next day after, the Feast of Pentecost will fall on the next day after the seventh Sabbath. But if that first day happen in the mid∣dle of the week, then from the offering of the sheaf the next day, we must not count se∣ven Sabbaths, but fifty days.

For instance: suppose we, the Lamb eaten on the third day of the Jewish week which with us is Tuesday: Wednesday was the first day of the Feast, and on Thursday the sheaf was offered; then on Thursday again, accounting fifty days, is the Feast of Pentecost. Here Seven Sabbaths come between, and four days after the last Sabbath, before the Pen∣tecost. Where, numbring by Sabbaths shortens the space of time, but numbring by fifty days, fixes the matter beyond scruple. And at once it concludes these two things: I. That the offering of the sheaf was not restrained to the next day after the Sabbath, but to the day after the sabbatical day, viz. the first day of the Feast. II. That the day of Pentecost was not restrained to the first day of the week, as the Baithuseans would have it, but might fall on any day of the week.

What should be the Baithuseans reason why they so earnestly contended to reduce the day of Pentecost always to the morrow after the Sabbath, or the first day of the week, is not easie to comprehend. Perhaps he that disputes the matter with Rabban Johanan gives some hint of it, when he tells us, Our master Moses loved Israel, and knowing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that the Feast of Pentecost should be but for one day, did therefore appoint it, on the morrow after the Sabbath, that Israel might rejoyce two days together.

Whatever the reason was, it is certain they misunderstood that phrase 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as to the offering the sheaf, the morrow after the Sabbath, when it was to be under∣stood of the morrow after a Sabbatical day. And so the Greek Version, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, And he shall offer the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you, on the morrow after the first day of the Feast.

Let us take an instance of this in the last Passover our Saviour kept.

The Paschal Lamb was eaten on the fifth day of the week, our Thursday; The first day of the Feast was the sixth day of the week, our Friday; the day on which our Lord was Crucified. The day declining towards night (about the time that our Lord was buried) they went out that were deputed by the Sanhedrin to reap the sheaf: and on the morrow (that is their Sabbath) whiles our Saviour slept in the grave, they offer∣ed that sheaf. That day therefore was the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or the second day, and from thence they counted the weeks to Pentecost. The Sabbaths that came between, taking their name from that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that second day. The first Sabbath after that was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the first Sabbath after the second day; and the next Sabbath after that was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the second Sabbath after the second day, and so of the rest.

c 1.3 The first day of the Passover is called the Sabbath, and they counted after that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seven Sabbaths that had relation to that. Note that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 That had relation or alliance.

Notes

• a 1.1

  In Rosh hasha∣nah, fol. 22. 2.
• b 1.2

  In Siphra, and Pesikta, and Menacoth, fol. 65. 1.
• c 1.3

  Rambam in Adaioth, fol. 22. 1.