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. | Early English Books Online | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

VERS. III.

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

Neither have two coats apiece.

EITHER my computation of times very much deceives me, or the Winter was now coming on when the Apostles were sent forth, and yet Christ forbids that they should be clothed with a double garment. It was not much that that they should be forbid to take money or provision for their journey, because they were to have their food administred to them, as the reward of their preaching the Gospel. But to strive with the cold and winter without sufficient clothing seems something hard.

I. It was not an unusual thing in that Nation that some, out of a more Religious seve∣rity, did cloth themselves but with a single garment: of which thing we have already spoken in Notes upon Mark XIV: 51. to which probably that passage may have some reference: a 1.1 R. Jose saith, Let my portion be 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with those who dye of the disease in their bowels: for, saith Mar, Very many righteous men dye of the disease in their bowels, viz. a disease contracted by the austerities of their life, both as to food and clo∣thing. And so it is said particularly of the Priests.

b 1.2 The Priests walkt barefoot upon the pavement, they used water and were not clad 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but with a single garment. And from this custom, their natural vigor languished, and their bowels grew infirm.

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For this very reason was there a Physician appointed in the Temple, upon whom the charge lay of remedying this evil. Whom we might not unfitly call the Bowel-Doctor.

Now it may be enquired whether our Lord from this example prescribed this severi∣ty to his Apostles, not allowing them more than a single garment, when this journeying of theirs to Preach the Gospel was a Winters work. For they returned from this jour∣ney a little before the Passover. Compare the 10th. Vers. of this Chapter, and so on, with Joh. VI. 4. and so on. But let us a little enlarge upon this subject.

In both the Talmuds, c 1.3 there are reckoned up eighteen several garments wherewith the Jew is clothed from head to foot, amongst the rest two shoes, two buskins. &c. but those which are more properly called garments, and which are put upon the body, are reckoned these:

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mactoren] which word is variously rendered by several men. By the Gloss 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I suppose a Mantle: By Aruch 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a Cloake; by others, an Hood. In the Gloss upon Bava bathra c 1.4 it is made the same with Talith.

d 1.5 Resh Lachish went to Bozrah, and seeing some Israelites eating of fruits that had not been tithed, forbad them. Coming before R. Jonathan, he saith to him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 even while thy Mactoren, or Cloak is upon thee, go and recal thy prohibition.

2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Kolbin of thread. Which the Babylonians call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Kolbon. The ordinary Jewish garment was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Talith, the outward garment, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chaluk, the inward. But in the place quoted is no mention of Talith in so many syllables at all; but instead of it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Greek word for an Hebrew one 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Coat.

e 1.6 Speaking of the Scribes, Moreover they wore garments distinguisht by the Phylacte∣ries, which were certain borders of purple. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. They used long robes or a certain sort of garment which we may call Dalmaticks, or Kolobia, which were wove in with large borders of purple.

That he means the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Talith, the thing it self declares; for those borders of pur∣ple were no other than 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Zuzith, certain skirts, hung and sewed on to the Talith.

3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Woolen shirt, the inward garment. Whence the Gloss. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Chaluk was the shirt upon his skin. Hence that boast of R. Jose f 1.7, That the roof of his house, had not throughout his whole life, seen what was within that shirt of his.

II. And now the question returns, viz. whether by those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the place be∣fore us should be meant, those two kinds of garments, the Talith and the Chaluk, that is that they should take but one of them; or those two kinds doubled; that is, that they should take but one of each. Whether our Saviour bound them to take but one of those garments, or whether he forbad them taking two of each.

I conceive he might bind them to take but one of those garments: for, although 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 when joyned with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may be applied to some particular garment, yet, when it is not so joyned, it may signifie only clothing in general. When our Lord commands them 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 not to put on two coats g 1.8. The foregoing words may best explain what he means by it: for when he cuts them short of other parts of gar∣ments and necessaries, such as a scrip, a staff, and sandals, we may reasonably suppose he would cut them short of one of the ordinary garments▪ either the Talith or the Chaluk.

This may seem something severe, that he should send them out in the Winter time half naked: But, 1. This well enough became that Providence which he was determin∣ed in a more peculiar manner to exert toward them, as may be gathered from Luke XXII. 35. and to the charge of which he would commit them. Of such a kind and nature was his Providence in preserving them, as was shewn toward the Israelites in the Wilder∣ness, which suffered not their garments to wax old, which kept their bodies from decay and diseases, and their feet unhurt by all their travel. 2. It suited well enough with the mean and low estate of that Kingdom of Heaven, and the Messiah, which the Apo∣stles were to Preach up and propagate, so that from the view of the first publishers, the Jews might learn to frame a right judgment concerning both the Messiah and his Kingdom, viz. they might learn to believe in the Messiah, when they should observe him capable so wondrously to protect his messengers, though surrounded with such numberless in∣conveniences of life: and might further be taught, not to expect a pompous Kingdom, when they see the propagators of it, of so mean a degree and quality.

The words of the Baptist h 1.9 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, He that hath two coats let him impart, &c. may be also understood in this sence, that he that hath both the Talith and the Chaluk, may give to him that is naked and hath neither, either the one or the other.