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.

SECT. IV. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ The great Plain: the Scythopolitan passage there.

OF this great Plain which took in the whole bredth of the Country of Manasseh from Jordan toward the West, a very long way, Josephus frequently speaks: de∣scribing the situation and portion of Ephraim and Manasseh, he thus expresseth himself.

e 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Tribe of Ephraim extended it self, in length, from the River Jordan, to Gadarah (Gazarah or Gezer, Josh. XVI. 3. and Chap. XXI. 21.) in bredth, from Bethel, and ends at the great Plain.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. The half Tribe of Manasseh extends it self in longitude from Jordan to the City Dor. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But in latitude (from Ephraim) it reacheth to Bethshean, which is now called Scythopolis. So that that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or great plain, to those that were journeying from Galilee, began from Bethshean, and extended it self in latitude to the confines of Ephraim. Hence that which we meet with in the same Josephus, f 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. They that passed over Jordan came into the great Plain before which the City Bethsan lies, or as it is in 1 Maccab. V. 52. They went over Jordan into the great plain before Bethshean.

In the Book of Judith Chap. I. vers. 8. it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The great plain of Esdrelom: That is in truth, the great Valley of Jezrael. So Jezrael in the place above quoted, 1 Kings IV. 12. by the Greek Interpreters is rendered 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In∣somuch that when it is said of Judah and his Army (for him it is whom this passage con∣cerns) that in his return from the Land of Gilead, he passed over Jordan into this great plain, and that (as it should seem) not very far from Bethshean, it is evident that the great and common passage over Jordan was hereabout, by which not only the Scy∣thopolitans went over from their Country on this side Jordan, to that beyond, but those also of Samaria, and those of the lower Galilee passed over here to Perea.

Here would I seek for Jacob's Bridge where he passed over Jordan with his Staff, when he went into Mesopotamia, and returned back with a Family; and not where it is commonly now shewn. At least, the mention of Succoth, Gen. XXXIII. 17. which had its situation on the bank of Jordan, exactly opposite to Zartanah a Town near Beth∣shean, puts it out of all question that Jacob returned that way. And indeed whether Scythopolis might not derive something of its appellation from the word Succoth, I can∣not well tell: methinks the name of Scythians hath some smack of such a kind of origi∣nal, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 qu. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. for they always dwelt, and removed from one place to ano∣ther in Tents.

Notes

• e 1.1

  Antiqu. l••••▪ V. cap. 1.
• f 1.2

  Antiqh. lib. XII. cap. 1••.