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.

CHAP. I. BETHABARA. Joh. I.

I. Different Readings, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. II. The noted passages over Iordan. III. The Scythopolitan Country. IV. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The great Plain: The Scythopolitan passage there. V. Beth-barah, Judg. VII. 24.

SECT. I. Different Readings, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

IT is observed by all that treat upon this Evangelist, that the reading doth vary in some Copies, and this instance is alledged for one.

a 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. These things were done in Bethabarah, but in other Copies it is, in Be∣thany.

But Drusius, Vulgati codices, &c. The vulgar hath it, in Bethabarah. which Epiphanius in the place above mentioned calls Bethamarah. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Of this reading Petavius is silent.

It might easily happen that Bethabarah should change into Bethamarah, partly consider∣ing the affinity of the characters, which (saith he) tanta est in antiqua Scripturâ, ut vix discerni possit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & contra, is so great in antient writings, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 can hardly be distinguished; partly that the alternate use of Mem and Beth is so very common in those Countries.

Nor indeed is it much wonder that Bathamara should change into Bethania, since Bethamara being writ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies a place of Wool; and Bethania being writ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies a place of Sheep.

But it seems very strange how Bethabarah should ever change into Bethany unless upon some such occasion as these:

Either that Bethabarah might be taken for the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. the House of Exposition or the School (in which sense we meet with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) whence for Explication it is annexed by some hand or other in the Margine * 1.2 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the House of Tradition, or Doctrine: as if the Evangelist were to be understood in this manner, these things were done or disputed in a certain School beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. And so that word * 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being so very known and obnoxious, might steal from the Margin into the Text and common use.

Or perhaps, secondly; upon the suspition of a Tautology if Bethabarah and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 should be found together 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: because 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may be looked upon as the same thing with a place beyond Jordan: therefore they might substitute the word Bethany as signifying Batanaea or Bashan to some such sense as this. These things were done in Batanea beyond Jordan, &c. But it is our province at present to enquire rather into the situation of Bethabarah, than into the original and derivation of Bethany.

SECT. II. The noted passages over Iordan.

AMong the various ways of writing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Hebrew, these two especially de∣serve our consideration at present. Beth-barah, which we meet with in Judg. VII. and Bethabarah, or a place of passage, where they passed over Jordan. They must both come under our enquiry whiles we are seeking the place in hand: And first of the latter.

Doubtless there was no part of Jordan but might be passed by Boat from one side to the other, as mens different occasions might call them; but we are now considering the publick and common passages that led over that River from one Country into another.

I. There is a Bridge over Jordan, betwixt the Lake of Samochon and Gennesaret in the way that leadeth to Damascus, which hath the name of Jacobs Bridge, of which our Country-man Biddulph (who hath himself travelled over it) speaks to this purpose:

At the foot of this rocky Mountain runs a pleasant River called Jordan, which divideth Syria from Galilee. Over this River is built a goodly Bridge, which bears the name of Jacob's Bridge upon this twofold account. 1. Because in this place Jacob met with his Brother Esau. 2. Because here he wrastled with the Angel.

As to matter of fact, that there is and was such a Bridge I do not much question; but for the reasons why it is so called, as it is not much to our purpose to examine, so they seem to have little else but conjecture in them.

II. Jordan also had a Bridge over it at Chammoth near Tiberias at the very efflux of the River out of the Sea of Gennesaret; as we have elsewhere shewn from the Talmudick Authors, against the mistake of the Tables which place Tiberias at a great distance thence. b 1.4 Tam Dominus Rex quam Principes omnes, Tyberiadem usque perveniunt, ubi circa pontem, unde ex mari, Jordanis fluenta se dividunt, castrametatur. i. e. As well the Lord the King, as all the Princes came even unto Tiberias, and pitched their tents near the Bridge where the streams of Jordan from the Sea, do divide themselves.

c 1.5 Juxta Tiberiadem secus pontem unde de lacu Genezar, Jordanis fluenta se dividunt, cum exercitu sua castra locavit. i. e. With his Army he pitcht his Tents near Tiberias by the Bridge, from whence the streams of Jordan from the lake of Gennesaret, do divide themselves. Read this and view the situation of Tiberias in the Tables, and correct the mistake.

III. That was a most known and frequent passage from Jericho which we so often read of in the Holy Scriptures; which yet seems rather to have been by Boat than Bridge. See the 2 Sam. XIX. 18. and 2 Kings II. 8.

SECT. III. The Scythopolitan Country

THere was a fourth, and that the greatest passage betwixt Chammoth and Jericho, but at a great distance from either; for the finding out of which, we are to consider what is intimated, 1 Kings IV. 12. And all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jesreel. And again 1 Kings VII. 46. In the plain of Jordan did the King cast them, in the Clay ground, between Succoth and Zarthan. We will begin with Bethshean.

I. Bethshean, or Scythopolis was in the lot of Manasseh, Judg. I. 27. Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Neither did Manasses drive out the inha∣bitants of Bethshean, which is Scythopolis. So that it was within the limits of Samaria, though indeed one of the Decapolitan Cities, and within the jurisdiction of the Gentiles, as we have shewed elsewhere.

II. It was the utmost bound of Samaria toward Galilee. d 1.6 The bounds of Galilee, on the South is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Samaria and Scy∣thopolis as far as the River Jordan.

III. The City was half a Leagues distance from Jordan, saith Borchard, and yet ex∣tends its jurisdiction beyond Jordan. That of Aethicus in his Cosmography is well known. Fluvius Jordanis, saith he, &c. The River Jordan hath its head in Mount Li∣banus, runs about to the Lake of Tiberias, from whence going out, hath its current through the midst of Scythopolis, and issues in the dead Sea. Jordan divided Scythopolis in the midst; not the City (for that was at some considerable distance from the River) but the Country it self; so that part of the Country was on this, and part of the other side Jor∣dan.

It was a noble City of the Syrogrecians, and had considerable jurisdiction, not only within the confines of Manasses, but extended it self beyond, even to Perea.

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 1.7 〈 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 1.8 〈 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.

SECT. V. Beth-barah, Judg. VII. 24.

NEither was this Beth-barah at any very great distance from this passage. For so we have it Judg. VII. 24. Gideon sent messengers throughout all Mount Ephraim, saying, come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jor∣dan. And this they did.

It is hard to say whether Kinichi with more reason said, That these waters were not the waters of Jordan: or Jarchi, more absurdly, that they divided Syria from Canaan. There were, no doubt, some waters in the Valley of Jezreel. (For there the battel was, at least if that may be called a battel where there was not one Sword unsheathed by the Conquerour. See Judg. VI. 33.) When the Midianites fled, Gideon summons the Ephraimites by messengers, that they would take those waters before-hand, which the routed enemy in their flight must necessarily pass through, before they could arrive at the Bridge or Ferry over Jordan (spoken of even now) that lay in their way home. When both Armies had pitched the Field, the Midianites lay on the North toward Ga∣lilee, and the Gideonites on the South near Mount Ephraim, Chap. VII. 1. There was a River in the Vale, (at which waters probably Gideon distinguished betwixt his Follow∣ers that lapped like a Dog, and those that did not.) This River at length discharged it self into Jordan above the Bridge or passage that led into Perca. When therefore the Midianites lay on the Northern bank of this River, and so were not capable of attain∣ing the passage over Jordan till they had made through these waters first; it was the Ephraimites care and buisiness to maintain the opposite bank, and that indeed all the whole space from the place where the fight began to Beth-barah and Jordan that the Enemy might be blocked up from all possibility of escape or retiring.

Whether therefore this passage of which we have spoken, was called Beth-barah from that place so neas Jordan, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beth-abarah, from the Etymology before men∣tioned, it is no absurdity for the further bank of Jordan which lay contiguous to the Bridge or passage over it, to be called Bethrbarah beyond Jordan, either upon the one or the other account. For (however the Learned Beza comes to question it) the Lexicons will tell you that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth beyond Jordan: especially that common threefold division 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Judea, Galilee, and beyond Jordan. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. On the East of the River Jordan: as Ptolomy expresseth it. And Beza himself confesseth that trans Jordanem, beyond Jordan, is the proper signifi∣cation of the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, beyond, Matth. IV. 15.

Let us therefore place the Bethabarah we are seeking for, where John was baptizing, on the further ••ide of Jordan, in the Scythopolitan Country, where the Jews dwelt amongst the Syro-Grecians, as in all the Decapolitan Regions, where Christ might some∣thing more safely converse, from the vexations of the Scribes and Pharisees, Joh. X. 40. being as it were out of their reach and jurisdiction there. And so we find John Bapti∣zing first at the passage at Jericho, because through the greatness of the Road there was always a considerable concourse of people; and next, at the passage at Scythopolis for the same reason.

Further, had I either leisure or will to play any longer about the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we might suppose it written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bethaania which in the Syriack Idiom (amongst whom it is no unusual thing to change 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) agrees with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bethshania.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Epiphan. Hae∣res. LI.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.4

  Gullel. Tyr. de bell. Sacr. lib. XVII. cap. 8.
• c 1.5

  And lib. XVIII. cap. 21.
• d 1.6

  Joseph. de bel∣lo. lib. 3. cap. 4.
• e 1.7

  Antiqu. l••••▪ V. cap. 1.
• f 1.8

  Antiqh. lib. XII. cap. 1••.