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. VI. Machaerus a Castle.

JOsephus tells us that John Baptist was imprison'd by Herod in the Castle of Machaerus.* 1.1 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. He [the Bap∣tist] upon Herod's suspicion is sent prisoner to Machaerus, a little before that he had told us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. This place is the frontier betwixt the King∣dom of Aretas [the Arabian King] and Herod.

Of the situation of the place Pliny hath this hint, Prospicit [Asphaltitin] ab Oriente* 1.2 Arabia Nomadum [Moab it is] a meridie Machaerus, secunda quondam Arx Judaea ab Hiero∣solymis. The meaning of which is this, that Arabia of the Nomades [or Moab] situated on the East of Asphaltites fronts it on the West, and Machaerus situated on the North, fronts it on the South.

We meet with it in the Talmudists under the name of Macvar.

The Mountanous Country of Peraea was the Hill Macvar and Gedor. The Jerusalem Tar∣gum,* 1.3 and Jonathan upon Numb. XXXII. 35. instead of Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, have 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Maclelta of Shophan and Macvar: to which Jonathan adds 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Macvar of Garamatha.

It is obvious enough how they came to render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Atroth by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Maclelta, (as also Onkelos hath done) viz. because they translated the Hebrew word which denotes a Crown, by the Chaldee word which is of the same signification. But why Jaazer by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Macvar? Onkelos upon the 3. v. of the same Chap. renders Jaazer and Nimrah by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which I should translate the Atrati or denigrati of the house of Nimrin. And Ptolomy comments thus in Arabia Petraea, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. There are all along that Country certain mountains called the black mountains, namely from the Bay which is neer Pharan to Judea; but whether 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Macvar hath any relation with blackness from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a dish or furnace, I leave it to others to enquire.

So that we see Herodium and Machaerus are situated on the outermost Coast of Peraea toward the South or the land of Moab, neer the shore of Asphaltites or the Dead-sea.

The nature of the place we have describ'd by Josephus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.4 &c. There spring out neer this place certain fountains of hot waters, of a very dif∣ferent tast, some bitter, some sweet; there are also many springs of cold waters, &c. Compare the bitter waters with the waters of Nimrin, Isa. XV. 6. and the other with those of Di∣mon, v. 9. where, quaere whether Dimon be not the same with Dibon [Beth and Mem be∣ing alternately us'd] that by that pronunciation it might agree more with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 blood 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The waters of Dimon are full of blood.

Whiles we are in this watry Country are we not got amongst the rivers of Arnon? The Learned Beza commenting upon those words of St. Joh. III. 23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, For there was much water there, affirms it, commenting thus: Multi videlicet rivi, quorum etiam in eo tractu circa Aroer fit mentio in libris Mosis; namely many rivers of which also, in that Tract about Aroer, there is mention in the Books of Moses. And the situation of the place confirms it. When as Macherus was the very utmost bounds of the land of Israel to∣ward Moab, according to Josephus, as also was Arnon according to Moses.

But here we find no place that is call'd either Aenon or Salim. True indeed, but the place for the very wateriness of it deserves to be call'd Aenon, that is, a place of springs; and if Salim may be the same with Salamean, here we have also the Kenite or Salamaean, Gen. XV. and Numb. XXIV. However in a thing so very obscure it is safest not to be posi∣tive; and the Reader's candor is beg'd in this modest way of conjecturing. The way we tread is unbeaten, and deserves a guide, which as yet we have not obtain'd.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Antiq••. lib. 18. cap. 7.
• * 1.2

  Nat. Hist. lib. 5. cap. 6.
• * 1.3

  Hierosol. She∣viith fol. 38. 4.
• * 1.4

  De Excid. lib. 7. cap. 21.