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. I. A few remarks upon the Samaritan affairs.

1. Of the name of the Cuthites.

THAT the Samaritans are call'd Cuthites by the Jews is unquestionable, O•• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Those that in the* 1.1 Hebrew tongue are called Cuthaeans, in the language of the Greeks are Samaritans.

But why Cuthites rather than Babylonians, Hamathites, Avites, &c. is uncertain; for thence as well as from Cutha, were Colonies transplanted into Samaria, II King. XVII. 24. nay they were call'd Cuthites even at that time when a great part of the Samaritan Nation consisted of Jews.

I am apt to apprehend there was some virulent design even in the very name. The name of Cushites amongst the Jews was most loathsome and infamous, as they were not only an hostile Country, but a people accurs'd, and for their black hew even horrid to the very sight. Perhaps in the Title of the VII Psalm, there is no little severity of reproach hinted in the name Cush. Something of the like nature may be coucht in the word Cuthim. For whereas 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 may be the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the letter 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being chang'd into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Sy∣riach dialect, it may be an easie conjecture, that the Jews calling the Samaritans (a Nati∣on peculiarly abominated by them) Cuthites might tacitly reproach them with the odious name of Cushites.

2. Josephus mistaken.

Rabbi Ismael saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that the Cuthites are proselytes of Lions.* 1.2 R. Akiba saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that they are true proselytes. The story of the Lions, II King. XVII. 26. is well enough known, which Josephus very lamely reports in this* 1.3 manner, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. He tells us that as every one brought their se∣veral Gods into Samaria, and worship'd them accordingly, so the great and true God was infinitely displeas'd with them, and brought a destructive plague amongst them. He makes no mention of Lions being sent amongst them, according to what the Sacred History re∣lates. Probably the story of that horrible destruction upon Sennacherib's Army by a wast∣ing plague, gave the first rise to Josephus his fancy of a plague amongst the Samaritans; though it is very odd that he should have no touch of the Lions being so remarkable a judgment as that was.

3. Samaria planted with Colonies two several times.

There are the Colonies which Asnapper is said to have brought into Samaria, Ezr. IV. 10. as well as those by Esar-haddon, v. 2.

The Jews do judg this Asnapper to be the same with Sennacherib, and that he had eight* 1.4 names, the first-syllables of the names indeed agree pretty well, Sena and Asna; but whe∣ther they denote the same persons I leave undetermin'd.

However, whether this Asnapper was the same with Sennacherib or Salmanasser, or some great Minister of the Kings Commander in chief in the transplanting of a Colony; it seems evident that Samaria was planted with Colonies two several times. The first imme∣diately after the taking of the City, being then furnisht with Cuthites, Avites, Sepharvaites, &c. under Asnapper, be he King, or only chief Commander in the action. And when mul∣titudes of them had been devoured by Lions, then was it afresh Planted by the Shushan∣chites, Tarpelites, &c. in the days of Esarhaddon, with whom a Priest went up to instruct them in the worship of the true God. How greatly Epiphanius confounds these things may be seen in his Heres. VIII. Cap. 9.

4. Of Dosthai the Pseud-Apostle of the Samaritans.

When the Lions had devour'd the Samaritans, the Assyrian King hearing the news,* 1.5 calls to him the Elders of Israel, and asks them, did the wild beasts ever use to tear and mangle any of your people in your own land when you dwelt there? Therefore how comes it to pass that they do so now? They answer him, our own land bears no Nati∣tion that is not conversant in the Law, or will not be circumcis'd. Send therefore, saith he, two that may go and instruct the people.

So they sent 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 R. Dosthai the Son of Jannai, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 R. Sabia, who taught them the Book of the written Law.

But is this likely? that Dosthai the Samaritan's oracle should be in the times of the Assyrian Empire? whence then had he that Greek name of his? and the name of his Fa∣ther Janneus was Greekish too: It is much more probable what Eulogius hath in Photius. Cod. CCXXX.

The Samaritan people having divided into various factions disagree'd a∣mongst themselves, and brought in forreign opinions. Some were of opinion that Jo∣shua was he of whom Moses spoke, when he tells them, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you from among your brethren like unto me.

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

Others rejecting this opinion, cry'd up one Dosthai or Dositheus, a native Samaritan and Contemporary with Simon Magus.

From Dosthai and Sabia, the Dosthenes and Sabueans, two Samaritan Sects originally* 1.6 sprung.

5. The language of Ashdod. Nehem. XIII. 24. whether the Samaritan language or no.

And the children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews lan∣guage.* 1.7 What language was this at this time?

I. The Arabian Version tells us it was the Chaldee. But was not the Jewish and the Chal∣dee tongue at that time all one? It may be questionable whether it were so at that time or no; but I shall wave that Controversie.

II. As to the question in hand it may not be amiss to consider that passage, Act. II. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Creets and Arabians. Who are these Creets? who would not think at first sight that by the Cretians were meant the inhabitants of the Island of Crete? I my self have sometime fallen into this error; but now I should be ready to say they were the Cherethims, a Philistine Nation and Country; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by the Greek interpreters is render'd 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Creets, Ezek. XXV. 16. Zeph. II. 5, 6. and there is some reason to apprehend that St. Luke in the place above quoted understands the same people, because he joyns them with the Arabians.

Targum on the 2 Chron. XXVI. 7. And the word of the Lord helped them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 against the Philistines, and against the Arabians dwelling in Gerar.

Observe Arabians dwelling in Gerar a City of the Philistines; and it is well enough known that Arabia joyns to the land of the Philistines. And one may suspect the language of Ashdod might be the Arabian, rather than the Samaritan tongue, especially when as the name of Idumaea obtain'd as far as these places; And was not the Arabick the language of the Idumeans?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Joseph. Antiqu. lib. 9. cap. 14.
• * 1.2

  Kiddushim. fol. 75. 2.
• * 1.3

  Antiqu. lib. 9. cap. 14.
• * 1.4

  In Sanhedr. fol. 94. 1.
• * 1.5

  Tanchum, fol. 17. 4.
• * 1.6

  Epiph. H••res. XI, &c.
• * 1.7

  Nehem. XIII. 24