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. II. The Samaritan Pentateuch.

IN the Samaritan Version (that I may still contain my self within our Chorographi∣cal Enquiry) as to the names of places, there are three things are matter of our notice, and a fourth of our suspicion.

I. There are some places obscure enough by their own names, which as they are there render'd are still more perplext and unknown. Consult the names used there for the ri∣vers

of Eden, and the Countries which those rivers run into, and you will see how diffi∣cult it is, any where else to meet with the least footstep or track of those names, except* 1.1 Cophin only, which seems indeed to agree something with Cophen mention'd by Pliny.

II. Places of themselves pretty well known, are there call'd by names absolutely un∣known, such are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Catephu, for Assyria, Gen. II. 14. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lilak, for Babel, Gen. X. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Salmaah for Euphrates, Gen. XV. 18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Naphik for Egypt, Gen. XXVI. 2.

III. Sometimes there are names of a later date used, and such as were most familiarly known in those days, such as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Banias for Dan, Gen. XIV. 14. that is Panias, the spring of Jordan. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Gennesar for Chinnereth, Numb. XXXIV. 11. Deut. III. 17. not to mention Bathnan and Apamiae for Bashan and Shepham, which are so neer akin with the Syriack pronunciation; and Gebalah, or Gablah for Seir, according to the Arabick Idiom.

Such names as these make me suspect the Samaritan Version not to be of that antiquity which some would claim for it, making it almost as ancient as the days of Ezra.

IV. I suspect too when we meet with places pretty well known of themselves, obscur'd by names most unknown, that sometimes the whole Country is not to be understood, but some particular place of that Country only.

The suspicion is grounded from the word Naphik for Egypt, and Salmaah for Euphrates. By Naphik probably they understood not the whole land of Egypt, but Pelusium only, which is the very first entry into Egypt from Canaan. The reason of this conjecture is this, The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Anpak (as we have elswhere observed) was writ over the Gates of that City, and how neer that word comes to Naphick is obvious enough to any one.

It is possible also that the mention of the Kinites immediately following might bring Salmaah to mind; and so they might not call Euphrates it self Salmaah, but speaking of Euphrates as washing some place call'd Salmaah. Ptolomy in his Chapter concerning the Situation of Arabia deserta, mentions Salma in degr. 78. 20. 28. 30. and it is number'd amongst six and twenty other Cities, which he saith are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which the Latin interpreter translates Juxta Mesopotamiam, neer Mesopotamia; if this be true, the Sama∣ritan Version hath something by which it may defend its self. For if those Cities mention∣ed by Ptolomy were indeed Juxta Mesopotamiam, neer Mesopotamia, (the river Euphrates only running between) then may the Samaritan Version be warranted, while it renders even to the river Euphrates, even to the river of Salmaah, that is, to the river Euphrates in that place where it washeth the sides of Salma.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Nat. Hist. lib 6. cap. 23. Stra••. lib. 15.