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. V. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ain socar, in the Talmud.

MAY we not venture to render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the well of Sychar, we meet with both the* 1.1 place and name in Bava Kama, There was a time when the sheaf [of the first-fruits] was brought 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from Gaggoth Zeriphin, and the two loaves [those which were to be offer'd by the High Priest] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the valley of the well of Sychar. So give me leave to render it. Gloss, The sheaf was wont to be fetcht from places in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, but now the fruits having been destroy'd by war, they were fain to fetch it afar off.

Take if you will the whole story:

It is a Tradition among the Rabbins, that when the Hasmonean family mutually besieged one another, Aristobulus without, and Hyr∣canus within; every day they that were besieged within, let down their money by the wall in a little Box, which those that were without receiv'd, and sent them back their daily Sacrifice. It came to pass that there was an old man amongst them skill'd in the wisdom of the Greeks, that told them, so long as they within perform their Worship, you will never be able to subdue them. Upon this the next day they let down their money, and the besiegers sent them back an Hog; when the Hog had got half up the wall, fixing his feet upon it, the land of Israel shook four hundred leagues round about, from that time they said, Cursed be he that breedeth Swine: Cursed be he that teach∣eth his Son the wisdom of the Greeks; from that time the sheaf of the first-fruits was fetcht from Gaggoth Zeriphin, and the two loaves from the valley Ein Sychar.

This story is told with another annext in Menachoth:

When the time came about* 1.2 that the sheaf should be brought, no body knew from whence to fetch it▪ they made enquiry therefore by a publick cryer, there came a certain dumb man 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and stretcht forth one hand toward a roof, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the other

hand toward a cottage. Mordecai saith to them, Is there any place that is call'd Gaggoth Zeriphin, or Zeriphin Gaggoth? They sent and found there was. When they would have offer'd the two loaves, but knew not where to get them, they made enquiry again by a publick cryer; the same dumb man comes again 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and he puts one hand to his eye, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and another hand to the hole of the door-post, where they put in the bolt. Quoth Mordecai to them, Is there such a place as Ein Sychar, or Sychar Ein: they enquir'd and found there was.

But what had Mordecai to do with the times of the Hasmoneans? one of the Glossators upon this place makes this objection; and the answer is, that whoever were skill'd ei∣ther in signs or languages had this name given them from Mordecai, who in the days of Ahashuerus was so skill'd.

And now let the Reader give us his judgment as to name and place, whether it doth not seem to have some relation with our Well of Sychar. It may be disputed on either side. I shall only say these things.

Menachoth as before, It is commanded that the sheaf be brought from some neighbouring place, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but if it ripen not in any place near Jerusalem, let them fetch it elsewhere. Gloss. Gaggoth Zeriphin, and Ein Sychar were at a great distance from Jerusalem. So is our Sychar distant far enough indeed, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Zariph, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ze∣ripha, denotes a little cottage, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 where the keeper of fields lodg'd.* 1.3 It is describ'd by Aruch in the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that it was cover'd over with Os••er twigs, the tops of which were bound together, and it was drawn •• pleasure from one place to another, &c.

Gloss. in Erubbin. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They that dwelt in those cottages were keepers of sheep, they abode in them for a month or two, so long as the pasture lasted, and then they remov'd to ano∣ther place. Gaggoth Zeriphin therefore signifies the roofs of little cottages, and the place seems to be so called, either from the number of such lodges in that place, or from some hills there that represented and seem'd to have the shape of such kind of cottages.

Such cottages may come to mind when we read Luk. II. 8. of the shepherds watching their flocks by night. But this is out of our way.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bava Kama, fol. 82. 2.
• * 1.2

  Menach. fol. 64. 2.
• * 1.3

  Erubbin. fol. 65. 2.