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. VI. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Solomon's Porch, Joh. X. 23.

I. Some obscure hints about Huldah's and the Priest's Gate. II. Solomon's Porch, which it was and where. III. The Gate of Susan. The bench of the twenty three there. Shops there. IV. Short hints of the condi∣tion of the second Temple.

SECT. I. Some obscure hints of Huldah's, and the Priest's Gate.

FROM Solomon's Pool, proceed we to Solomon's Porch; which we have also re∣corded Acts V. 12. possibly it is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the King's Gate; both the title, and the magnificence of it make it probable. For, as Josephus tells us, it was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ a 1.1 One of the most memorable works under the sun.

That King's Porch was situated on the South side of the Temple, having under it on the wall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the two Gates of Huldah b 1.2. At which Gates I rather admire, than believe or understand what I meet with concerning them, c 1.3 Behold it stands behind our wall, that is behind the West wall of the Temple; because the Holy Blessed one hath sworn that it shall never be destroyed. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Priests Gate also, and Huldah's Gate were never to be destroyed till God shall renew them.

What Gate that of the Priest's should be, I am absolutely ignorant, unless it should be that over which was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Conclave of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Councellors, where was the Bench, and the Consistory of the Priests.

But be it this or be it that, how do these and the rest agree with what Josephus re∣lateth?

d 1.4 Caesar commanded that the whole City and Temple should be destroyed, saving only those Towers which were above the rest, viz. Phasaelus the Hippic, and Mariamne, and the West wall. The wall, that it might be for the Garrison Souldiers, the Towers, as a testimony how large and how fortified a City the Roman valour had subdued. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ But as to all the rest of the City and its whole compass, they so defaced and demolished it, that posterity, or strangers will hardly believe there was ever any inhabited City there. Which all agrees well enough with what we frequently meet with in the Jewish Writers, that Turnus Rufus drew a Plough over the the City and Temple. He is called in Josephus, Tereuvius Rufus, e 1.5 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

SECT. II. Solomon's Porch. Which it was, and where.

THrough the Gate of Huldah you enter into the Court of the Gentiles, and that under the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the King's Gallery, which from the name its self, and gallantness of the structure might seem worthy of such a founder as Solomon. But this is not the Porch, or Gallery which we seek for; nor had it the name of Royal from King Solomon, but from King Herod.

Josephus, in this enquiry of ours, will lead us elsewhere; who thus tells us f 1.6, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, At this time was the Temple finished; [i. e. under Gessius Florus the Procurator of Judea about the eleventh or twelvth year of Nero] the people therefore seeing the workmen were at a leisure [the work of the Temple being now wholly finished] being in number more than eighteen thousand, importune the King [Agrippa] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that he would repair the Eastern Porch. Here are some things not unworthy our observation; partly that the Temple its self was not finished till this time; and then that the Eastern Porch was neither then finished, nor indeed was there any at all; for Agrippa considering both how great a summ of money, and how long a space of time would be requisite for so great a work, rejected their suit. Herod, as it should seem

from Josephus, finished the Temple, and the Pronaon, the Porch before it, and the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Royal Gallery. But what he finished further, about the Courts, and Cloi∣ster Walks, it does not appear. It is manifest indeed, that there was a great deal left unperfected by him, when the whole was not finished, till the very latter end of Nero's Reign, and scarcely before that fatal War in which the Temple was burnt and buried in its own ruines; which observation will be of use, when we come to Joh. II. 20. Forty and six years was this Temple a building.

Josephus proceeds, as to the Eastern Gallery: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ Now that was a Gallery of the outward Temple, overlooking a deep Valley, supported by walls of four hundred Cubits, made of great square stone very white: The length of each stone was twenty Cubits, and the bredth six. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ The work of King Solomon who first founded the whole Temple. There needs no Commen∣tary upon these words; the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the East Gallery was first 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, So∣lomons Work: Which plainly points which and where was Solomon's Porch; namely, upon the outward wall of the Temple toward the East, as the Royal Gallery was upon the South wall.

SECT. III. The Gate of Susan. The Assembly of the twenty three there. The Tabernae, or shops where things were sold for the Temple.

THere was but one Gate to this East Wall, and that was called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the Gate of Susan. g 1.7 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Because upon that gate was engraven the figure of Susan the Metropolis of Persia.

It is no wonder if they cherished the memory of Susan and the Persian Empire; be∣cause it was under that Empire that the Temple was built, nor had they indeed ever re∣ceived much damage thence: but it is something strange that that Sculpture should re∣main after so long a time that that Kingdom had been abolished, and after them first the Greeks, then the Romans had obtained the Universal Monarchy.

h 1.8 Upon this Gate the Priest looked, when he burnt the red Heifer. For, for slaying the Heifer upon the Mount of Olives directly before the Temple, when he sprinkled the blood, he looked toward the Holy of Holies. i 1.9 The Gate of Susan therefore was not of height equal with the others, but built something lower, that it might not hinder his pro∣spect. k 1.10

Upon this Gate was the Assembly of the twenty three held. l 1.11 There were three Assem∣blies, one upon the Gate of the Mountain of the Temple. [That is upon the Gate Susan.] Another, upon the Gate of the Court: [That is upon the Gate of Nicanor.] A third, in the Room Gazith.

Going into the Court by the Gate Susan, both on the right hand and on the left, there was a Portico, upheld by a double row of Pillars, that made a double Piazza? And either within or about that Portico were the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Tabernae, or Shops, where Salt, and Oyl, and Frankincense, with other necessary materials for the Altar were sold; but by what right, upon such sacred ground, let the buyer, or the seller, or both look to that.

m 1.12 The great Sanhedrim removed from the Room Gazith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to the Shops, and from the Shops into Jerusalem. Not that the Sanhedrim could sit in the Shops where such things were sold, but the lower part of that Court was all called by the common name of the Tabernae, or Shops.

SECT. IV. Short hints of the condition of the second Temple.

THE Jews upon their return from Babylon, at first made use of an Altar, without a Temple, till the Temple was finished under Darius the second. And then they made use of the Temple without the Ark, a Priesthood without the Urim and Thum∣mim, and Sacrifices without fire from Heaven. In some of these things they were ne∣cessitated by present circumstances, in other things they were directed by the Prophets that flourished at that time.

Under the Persian Empire they went on quietly with the Temple, little or nothing molested or incommoded by them, unless in that affair under Bagos mentioned by Jo∣sephus n 1.13.

But under the Greeks happened the calamity of the Temple and Nation; and all those dreadful things which are spoken concerning Gog, by Ezekiel the Prophet, were fulfilled in the Tyranny of this Empire. For Gog in that Prophet, was no other than the Gre∣cian

Empire, warring against the People, and Sanctuary, and true worship of God. It was a long time that the Jewish Nation suffered very hard things from that Kingdom; the relation of which we have, both in Josephus and the Books of the Maccabees. The chief Actor in those Tragedies was Antiochus Epiphanes, the bloodiest enemy that the People and Religion of the Jews ever had. Who, besides other horrid things he acted against their Law and Religion, he prophained the Temple and the Altar, and made the daily Sacri∣fice to cease for a thousand and three hundred days, Dan. VIII. 14. or one thousand two hundred and ninety days, Chap. XII. 11. a round number for a time, and times, and half a time, Chap. VII. 25. & XII. 7. that is, three years and a half.

Of the insolencies of the Greeks against the the Temple, we read in Middoth. o 1.14 In the railed place [that divided the Chel from the Court of the Gentiles] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 there were thirteen breaches, which the Kings of Greece made upon it, &c. And that of the impudent Woman, p 1.15 Mary the Daughter of Bilgah apostatized, and married a certain Greek Souldier. She came, and strook upon the top of the Altar, crying out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 O Wolf, Wolf! thou that devourest the wealth of Israel, and yet in the time of her extremity canst not help her. The same things are told of Titus. q 1.16

But the heaviest thing of all was, when Antiochus prophaned the Temple and the Altar, nor would allow any Sacrifices to be offered there but Heathenish and Idolatrous. Of which Persecution consult the 1 Mac. I. and Joseph. r 1.17 Indeed, this waste and prophanation of Sacred things lasting for three years and an half, so stuck in the stomachs of the Jews, that they retained that very number as famous and remarkable, insomuch that they often make use of it, when they would express any thing very sad and afflictive.

s 1.18 There came one from Athens to Jerusalem and stayed there three years and an half, to have learnt the language of wisdom but could not learn it. t 1.19 Vespasian beseiged Jerusalem for three years and an half; and with him were the Princes of Arabia, Africa, Alexandria, and Palestine, &c. u 1.20 Three years and an half did Hadrian Beseige Bittar, x 1.21 The judg∣ment of the Generation of the Deluge was twelve months: The judgment of the Aegypti∣ans twelve months: The judgment of Job, was twelve months: The judgment of Gog and Magog was twelve months: The judgment of the wicked in Hell, twelve months. But the judgment of Nebuchadnezzer was three years and an half: and the judgment of Vespasian three years and an half. y 1.22 Nebuchadnezzar stayed in Daphne of Antioch, and sent Nebu∣zaradan to destroy Jerusalem. He continued there, for three years and an half.

There are many other passages of that kind, wherein they do not so much design to point out a determinate space of time, as to allude to that miserable state of affairs they were in, under Antiochus. And perhaps it had been much more for the reputation of the Christian Commentators upon the Book of the Revelations, if they had looked upon that number, and the forty and two months, and the thousand two hundred and sixty days as spoken allusively, and not applied it to any precise or determinate time.

But the way, whiles we are speaking of the Persecution under the Greeks, we cannot but call to mind the story in the second Book of Maccab. VII. of the Mother and her seven Sons that underwent so cruel a Martyrdom: because we meet with one very like it, if not the same, only the name changed.

z 1.23 We are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, Psal. XLIV. Rab. Judah saith, this may be understood of the Woman and her seven Sons. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 They brought forth the first before Cesar, and they said unto him, worship Idols. He answered and said to them, it is written in our Law, I am the Lord thy God. Then they carried him out and slew him. They brought the second before Caesar, &c. Which things are more largely related in Echah Rabbathi a 1.24, where the very name of the Wo∣man is expressed. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mary the Daughter of Nachton, who was taken Captive with her seven Sons. Cesar took them and shut them up within seven grates. He brought forth the first and commanded, saying, worship Idols, &c.

The Story seems wholly the same, only the names of Antiochus and Cesar changed, of which the Reader having consulted both, may give his own judgment. And because we are now fallen into a comparing of the story in the Maccabees, with the Talmudists, let us compare one more in Josephus with one in the same Authors.

Josephus tells us that he foretold it to Vespasian, that he should be Emperour b 1.25. Vespa∣sian commanded that Josephus should be kept with all the diligence imaginable, that he might be conveighed safely to Nero; which when Josephus understood, he requested that he might be permited to impart something of moment to Vespasian himself alone. Vespasian having commanded all out of the Room, except Titus and two other of his friends, Josephus accosts him thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; Are you sending me to Nero?—Thou thy self, O Vespasian, shalt be Cesar and Emperor, thou and this thy Son, &c.

The Talmudists attribute such a Prediction to Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai, in the Tracts before quoted, viz. c 1.26 Rabban Johanan ben Zaccai was carried out in a Coffin, as one that is dead, out of Jerusalem. He went to Vespasian's Army, and said, where is your

King? They went and told Vespasian, there is a certain Jew desireth admission to you. Let him come in, saith he. When he came in, he said, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Live O King, Live O King. [So in Gittin, but in Midras 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Live my Lord the Emperour.] Saith Vespasian, you salute me as if I were King, but I am not so; and the King will hear this, and judge such an one to death. To whom he, although you are not King yet, you shall be so, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for this Tem∣ple must not be destroyed but by a King's hand, as it is written, Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one, Isai. X. 34.

To which of these two, or whether indeed to both, the glory of this Prediction ought to be attributed, I leave it to the Reader to judge; returning to the times of the Greeks.

The Army and Forces of the Enemy, being defeated under the conduct of Judah the Maccabite, the people begin to apply themselves to the care, and the restauration of the Temple, and the Holy things. The Story of which we meet with 1 Maccab. IV. 43, &c. and in Josephus d 1.27, whose words are worth our transcribing, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He found the Temple desolated, the Gates burnt; and the grass through the mere solitude of the place springing up there of its own accord: Therefore he and his followers wept, being astonished at the sight.

They therefore apply themselves to the purging of the Temple, making up the breaches, and as Middoth in the place above speaks, Those thirteen breaches which the Grecians had made 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they repaired them; and, according to the num∣ber of those breaches, they instituted thirteen adorations.

The Altar, because it had been prophaned by Gentile Sacrifices they pull it wholly down, and lay up the Stones in a certain Chamber near the Court.

e 1.28 Toward the North-East, there was a certain Chamber where the Sons of the Asmoneans laid up the Stones of that Altar which the Grecian Kings had prophaned; and that (as the Book of the Maccabees hath it) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Till there might come a Prophet that should direct them what to do with them.

Nor did it seem without reason; for, whereas those Stones had once been consecrated, they would by no means put them to any common use; and since they had been pro∣phaned, they durst not put them to any holy use.

The rest of the Temple, they restored, purged, repaired, as may be seen in the places above quoted, and on the five and twentieth of the month Cisleu they celebrated the Feast of the Dedication, and established it for an Anniversary Solemnity to be kept eight days together. Of the Rites of that Feast, I shall say more in its proper place: and for the sake of it I have been the larger in these things.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Antiqu. lib. 15. cap. 14.
• b 1.2

  Middoth, cap. 1.
• c 1.3

  In Schir. Rab∣ba, fol. 16. 4.
• d 1.4

  De Bell. lib. 7. cap. 1.
• e 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. lib. 7. cap. 1.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. lib. 20 cap. 8.
• g 1.7

  Middoth. cap. 1 hal. 3.
• h 1.8

  Ibid.
• i 1.9

  Parah. cap. 3. hal. 9.
• k 1.10

  Midd. cap. 2. hal. 4.
• l 1.11

  Sanhedr. cap. 11. hal. 2.
• m 1.12

  Rosh Hasha∣nah, fol. 31. 1.
• n 1.13

  Antiqu. lib. 11. cap. 7.
• o 1.14

  Middoth. cap. 2. hal. 3.
• p 1.15

  Jerus. Succah. fol. 55. 4.
• q 1.16

  In Avoth. R. Nathan. cap. 1.
• r 1.17

  Antiqu. lib. 12. cap. 7, &c.
• s 1.18

  Echah Rabba∣thi, fol. 60. 4.
• t 1.19

  Ibid. fol. 64. 1.
• u 1.20

  Ibid. f. 71. 1.
• x 1.21

  Ibid. f. 66. 2.
• y 1.22

  Ibid. f. 79. 2.
• z 1.23

  Gittim, fol. 57. 2.
• a 1.24

  Fol. 67. 4. & 68. 1.
• b 1.25

  De Bell. Jud. lib. 3. cap. 27.
• c 1.26

  Gittin. fol. 56. 1. & Echah Rabbathi, fol. 64. 2.
• d 1.27

  Antiqu. lib. 12. cap. 11.
• e 1.28

  Middoth, cap: 1. hal. 6.