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.

VERS. XIX.

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

To comfort them.

WHEN o they return from the burial 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they stand about weeping, and say* 1.1 over 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [a little Prayer called by that name] comforting the mourner, and accompanying him to his own House.

p 1.2 When they return from the Grave, they stand in a circle about the mourner comforting him. Gloss. The circle about him consists of ten at least. But usually it is very crowded and numerous. Hence that passage:

q 1.3 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 As to those that stood about in that circle, those that were on the inside of it were not obliged to repeat the Phylacteries, but those that were on the outside were bound.

r 1.4 The Rabbins have delivered, that the seven standings, and sittings for the dead, must not be diminished. Where the Gloss is, When they returned from the Grave, they went forward a little, and then sate down; partly to comfort the mourners, partly to weep them∣selves, and partly to meditate upon the subject of mortality. Then they stood up again, and went on a little, and sate down again, and so for seven times. But I have seen it written, that they did this upon the account of the evil spirits who accompanied them from the Grave; they ordained these standings and sittings, that within that time the evil spirits might de∣part.

So that we see they were wont to comfort the mourners in the way as they were re∣turning from the Grave, and they would bring them back to their own House the day that the party deceased was interr'd. They comforted them also all the remaining days of mourning, which we find done in this place.

Thirty days were allotted for the time of mourning: But, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 we must not weep for the dead beyond the measure. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the three first days are for weeping. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Seven days for lamentation 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Thirty days for the intermission from washing their cloths, or shaving themselves.

I. When the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those that were to comfort the mourners came, they found 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉s 1.5 all the beds in the House taken down, and laid upon the ground. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 From what time do they take their beds lower? R. Eleazar saith, From the time that the deceased party is carried out of the Court-gate. R. Joshua saith, From the time that the cover of the Coffin is shut down. When Rabban Gamaliel dyed, and the Corps was carried out of the Court-gate, saith R. Eleazar to his disciples, take down the beds: But when the Cof∣fin was closed, R. Joshua said, take down the beds. On the evening of the Sabbath they set up their beds, at the going out of the Sabbath, they take them down.

What is to be understood by taking down their beds, we may conjecture by what fol∣lows. t 1.6 Whence came the custom of taking down the beds? R. Crispa in the name of R. Jo∣hanan saith, from what is written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and they sate with him near the ground, [Job II. 13.] It is not said upon the ground, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 near the ground, that is, not far off from the Earth. Hence is it, that they sate upon beds taken lower.

But u 1.7 Rabbenu Asher saith thus, Rabh. saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Those that comfort ought to sit no where but upon the floor.

II. The mourner himself sits chief. A custom taken from these words, Job XXIX. 25. I chose out their way and sate chief—Like him who comforts the mourners. Ibid.

III. It was not lawful for the comforters to speak a word, till the mourner himself break silence first. The pattern taken from Job's friends, Job II.

IV. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 R. Johanan saith, if the mourner nod his head, the comforters are to sit by him no longer. The Gloss is, If by nod∣ding his head, he signifie to them, that he hath comforted himself. Hence that frequently said of some, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 they would not receive comfort, that is, they gave signs by nodding their head, that they had sufficiently comforted themselves.

These and many other things about this matter do occur in Moed Katon, and Rabbenu Asher, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 upon this Treatise; as also in Massecheth Semachoth; where by the way take notice that that Treatise which hath for its subject the Mourners for the dead, is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A Treatise of gladness. So the Sepulchres of the dead are often called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Houses of the living.

Let us take a little taste of the way of consolation they used. x 1.8 The Rabbins deliver, that when the Sons of R. Ishmael dyed, four of the Elders went in to him to comfort him, viz. R. Tarphon: R. Jose the Galilean: R. Eliezer ben Azariah; and R. Akibah. R. Tar∣phon saith unto them, Ye must know that this is a very wise man, well skilled in Exposition. Let not any of you interrupt the words of his fellow. Saith R. Akibah, I am the last. R. Ishmael began and said, [the mourner here breaks silence] His iniquities are multipled, his griefs have bound him, and he hath wearied his Masters: Thus he said once and again. Then answered R. Tarphon and said, It is said, and your brethren of the House of Israel, shall bewail the burning, Levit. X. 6. May we not argue from the less to the greater? If Nadab and Abihu, who never performed but one command, as it is written, and the Sons of Aaron brought blood to him; then much more may the Sons of R. Ismael be bewailed. R. Jose the Ga∣lilean, answered saying, All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, 1 Kings XIV. 13. And must we not argue from the greater to the less? If they wept so for Abijah the Son of Jeroboam, who did but one good thing, as it is said, because in him there is found some good thing: how much more for the Sons of R. Ismael? Of the same nature are the words of R. Eliezar, and R. Akibah; but this is enough, either to raise laughter, or make a man angry. In the same page we have several forms of speech, used by the Women that either were the mourners or the comforters. As

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The grave is as the robe of Circumcision, to an ingenuous man, whose provisions are spent.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The death of this man is as the death of all, and Dis∣eases are like putting money to usury.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He ran, and he fell in his passage, and hath borrowed a loan. With other passages very difficult to be understood.

The first three days of weeping were severer than the other: because, on the first day it was not lawful for the mourner to wear his Phylacteries, to eat of holy things, nor in∣deed to eat any thing of his own. All the three days, he might do no servile work, no not privately: and if any one saluted him, he was not to salute him again.

The first seven days, let all the beds in the house be laid low. Let not the man use his Wife. Let him not put on his Sandals. Let him do no servile work publickly. Let him not salute any man. Let him not wash himself in warm water, nor his whole body in cold: Let him not anoint himself. Let him not read in the Law, the Mishneh or the Talmud. Let him cover his head.

All the thirty days, let him not be shaved: Let him not wear any clothing that is white or whitened, or new. Neither let him sew up those rents which he made in his garments for the deceased party, &c. y 1.9.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Mo••d, Ka∣ton. Art. 133.
• p 1.2

  Chetub, fol. 8. 2.
• q 1.3

  Beracoth, fol. 17. 2.
• r 1.4

  Bava bathra, fol. 100. 2.
• s 1.5

  Hieros. Bera∣coth, fol. 5. col. 4.
• t 1.6

  Ibid. fol. 6. 1.
• u 1.7

  In Moed Ka∣ton, cap. 4.
• x 1.8

  Moed Katon, fol. 28. 2,
• y 1.9

  Rambam in Moed Katon. cap. ult.