VERS. IV.
IT is hardly imaginable that these impotent people lay day and night throughout the whole year at this Pool. It seems rather that the troubling of the waters and heal∣ing the sick was usual only at the solemn Feasts, probably only the Feasts of the Passover. And so▪ it may not be •miss to interpret the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with this restriction, it was a Feast of the Jews and an Angel went down at that certain season into the Pool, &c.
We have this Story, or rather this Tale concerning a certain Fountain troubled by an evil Angel. fIt is a Story in our City concerning Abba Joses [saith R. Berechiah in the name of R. Simeon] that when he sate at the Fountain, and required something, there appear'd to him the Spirit that resided there, and said, you know well enough, how many years I have dwelt in this place, and how your selves and your Wives have come and returned without any damage done to you. But now you must know that an evil Spirit, endeavours to supply my room; who would prove very mischievous amongst you. He saith to him, what must we do then? He answered him and said, Go and tell the Towns people, that whoever hath an Ham∣mer, and an Iron Pinn or Bolt, let him come hither to morrow morning, and have his eyes intent upon the waters〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉and when you see the waters troubled then let them knock with the Iron, and say,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉the victory is ours: and so let them not go back till they see〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉thick drops of blood upon the face of the waters. [The Gloss is; By this sign, it will appear that the Spirit was conquered and killed,] And so, they rest of the Legend tells us, that they did as was commanded, and did not depart till they saw the thick drops of blood upon the waters. Let them enjoy themselves in their doughty victory.
When the time was not afar off, wherein there should be a Fountain opened for sin, and for uncleanness, Zech. XIII. 1. viz. The Fountain of the blood of Christ; divine Providence would have it, that a thing of that inconceiveable excellency and benefit should not want some notable prognostick, and forerunner. And therefore amongst all the Fountains and Pools that were in Jerusalem for washing the unclean, he chose the most noble and celebrated Pool of Bethesda or Siloam, that in that might appear some pre∣figuration of his blood that should heal the world. Those waters therefore that had been only cleansing before, were made healing now; that, by their purifying and heal∣ing quality, they might prefigure, and proclaim, that that true and living Fountain was not far off, who should both purge and heal mankind in the highest degree.
How many years before our Saviour's suffering, this miraculous vertue of the Pool discovered its self, the Holy Story doth not tell us; and as for the traditional Books, I do not find that they once mention the thing, although I have turned over not a few of their Writings (if possible) to have met with it. From what Epocha therefore to date the beginning of it, would seem rashness in us to undertake the determining. Whether from the first structure of the Sheep-gate by Eliashib, as some persons of great note judge: or whether from the extinction of the Asmonean Family, or the rebuilding of the Temple by Herod, or from the Nativity of our Saviour, or from any other time let the Rea∣der make his own choice: What if we should date it from that great Earth-quake, of which Josephus g hath this passage: About that time, about the Battel of Actium betwixt*Cesar and Antony, the seventh year of the Reign of King Herod, there was a mighty Earth∣quake in Judea, that made an infinite slaughter of Beasts in that Country; and near ten thou∣sand people slain by the fall of Houses. Perhaps in that ruine the Tower of Siloam fell, of which, Luke XIII. 4. and what if then the Angel made his descent first into the Pool? as Matth. XXVIII. 2. There was a great Earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended, &c. But in this matter, I had rather learn than dogmatize.
Page 547It might be further enquired, at what time it was first known that the healing quality followed the troubling of the waters; but this is as dark and obscure as the former: especially when the Spirit of Prophecy, appearance of Angels, and working of Miracles had been things so long unwonted in that Nation.
The Masters attribute such a kind of an healing virtue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉to the fountain of Miriam, as they call it in the Sea of Tiberias.
hThe Story is〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉of a certain Ulcerous Man, who, went down to the Sea of Tiberias, that he might dip himself〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉and it hap∣pened to be the time when the Well of Miriam flowed, so that he swam there and was healed.
They have a fiction about a certain Well that opened it self to the Israelites in the Wilderness for the merits of Miriam, which at her departure disappeared. They sup∣pose also, as it should seem, that a certain Well or gulph, in some part of the Sea of Gen∣nesaret had obtained this Medicinal vertue for her sake. It is a wonder they had not got the story of this Pool by the end too, and attributed its vertue to the merits of So∣lomon, because this once was Solomon's Pool.
There was a time when God shewed wonders upon the Fountains and Rivers about Jerusalem, in a very different manner, that is, in great severity and judgment, as now in mercy and compassion.
i〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ These are the words of Josephus exhorting the people to surrender themselves. Those springs flow abun∣dantly to Titus, which as to us, had dryed away long before. For you know, how before his coming, Siloam, and all the Springs about the City failed so much, that water was bought by the bottle: but now, they bubble up afresh for your Enemies, and that in such abundance, that they have sufficiently, not only for themselves, but for their Cattel and Gardens. Which very miracle this Nation hath formerly experienced, when this City was taken by the King of Babylon.
If there was such a miracle upon the waters upon the approach of the Enemy and destroyer; it is less wonder, that there should be some miraculous appearances there, though in a different manner, at the approach of him who was to be our Saviour.
How long the vertue of this Pool lasted for healing the Impotent, whether to the de∣struction of Jerusalem; or whether it ceased before, or from this very time, it would be to as little purpose to enquire, as after the original and first appearance of it, being both so very uncertain and unintelligible.
