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. XVIII.

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

Falling headlong he burst asunder in the midst.

THE Vulgar and Erasmus have it, Suspensus crepuit medius: Being hang'd he crackt asunder in the midst. So the Italian Translation, Appicato crepo pelmezzo; rendring St. Matthew rather than St. Luke; and I question indeed whether they do rightly take the mind of St. Matthew while they so strictly confine the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to being hang'd. I have produced my conjecture concerning this business at Mat. XXVII. viz. that the De∣vil immediately after Judas had cast back his money into the Temple, caught him up into the air, strangled him, threw him headlong, and dasht him in pieces upon the ground. For,

• I. It is questionable enough whether the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 do necessarily and singly de∣note he hanged himself, and not as well, he was hanged or choaked. And indeed whether the word always suppose the Halter: how the learned Hiensius hath defended the negative, we may consult him upon this place, and upon Mat. XXVII.
• II. If Judas hanged himself as is commonly believ'd, and commonly so painted, how could it be said of him that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he fell headlong. Grant that upon the breaking of the Halter he might fall upon the ground, yet what matter is it whether he fell on his face, or that he fell backward. But if 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be derived 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as the Gramma∣rians would have it, it may be headlong as well as upon the face, that is as upon the face, is opposed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to supine or backward.
• III. Histories tell us of persons strangled by the Devil. That is a known passage in Tob. III. 8. Asmodeus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (so it is in the Heb. of P. Fagius) strangled Sarahs seven husbands, &c. and it may be the less wonder if the Devil being corporally seated in this wretch, should at last strangle him.
• IV. There are also Histories of the Devil snatching up some into the air, and carrying them away with him. Now of all mortals no wretch did ever more deserve so direful a fate than this Traytor; not did any other death become the most impious of all mankind than the dreadfullest the Devil (to whom he was intirely given up) could inflict, as what might be of most horrour to himself, and terrour to others.
• V. The words immediately following, That this was known to all the dwellers at Jerusa∣lem, ver. 19. argue it was a thing of no common and ordinary event, and must be some∣thing more than hanging himself, which was an accident not so very unusual in that Nation.

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

And all his bowels gushed out.

w 1.1 A certain Syrian saw a man who fell from the roof of his house upon the ground, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 his belly burst and his bowels gusht out. The Syrian brought the Son of him that had thus fallen, and slew him before him, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but at length it seem'd so. The

Gloss telleth us he did not strike or hurt the boy, but made as if he would have killed him; because he being loth to meddle with the mans bowels himself, for fear lest he should any way displace them; he seem'd as if he had kill'd the boy, that so the father upon the sight of it groaning and fetching strong and deep sighs, might draw in his bowels into their proper place again.

The Devil had dwelt in this wretch for three days or thereabout, from the time that he had enter'd him upon his receiving the Sop, Joh. XIII. and now by an horrid eruption tearing out his bowels he goes out again.

Notes

• w 1.1

  Cholin. fol. 56. 8.