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. XX.

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

About the space of four hundred and fity years.

AMongst the many things that are offerd upon this difficulty, I would chuse this, that in this number are reckoned the years of the Judges, and the years of those Tyrants that opprest Israel, computing them disjunctly and singly, which at first sight any one would think ought to be so reckoned; but that 1 Kings VI. 1. gives a check to a too large computation.

1. The years of the Judges and Tyrants, thus distinguisht, answer the Sum exactly.

The Iudges.

Othniel	XL.
Eliud	LXXX.
Deborah	XL.
Gideon	XL.
Abimelech	III.
Tolah	XXIII.
Jair	XXII.
Jepthah	VI.
Ibsan	VII.
Elon	X.
Abdon	VIII.
Sampson	XX.
Eli	XL.
In all	CCCXXXIX.

The Tyrants.

Chushan	VIII.
Eglon	XVIII.
Sisera	XX.
Midian	VII.
Ammon	XVIII.
The Philistins	XL.
In all	CXI.

So that reckoning three hundred thirty nine, and one hundred and eleven together, the Sum amounts exactly to four hundred and fifty.

II. Josephus seems expressly to follow this computation. s 1.1 Solomon began to build his Temple in the fourth year of his reign, and in the second month, which the Macedonians term Artemision, the Hebrews Ijar. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. After five hundred ninety and two years, from the Israelites going out of Egypt.

In 1 Kings VI. 1. there are reckoned four hundred and fourscore years. Josephus, five hundred ninety two, exceeding that number by a hundred and twelve years: So as the three years of the Tyrants makes the number to exceed in this place.

III. In the particular summing up of these years, I cannot omit what is said concern∣ing Sampson in the Jewish Writers t 1.2. Sampson saith, O Lord Eternal, give me a recom∣pence for one of mine eyes, in this world, and for the other, in the world to come. One place saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And he judged Israel forty years. Another place saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And he judged Israel twenty years. R. Acha saith, by this it is hinted that the Philistines were afraid of him twenty years after his death, as they had stood in fear of him twenty years while he was alive.

From these words we might imagine that it was written concerning Sampson that he judged Israel Forty years, which yet is no where found: only it is said in two places (Judg. XV. 20. and Chap. XVI. 31.) that he judged twenty years. Whence the Jewish Writers draw that conclusion as was said before, viz. that the Philistines were under the terror of him, for the space of twenty years after he had been dead. Indeed it is said of Eli, That he judged Israel forty years, 1 Sam. IV. 18. which when I observe the LXX. rendring by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, twenty years, I cannot but suspect they might somewhat fa∣vour the received opinion amongst the Jews.

Notes

• s 1.1

  Antiqu. lib. 8. cap. 2.
• t 1.2

  Hieros. Sotah, fol. 17. 2.