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. XXXVI.

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

Before these days rose up Thudas.

JOsephus makes mention of one Theudas an impostor, f 1.1 whose Character indeed agrees well enough with this of ours, but they seem to disagree in time. For Josephus brings in his Theudas 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, when Fadus was Governour of Ju∣dea, about the fifth or sixth year of Claudius: and Gamaliel brings in his, before the times of Judas the Galilean.

Those that are advocates for Josephus, do imagine there might be another Theudas besides him that he mentions; and they do but imagine it, for they name none. I could instance indeed in two more of that name, neither of which agree with this of Gamaliel, or will afford any light to the Chronology of Josephus.

I. We meet with one Theudas a Physician, in Bab. Sanhedr. g 1.2 where there is a dispute upon no mean question, viz. where Daniel was at that time that Nebuchadnezar's image was set up and worshipped, that he should all that while come under no examination nor have any the least harm f••ll to him; And it •…•…g answered amongst other things that he was then sent into Egypt to fetch some sw••••e thence: it is objected 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Is it so indeed? but this is the tradition: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Theudas the Physitian saith that neither Cow nor Sow come from Alexandria of Egypt.

II. There is mention of one Theudas a Jew living at Rome. h 1.3 The Tradition of R. Jose saith 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Theudas a man at Rome, taught men (i. e. Jews) at Rome 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that on the Passover nights they should eat whole kids roasted; the Gloss is, the trotters, legs, &c. The Wise men sent to him, threatning excommunication, because he taught Israel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to eat holy things without, i. e. the Passover at Rome, which it was not lawful to eat but at Jeru∣salem; for, as the Gloss hath it, whosoever should see kids so roasted, would conceive they were consecrated for Paschal Lambs. I am very apt to believe that the procoenium or meal before the Lord's Supper, Cor. XI. 21. might be some such thing as this.

Can we suppose now, that Gamaliel could have either of these Theudas in his eye? In∣deed neither the one nor the other have any agreeableness with that Character that is given of this Theudas about whom we are enquiring. That in Josephus is much more adapted; and grant only that the Historian might slip in his Chronology, and there is no other difficulty in it. Nor do I indeed see why we should give so much deference to Josephus in this matter, as to take such pains in vindicating his care or skill in it. We must (forsooth) find out some other Theudas, or change the stops in the verses, or invent some other plaister for the sore, rather than Josephus should be charged with the least mistake; to whom yet both in History and Chronology it is no unusual thing to trip or go out of the road of truth. I would therefore think that the Theudas in Josephus is this same in Gameliel, only that the Historian mistook in his accounts of time, and so defaced a true story by false Chronology.

Notes

• f 1.1

  Antiqu. l. 20. cap. 2.
• g 1.2

  Fol. 53. ••▪
• h 1.3

  Hieros. Jon. Tobb. fol. 61. 3. & Mo••d Katon, fol. 81. 4. & Beb. Beracoth. fol. 19. 1.