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. IV.

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

Praying or prophesying having his head covered.

IT was the custom of the Jews, that they prayed not, unless first their head were vailed; and that for this reason, that by this rite they might shew themselves reve∣rent, and ashamed before God, and unworthy with an open face to behold him.

a 1.1 Let not the wise Men, nor the Scholars of the wise Men pray, unless they be covered. And the Gloss upon Schabbath, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 b 1.2 Let him vail himself out of re∣verence towards God. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 c 1.3 The Priests vail themselves, when they go up into the pulpit. d 1.4 Nicodemus went into the School, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And vailed himself, and prayed: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 e 1.5 A child, when he knows how to vail himself 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is bound to fringes upon the borders of his garment. f 1.6 Moses, in Mount Sinai, saw God 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 As an Angel of the Church vailed.

You may fetch a double reason of this vailing out of these words of the Rabbins. g 1.7 When one goes in to visit a sick person, let him not sit upon the bed, nor in a chair 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 but let him vail himself, and sit before him; for God is upon the pillow of the sick person.

Where the Gloss is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He vails himself by reason of the terror of God (or, reverence towards God) like a man that sits 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in fear, and looks not on this or that side of him. And, h 1.8 The Scholars of the wise Men (in solemn fasts) vail themselves, and ••it, as mourners and persons excommunicate, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 As those that are reproved by God: Namely, as being ashamed by reason of that reproof. So 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He that was reproved by some great Rabbin, kept himself at home, as one that was ashamed, nor did he stand before him, who made him ashamed, with his head uncovered.

We may observe Onkelos renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 With an high hand by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 With an un∣covered head. As in Exod. XIV. 8. The Israelites went out of Egypt with an uncovered head; that is, confidently, not fearfully, or as men ashamed. And Numb. XV. 30. The soul which committeth any sin 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 with an uncovered head; that is, boldly, and im∣pudently. So Jonathan also in Judg. V. 1. The wise Men returned to sit in the Syna∣gogues 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 With an uncovered head; that is, not fearing their enemies, nor shamed by them.

Men therefore vailed themselves, when they prayed, partly for a sign of reverence to∣wards God, partly to shew themselves ashamed before God, and unworthy to look up∣on him. In which thing that these Corinthians did yet Judaize, although now converted to Christianity, appears sufficiently from the correction of the Apostle.

Of the manner of vailing. See the Treatise Moed Katon i 1.9: and the Aruch l.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Maimon. in Tephil. cap. 5.
• b 1.2

  Fol. 12. 2.
• c 1.3

  Piskt Tosaph in Menacoth. numb. 150.
• d 1.4

  Avoth R. Nathan, cap. 6.
• e 1.5

  Erakin, fol. 2. 2.
• f 1.6

  Maimon. in Jesudei Torah. cap. 1.
• g 1.7

  Schabb. fol. 12. 1.
• h 1.8

  ••••••••ith, fol. 14▪ 2.
• i 1.9

  Fol. 15. 1. & 24. 1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉