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.

SECTION III.

The Sanhedrin sitting at Iabneh: Rabban Iochanan ben Zaccai President.

ALthough Rabban Simeon the President of the Council, was caught in Jerusalem as in a trap, and so lost his life, yet Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai his Vice-President, and who was also then in the City with him, made a shift to escape. He spake and acted for Caesar as much and as long as he durst, and when he saw he could no longer be in safety in the City, he caused his Scholars R. Joshua and R. Eliezer to carry him forth upon a Bier as a dead corps [for a dead corps might not rest in Jerusalem all night, and so he escaped and was brought to Caesar.] Thus R. Nathan tells the story, Avoth per. 4. This Rabban Jocha∣nan fourty years ago, when the Temple doors flew open of their own accord, foresaw its ruine in that presage, and accordingly applied that saying of the Prophet Zechary, Open thy doors O Lebanon that the fire may devour thy Cedars. Therefore when he saw the enemy now so straitly besieging the City, and such forerunners of ruine apparent, it is no won∣der if he used all perswasion to the people to yield and to save their City, as the same Author also tells us he did, and if he went and gave himself up to him that he knew should be Conqueror. Nor needed he any Prophetick spirit to foresee these things, but the very sickly condition and distemper of the Nation might plainly enough tell him, that her death could not be far off.

He finding favour with Caesar, petitioned of him, that the Sanhedrin might repair to its old place Jabneh, and there settle, and he obtained it. Jabneh was near unto Joppa upon the Sea coast: there is mention of it, 2 Chron. 26. 6. Here had the Sanhedrin sitten as we have mentioned, many years before the Temple fell, a good part of Gamaliels time, and all Rabban Simeons his son.

He sate President here five years: and these are the men of note that sate with him: Rabban Gamaliel, son to Rabban Simeon that was slain at the fall of the City: R. Zadok, one who had spent his body with extream fasting since the Temple doors had opened of their own accord, taking that for an omen of its ruine approaching: R. Eliezer his son: R. Judah and R. Joshua the sons of Betirah: R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus the Author of Pirke Eliezer: R. Joshuah, R. Eliezer ben Erech, R. Ismael, R. Jose, R. Simeon ben Nathaniel, R. Akibah, and divers others, who outlived Rabban Jochanan the most of them a long time. They made many Decretals in his time, especially about those things that had had immedi∣ate reference to the Temple, as see Rosh hashanah per. 4. Shekalim per. 1, &c.