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 V.

The Sanhedrin still at Iabneh. R. Akibah President.

THE twelve years of Rabban Jochanan and Rabban Gamaliel, reached from the second year of Vespasian, when the Sanhedrin was first setled at Jabneh, to the second year of Domitian: there begins R. Akibah his Presidency, and sate fourty years, namely to the time of the sacking of the Town Bitter or Beth tar, which the Jews generally six fifty two years after the fall of the Temple, or at most fifty five: So that he sate all the time of Domitian and Trajan, to the fifth or at most the eighth year of Hadrianus.

His time was a troublesom time with the Jews. In Domitians days, Judaicus fiscus praeter caeteros acerbissime actus, Above all others the Jews were plagued with taxes and con∣••iscations. Sueton in Domit. cap. 12. where he adds, I remember when I was a boy, I was present when a man of ninety years old was searched before a great company whether he were Circumcised or no.

In Trajan's time was that horrd insurrection of the Jews, mentioned by Dion. lib. 68. about Cyrene, where they murdered Romans and Greeks, to the number of two hun∣dred and twenty thousand; eat their flesh, devoured their intrails, and dawbed them∣selves with their blood: And the like insurrection they made in Egypt and Cyprus, and murdered to the number of two hundred and fourty thousand. Tsemach David makes Ben Coziba a chief leader in this business: who if he were, received his just re∣ward in the time of Hadrian. He took on him to be Messias; made himself a King, stamped Coyn of his own: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Jerus. Maasar Sheni fol. 52. col. 4. brought the Romans against him, who destroyed him and the City Bitter, and multi∣tudes of thousands of Jews with him. The Jews commonly write it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but in

Jerus. Taanith. fol. 68. col. 4. it is written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Beth tar: which properly signi∣fies the house of spies. And there a story is told that makes it no better, of the great ones that had escaped at the ruine of Jerusalem, and dwelt here, and intrap∣ped any man that they saw go toward Jerusalem. Eusebius Hist. lib. 4. cap. 6. calls it Betheka, and saith it was not far from Jerusalem: which Barronius boldly translates Bethlehem. The Jews do character the doleful slaughter at this place as the saddest stroke that ever they received, but the fall of Jerusalem. Rabbi Aki∣bah himself perished in it, dotingly having become Armour bearer to Ben Coziba, as holding him to be the Messias. You may observe what kind of a Messias they expect.

Dion tells that in this War Severus, whom Hadrian had sent to quel them, took fifty of their strongest Garrisons, and destroyed nine hundred fourscore and five fair Towns. And he also destroyed all the Olive trees in Judea. Jerusal. Peah. fol. 20. col. 1. How they themselves record the slaughter at Beth tar, may be seen in the Jerusalem Talmud in Taanith, the place cited above, and the Babylonian in Gittin fol. 57. 2.

Whence their first tumultuating took its rise, is of some obscurity, only it may be resolved into Gods just judgment upon them to stir to their own ruine. Yet Spartianus speaking of their stirring in the time of Hadrian saith, it was because they were forbidden Circumcision. Moverunt ea tempestate & Judaei bellum quod ve∣tabantur mutilare genitalia. In vit. Hadrian. Trajan put a restraint upon Christiani∣ty and persecuted it. Plin. Epist. lib. 10. ep. 97. It may be he did the like upon Judaism, and that might move them to an insurrection. The horrid Massacres that they committed in Cyrene, Egypt and Cyprus might be looked upon as a just judge∣ment for his persecution of Christianity, if multitudes of Christians did not also pe∣rish in those slaughters, if Ben Coziba were ringleader in them: For Justin Martyr, Apol. 2. saith, that Barchochebas brought Christians only to torture, unless they would deny Christ and blaspheme him. And Euseb. in Chron. Chocebas the ringleader of the Jews., put to death with all exquisite torture those Christians that would not assist him against the Romanes. That is worth observing which is spoken by Jerus. Jevamoth. fol. 9. col. 1. There were many that had retracted their foreskin in the days of Ben Coziba, were Circumcised again: which R. Nissim speaks out more at large: There were many Circumcised ones in the days of Ben Coziba, who had retracted their foreskin per∣force, in the Town of Bitter, but the hand of Ben Coziba prevailed, and reigned over them two years and an half, and they were Circumcised again in his days. In Alphes. in Je∣vam. fol. 428. their retracting their foreskin perforce speaks much like to that which was mentioned before out of Spartianus.

In these times also [of Trajane I suppose] there was an Edict against the Jews Ordination upon pain of death to him that did Ordain, and him that was Ordain∣ed, and ruine of the place where any Ordination should be Talm. Bab. Avodah Zarah. fol. 8. 2.

And from the time of these tumults forward that began to take place which is spoken in Jerus. Sanhed. fol. 24. col. 2. That in the days of R. Simeon ben Jochai [who was now alive] the judging even in pecuniary matters was taken away. In fol. 18. col. 1. This is said to have been in the days of Simeon ben Shetah: but that is a mistake which is corrected in the place cited.

Upon these Wars and Tumults Hadrian forbids the Jews to go to Jerusalem, or so much as to look upon it from any hill where it might be seen. Euseb. hist. lib. 4. cap. 6.

Triphon the Jew that hath the long dispute with Justin Martyr, fled from these Wars Justin. Dial. cum Tryph. he might very well be R. Tarphon, a great associate with R. Aki∣bah, and one much mentioned in the Talmuds.