The court of the Gentiles: or A discourse touching the original of human literature, both philologie and philosophie, from the Scriptures, and Jewish church in order to a demonstration, of 1. The perfection of Gods vvord, and church light. 2: The imperfection of natures light, and mischief of vain pholosophie. 3. The right use of human learning, and especially sound philosophie. / By T.G.

§. 3. To these Phenician words collected out of Sanchonia∣thon, we may adde many others to be found scattered up and down in other Authors. As in Josephus the Sun is stiled at Emesa Elagabalus, from the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So in Hesychius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is rendred Lord; the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: In Plutarch an oxe is sti∣led Thor, and Alpha which are the same with the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So Porphyrie tels us, that his own name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifies properly in the Phenician Tongue, a King, which exactly answers to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. * 1.1 Farther this very great Affinity, and for substance Identity 'twixt the Phenician and Hebrew Tongue is very evident from those Remainders we have of the Punick Language, which was originally the same with the Phenician. Thus Grotius, in his Epist: ad Gallos Epist: 114. (pag. 242) touch∣ing the identity of the Punick with the Phenician, as also of both with the Hebrew, writes thus to Salmasius.

In this Letter my Salmasius, thou dost rightly gather, that there were Phe∣nician words remaining in the Punick Language even unto Au∣stins time. This is taught us in Jerom by Alma 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which (saies he) signifies amongst the Phenicians a Virgin, as also in Austin by Salus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which, he saies, ••ignifies with the Phe∣nicians Three. These things being thus, 'tis yet true that Au∣stin, who was skilled in the Punick, was ignorant of the Hebrew. Without doubt; long custome had foisted many things into the Punick Tongue, w^ch were extrinsick thereto: & those very words which agree with the radical Letters of the Hebrews, differ somewhat in the sound of the vowels and flexion; as 'tis evi∣dent

from Sena in Plautus.

Thus Grotius. Yea this Affi∣nity 'twixt the Hebrew and Punick Tongue was long since ob∣served. * 1.2 Austin, expounding those words of Christ Mat. 6.24. saies,

that riches amongst the Hebrews were called Mammon, conformable to the Punick name: for gain in the Punick Tongue is stiled Mammon.

So again August: Serm: 35.

The Hebrew word Mammon (saies he) is akin to the Punick Tongue: for those Tongues are joyned together, by a certain vicinity of signification.

So Bochart (Can. lib. 2. cap. 16.) tels us, that both in the Hebrew and Phenician Dialect, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mammon, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, often signifies riches; whence it is that Psal. 37.3. the Greeks render 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Radix is not, as some will, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies to waxe rich. More∣over the Chaldees, as well as the Punicks, put 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for gain; which is frequently used in the Paraphrasts, for the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: see an example Gen. 37.26. Thus Glassius (Philolog. Sacr. lib. 1. Tract. 4. Sect. 2. can. 5.) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Syr. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mammona, some derive from the Hebr. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which, among other things, signi∣fies plenty of riches &c. Again Austin, on John Tract 15. tels us, that

anointed in Greek is Christus, & in the Hebrew Messias, whence also in the Punick Tongue Messe signifies anointed.

Messe is the same with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: whence 1 Sam. 16.22. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a∣noint him &c. But nothing does more evidently demonstrate the Identity of the Punick Language with the Hebrew, * 1.3 than that famous fragment of the Punick Tongue in Plautus's Paenulus, whereof we have an excellent explication, and that according to the Hebrew forme, given us by learned Bochart in his Can. lib. 2. cap. 6. fol. 801. Where we find the words of Plautus. N'yth alonim Valonuth &c. thus reduced, by Bochart, to the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Deos Deas{que} veneror, I worship the Gods and the Goddesses &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (saies he) is a particle of Prayer: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a note of the accusative case following. The reason why alonim Valonuth must signifie Gods and Goddesses, is given us by Joseph Scaliger, in the Appendix to his Emendatio Temporum: where

we are told, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 amongst the Phenicians signifies God; as Philo Byblius and Sisensa on this place have observed; that Alon in the Punick Tongue is God. Thus this fragment of the Punick Tongue, mentioned by Plautus (which has so much tor∣tured Criticks to interpret) is by Bochart reduced to, and ex∣plained by the Hebrew; which is an evident demonstration, that the old Punick differed not, in substance, from the Hebrew. Now that the Punick Language is the same originally with the Phenician, I conceive, no one skilled in these Tongues, can de∣ny. And indeed the Cognation 'twixt the names Paeni or Pu∣ni, and Phaenices declares the same. Besides it is a General Con∣cession, that Carthage, the chief seat of the Carthaginians, was founded by a Colonie of the Phenicians; from whom also they received their Language.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Punick words of Hebrew origina∣tion.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 6.24. Mammon.
• * 1.3

  Plautus's Paenu∣lus explicated.