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.

§. 8. * 1.1 Hence follows another Product of Uranus, called Baety∣lus, or Baetylion. So Philo Byblius out of Sanchoniathon, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The God Ʋranus ex∣cogitated Baetylia, having fashioned them into living stones. Bo∣chart (Can. lib. 2. cap. 2. fo. 785) conceives, that Sanchonia∣thon, for living stones, writ 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 anointed stones, from the radix 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which amongst the Syrians signifies to anoint; but, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 being transposed, for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Philo Bybli∣us read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; whence he changed anointed into living stones. * 1.2 And 'tis not improbable, but that the Devil might have an

hand in this transmutation, thereby to infuse a principle of I∣dolatrie into the credulous people; persuading them, that these Stones were indeed living. So Damascius tels us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, I saw a Baetulus moved in the Air. As for the original of these Baetylia, or Baetyli, 'tis made very probable by the learned Jo: Scaliger, Bochart, and Owen, that they had their original, by an hel-bred imitation, from Gen. 28.18,19. and Gen. 31.13. the stone which Iacob erected, as a me∣morial of Gods apparition to him; whence he called the name of the place Bethel, the house of God: and thence the Phenician Baetylia, or Baetyli. Thus Bochart Can. lib. 2. cap. 2. f. 785.

San∣choniathon called the Baetylia, anointed stones: which sprang from the example of Iacob, * 1.3 who Gen. 28.18. called the place Bethel &c. * 1.4 which God confirmes Gen. 31.13.

The Phenicians therefore imitating this, first worshipped this very stone, which the Patriarch anointed. So Scaliger in Euseb. (fol. 198. edit. 1^a.) tels us, that the Iews relate so much; namely, that

although that Cippus (or stone) was at first beloved by God, in the times of the Patriarchs, yet afterwards he hated it, because the Cananites turned it into an Idol.

Neither did the Phenicians onely worship this stone at Bethel, but also, in imitation of this Rite, erected several other Baetylia, and that on the very same occasion. For look as Jacob erected this pillar of stone, as a me∣morial of God's Apparition to him; so in like manner the su∣perstitious Pagans, both Phenicians and Grecians, upon some imaginarie 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Apparition of some God, (or the Devil rather) would erect their Baetylia, or Pillars, in comme∣moration of such an Apparition. So Photius, out of Da∣mascius, tels us: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c.

that near Heliopolis, in Syria, Asclepiades ascended the mountain of Libanus, and saw many Baetylia or Baetyli,

concerning which he relates many mi∣racles. He relates also,

that these Baetylia were consecrated some to Saturne, some to Jupiter, and some to others &c.

So Phavorinus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: Bae∣tylus

is a stone which stands at Heliopolis, near Libanus. This stone some also call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 stelae, which is the same word by which the LXX render Jacob's pillar, Gen. 28.18. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, where the LXX read it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: so Lev. 20.21. * 1.5 Again, this Baetylus or Bae∣tylion is by some called Abdir, Abadir, Abaddir. So Prisci∣anus lib. 5.

Abadir is God: also that stone which Saturne de∣voured for Jupiter, called by the Greeks Baetylus, has the same name given it.

Bochart (Can. lib. 2. cap. 2.) thinks this Abdir or Abaddir, to be derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ebin dir, which signi∣fies a round stone: for such was the figure of the Phenician Baety∣lia, as Damascius in Photius:

The Baetylus was a globe exact and round, of a whitish color, in length the Diameter of a span; but it appeared sometimes greater; sometimes lesser, some∣times also of a purple color.

Or else Abaddir may be the same with the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ab-addir, the magnifick father; by which name the Phenicians called their Gods, as Austin Epist. 44. All which laid together gives us evident notices, that this Bae∣tylus (the product or issue of Uranus) was but a corrupt Ape of Jacob's Bethel, Gen. 28.18. &c. See more of this in Owen de Idololatr. lib. 3. cap. 8. pag. 224. Also Bochart Can. lib. 2. cap. 2. and Stillingf. Orig. S. book 3. cap. 5. sect. 10.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Phenician Baetylia from Bethel. Gen. 28.18.
• * 1.2

  How these Bae∣tylia came to be Theogonized or made Gods.
• * 1.3

  Gen. 28.18.19.
• * 1.4

  Gen. 31.13.
• * 1.5

  Abaddir the same with Baety∣lus.