the salt-sea to Beth-hoglah 2 Thence by the north of Beth-araba 3 Thence it went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben 4 Thence towards Debir from the valley of Achor 5 So northwards looking to Gilgal before the going up to Adummin on the south side of the river 6 Thence towards the water of Enshemesh 7 Thence to Enrogel Thence by the vally of Benhinnom unto the south of IerusaleÌ„ 8 Thence to the top of the mountain at the end of the vally of Rephaim 9 Thence to the fountain of Nephtoah 10 Thence to the cities of mount Ephron 11 Thence to Kiriath-jearim 1 From Kiriath-jearim westward it compasseth unto mount Seir. 2 Thence it passeth along to the side of mount Iearim or Chesalon 3 Thence went down to Bethshemesh 4 Thence passed on to Timnah 5 Thence unto the side of Ekron northward 6 Thence was drawn to Shichron 7 Thence passed along to mount Baalah 8 Thence went out unto Iabneel 9 Thence the west border ended at the Great Sea These west bounds of Iudah were afterwards altered falling into the middest of the Tribe of Dan. Now as in the body of a man if an inspection might be made into it whilest he is alive every nerve and artery therein then flushed up with the spirits is easily to be discerned which after death shrink almost invisible past discovering so each small angle and turning of Iudah's bounds in Ioshua's time was then plainly to be perceived which now adays the land long since being in a manner dead and desolate are not at all conspicuous nor fall they under any accurate observation § 15. Amongst all these limitary places Kadesh-Barnea is onely of eminency whither the children of Israel came and where they stayed some time after their coming out of Egypt in the very edge and entrance of the land of Canaan Thus that land was like a rich robe whose utmost hem the Iews were permitted to touch onely that their fingers might feel the fineness thereof but were denied to wear it and remanded to wander another way many years for the punishment of their infidelity And thus many come to the Kadesh-Barnea of common illumination who never attain to the true Canaan of holiness here or happiness hereafter § 16. In describing this spacious Tribe we will begin with the eleven royall Cities therein whose Kings were destroyed by Ioshua These according to their dignities may thus be reckoned up 1 Ierusalem whereof largely hereafter 2 Hebron 3 Debir 4 Libnah 5 Lachish 6 Adullam 7 Geder 8 Iarmuth 9 Eglon. 10 Arad 11 Hepher These royall Cities though scattered here and there in this Tribe need no other Herauld in our map to proclaime them to the Readers notice being quickly found out by their coronets graven upon them From these we shall proceed to other towns of eminency reserving the rivolets and wildernesses to close this our description § 17. Hebron was the principall royall city belonging to Iudah seven years senior in its building to Zoan a City in Egypt more anciently it was called Kiriath-Arba that is say some the City of four men because of four Patriarchs as they reckon them up Adam Abraham Isaac and Iacob buried therein But I wonder any should delight in their own wild conjectures when the text tendereth us a certainty herein assuring us that this Arba from whom Kiriath-Arba or Hebron was named was a great man among the Anakims This City stood in the vale of Mamre so called from Mamre a person of quality in this place who with Aner and Eshcol were Abrahams loving associates and valiant assistants in conquering Cheder-laomer and rescuing the captive Sodomites Abraham Isaac and Iacob lived here successively and from the vale of Hebron Ioseph was sent on a loving visit to his brethren when for his good will they sold him to the Ishmaelites § 18. Hereabouts was that great entertainment made wherein the covert of a tree was the dining-room the ground probably the board Abraham the Caterer Sarah the Cook veal and welcome their cheer Angels in the shape of men Christ in the notion of an Angel the guests and the last promise of Isaac the free-offering they gave for their entertainment Yea in Hebron Isaac was born suckled weaned persecuted by Ishmael till at last he mocked both himself and his mother Haâ—gar quite out of his Fathers family § 19. Near Hebron was the cave of Machpelah purchased by Abraham of Ephron the Hittite with the field about it and all the trees therein at the price of four hundred shekells of silver for the burying of Sarah himself and his family For here Isaac Ishmael though formerly the one perscuted the other lovingly agreed to bury Abraham their Father Iacob Esau though formerly the one designed the others death lovingly agreed to bury Isaac their Father Ioseph and his brethren though formerly they envied and sold him lovingly agreed to bury Iacob their Father And thus though branglings and brawlings may happen betwixt brethren when young all animosities ought to be buried in the grave of their Fathers § 20. In the time of Ioshua Hebron had a King whom he conquered and subdued and afterwards this place was made a City of Refuge and assigned with twelve moe in this Tribe and Benjamin unto the Priests the sons of Aaron who were above common Levites as employed in ordinary attendance about the Tabernacle Herein God provided not onely for their conveniency accommodating them with habitations near Ierusalem as the place hereafter intended for his publick service but chiefly for their conscience placing them in these two Tribes whom he foresaw would alone persevere in when the others would apostate from the true Religion Yea the Priests had the best and biggest places in Iudah as Hebron Debir Libnah formerly Royall afterwards Sacerdotall Cities God allowing his Ministers large maintenance and indeed a beggerly Clergy is the forerunner of a bankrupt Religion § 21. But although the City of Hebron pertained to the Priests the suburbs thereof by Gods appointment belonged to Caleb and his posterity This Caleb was that young-old man whose strength contradicted his years so able and active at fourscore and five either for advice or execution But here he eate not the bread of idleness being first to clear and conquer Hebron before he could possess it from the Giant-Amorite-Anakims dwelling therein These Amorites though as the Prophet describes them high as the Cedars and strong as the Oakes had notwithstanding to follow this Metaphor much wastfull sap in their mighty big bodies whilst Caleb all heart as his name imports though less and lower by Gods assistance easily overcame them If any demand How came Anakims hither seeing Hebron so lately was smitten by Ioshua A learned author answers that it is probable whilest Ioshua afterwards was employed in the north in conquering the
blessing brought the possession of the upper and nether springs along with it Know also in after ages the south part of Iudah was called Caleb probably from the large inheritance Caleb obtained in these parts and puissance of his posterity therein Thus the Egyptian giving an account of the passages of the army of the Amalekites confesseth they had been roving upon the coast that belonged to Iudah and upon the south of Caleb § 29. Libnah is the third in honour of the nine royall Cities in the days of Ioshua assigned afterwards for the Priests habitation Long it continued loyall to the Crown of Iudah untill in the days of Iehoram that ungodly unmercifull unsuccesfull unbeloved unlamented King Edom revolted from under the hand of Iudah unto this day then Libnah revolted at the same time Was it casualty or confederacy by mutuall intelligence that both thir defections bare the same date Surely breach of faith is a catching disease yea infectious from one to another But how could the inhabitants of Libnah being Priests whose best livelyhood depended on their personall officiating in the Temple at Ierusalem subsist being cut off from their service and the salary thereof Yea did they not thereby necessarily apostate from their religion to God desert his Temple and their own profession Except any will say easier spoken then proved that at this present not the Priests but some other persons were possessours of Libnah We finde not this City afterwards reduced to the Kings of Iudah whereupon some conceive that henceforward it stood on its own bottome as an absolute Common-wealth § 30. If any object it impossible that Libnah so small a City should subsist here as a free State against all the powers of the Kings of Iudah let such look on little Lucca in Italy and less Geneva in France defended by their foes from their foes environed with enemies on all sides yet so that rather then any one shall subdue them all the rest will assist them Such probably was the position and politick State-poizing of Libnah seated in the vicinity of the Kings of Iudah Israel and the Philistines not to say Egypt though far off might come in as a protectour thereof that it might make a Cordiall of a self-subsistance from the Antidotes of its enemies Afterwards we finde Sennacherib fighting against Libnah whence he sent a railing message to Hezekiah but read nothing of the taking thereof yea probably here the Angel by night did that memorable excution slaying an hundred fourscore and five thousand of his numerous army § 31. Lachish must not be forgotten whose King was destroyed by Ioshua King Amaziah conspired against by his subjects in Ierusalem fled hither in vain for They sent after him to Lachish and slew him there It was a leading City in Idolatry infected from Israel and infecting of Iudah Micah prophesied in particular against this City warning it to prepare for speedy captivity from its enemies O thou inhabitant of Lachish binde the charet to the swift beast she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee And although we finde not Lachish taken by Sennacherib who warred against it yet it escaped not the fury of Nebuchadnezzar though one of the last Cities by him subdued § 32. But Adâ—llam another regall City in Iudah was more ancient where Hirah Iudah's fast friend dwelt though employed by him but as a pandar post factum to carry Tamar the hire of her whoredome In a cave hereabouts repaired to David every one that was in distress and every one that was in debt and every one that was discontented and he became a Captain over them Was this well done of him to be Protector Generall of Out-laws thereby defying justice defrauding creditours defeating Gods command which provided that the debâ—er if not solveable should be sold for satisfaction Alas his need is all that can be alleadged in his excuse Sure I am David promised when in power to make his own choice that his houshold or Court should consist of persons better qualified However these men freely resorting to him were better then those hired by Abimelech vain and light persons and as far to be preferred before them as want is more excusable then wickedness Yea we may charitably believe Davids consorts impoverisht not by their own carelesness but their creditors cruelty § 33. As for Gedar it hath formerly been described in Simeon onely we will adde that Baal-hanan the Gederite was of this place Davids Overseer over the Olive trees and Sycamore trees in the low plain This name of Baal-hanan inverted is the same with Hannibal that great Generall of the Carthaginians See here the affinity of the Hebrew with the Phoenician or Carthaginian tongue Wonder not that Baal-hanan or Hannibal was a fashionable name for potent persons in these parts we finde also a King of Edom so called seeing it signifieth a Lord in grace or favour and our Saviour hath told us such as exercise authority over others are called Gracious Lords As for Iâ—rmuth Eglon and Arad we read nothing of them remarkable since their severall Kings were destroied by Ioshua Of Hepher we shall speak more properly in the close of this Description § And now what a fall must our Description have from the Cities of Kings to the Manor of a clown the fruitfull Carmell not far from the Dead-sea Here folly and wisdome dwelt under the same roof sate at the same table slept in the same bed Nabal and Abigail Are matches made in heaven and was Abigail so ill beloved there to be condemned to such a choice Surely God saw it most for his own glory and her good for the emprovement of her patience This Nabal proved himself a perfect Miser both by his niggardliness to David and prodigality of the King-like dinner he made to his shepheards But both he and his family had been utterly destroyed by David had not the discreet mediation of Abigail been seasonably interposed § 35. After his gluttonous supper Abigail next morning serves Nabal with a thrifty breakfast telling him of the great danger he so narrowly had escaped Hereupon his heart dyed within him Thus some drunkards have been said to have swooned when sober at the serious review of such perils they so neerly escaped in the fits of their distemper Probably feare encreased his sadness suspecting to fall into a relapse of Davids disfavour and that his anger might revert to give him another visite hereafter Thus the wrath of a King though but in reversion is as the roaring of a Lion Yea Nabal became as a stone and no wonder being little better then a stock before such his senseless stupidity But though he was a churl in his miserable living he was bountifull in his seasonable dying freeing Abigail from
surrounded on all sides with Iudah whereas in your Map the northern side thereof is all along fairly flanked with the Tribe of Don. Aleth You may remember what we so lately proved that Dan's portion primitively pertained to Iudah and was a canton cut out thereof In which sense according to Scripture Simeons inheritance was within the children of Iudah's and originally encompassed therewith Philol. Why call you this Tribe a jagged remnant being as whole a cloth as the rest and though not so great as entire as the other Tribes I am not sensible by this your Map of any notorious dispersedness of the Simeonites habitations Aleth Undoubtedly Iudah his portion made many incisures and larcinations into the Tribe of Simeon hindering the entireness thereof Particularly Askelon and Gaza first given to once possessed by Iudah though regained by the Philistines were continued and tyed by some narrow labell of land to the main of Iudah at leastwise had a Church-path as I may terme it a passage to the Temple without going through any part of Simeon But wanting certain instructions how to contrive and carry on such indented conveyances and not willing to confine the Reader to our conjecturall fancies we have left him to his liberty presenting Simeon entire wherein he may frame such incursions of Iudah as comply best with his own opinion Philol. You make this Tribe to range some miles south of Beer-sheba whereas that place passeth currant for the utmost border of the Countrey What more common in Scripture then from Dan to Beer-sheba that is from the north to the south of the land of Canaan Aleth It was the utmost eminent City but not absolutely the farthest place in Palestine as neither mentioned amongst the southern boundaries of the land in generall Numb 34. nor with the utmost limits of the Tribe of Iudah Iosh. 15. In ordinary discourse we measure England east and west from Dover to the Mount as the farthest western place of note though Cornwall stretches seven miles beyond it unto the lands end So Beer-sheba was the remotest remarkable City of Canaan where the cloth as I may say ended though the list thereof reached beyond it to the River of Egypt CHAP. XIII Objections against Benjamin answered Philol. VVHy make you Nob a Levite City in Benjamin within the suburbs of Anathoth Seeing Nob is neither named amongst the four Cities bestowed on the Levites in this Tribe Iosh. 21. 17. nor is it any of the eight and forty belonging unto them throughout the whole Countrey of Canaan Aleth That Nob was in this Tribe appears by that caâ—alogue of Cities presented us in Nehemiah which the Benjamites repossessed after their return from Babylon That it was a Levites yea a Priests City appears too plainly by the Massacre therein on them committed We confess it none of the eight and forty originally assigned to the Levites Yet how they in after-ages were capable of supernumerary Cities more then in their first Charter and how the Mortâ—main of the Levites as I may term it was enlarged with new foundations we have lately answered in the objections of Ephraim whither we refer you for further satisfaction Philol. You make the sons of Saul executed on an hill nigh Gibeah of Saul which your judicious friend will have hung up before the Tabernacle in Gibeon observing therein an exemplary piece of divine justice that whereas Saul had ruined the Tabernacle at Nob his sons were hung up before the same in Gibeon Aleth Not to be a Plaintise against him but a Defendant of my self I conceive him mistaken in confounding Gibeah of Saul with Gibeon distinct Cities as may appear by their severall owners and actions therein performed GIBEON GIBEAH An ancient City of the Hivites whose inhabitants deceived the Israelites given to the Levites in the Tribe of Benjamin where the Tabernacle was set up in the time of Solomon A City in Benjamin hard by Iâ—rusalem distinct from the former whose inhabitants were meer Benjamites and by their lust abused the Levites Concubine to death for which their Tribe was almost extirpated it was afterwards called Gibeah of Saul from his birth and frequent residence therein Now the text expresly saith that the Gibeonites did hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul that is in Sauls native place and Court where he had issued out his cruell edicts for the slaughter of the Gibeonites Philol. But that expression they hanged them in the hill before the Lord imports the same performed in some religious place probably in the prospect or view of the Tabernacle Aleth Before the Lord implies no more then what in the foregoing verse was termed unto the Lord that is in a sacred manner not out of private revenge but in an holy zeal tendering the parties executed an oblation to divine justice and so is interpreted by the Expositors thereon Philol. In your particular Map of Benjamin Iordan runs almost directly south the whole course of whose channell visibly bendeth eastward in your Map generall of Palestine Aleth That generall Map though first placed was last perfected wherein we have amended three mistakes as escaped in our particular descriptions One that wherein you instance another 〈◊〉 Reâ—â—en formerly forgottâ—n to be confessed making that Tribe a little longer from north to south then it is represented in our particular description thereof My care shall be God willing in the second edition to conforme those particular Maps according to these rectisiâ—ations in the generall description CHAP. XIV Objections against Judah answered Philol. WOuld not it affright one to see a dead man walk And will not he in like manner be amazed to see the Dead-sea moving Why have you made the surface of the waters thereof waving as if like other seas it were acted with any tyâ—e which all Authors avouch and your self confesseth to be a standing stinking lake Thinkâ— not to plead that such waving is the impression of the winde thereupon seeing Tacitus affirmes of this sea Neque vento impellitur it is such a drone it will neither goe of it self nor yet be driven of the winde Aleth I will not score it on the account of the Graver that it is onely lascivia or ludicrum coeli the over-activity of his hand And in such cases the flourishings of the Scrivener are no essentiall part of the Bond but behold Mercators and other Authors Maps and you shall finde more motion therein then is here by us expressed The most melancholy body of moisture especially of so great extent is necessarily subject to such simpering in windy weather as inseparable from the liquidity thereof Philol. Why set you Zeboim most northernly of all the five Cities in the Dead-sea in the place where Sodome is situated in all other descriptions Aleth The placing of them is not much materiall whether longwise all in a File as Mr. More sets them
enlarged their coast though we read of no such addition either in Davids or Solomons time The Cities were so conveniently distanced by Gods appointment that in half a day men for their lives will take wide and thick strides some one of them might be recovered from the remotest corner of the land Let Historians relate the Laws of such Sanctuaries whereof these most fundamentall 1t. Strangers and sojourners in Israel were capable of the priviledge thereof as well as native Iews 2ly Any murderer that could might fly thither without any hindrance or interruption Thou shalt prepare thee a way Otherwise such obstructions would have frustrated and defeated the main intent of such priviledged places 3ly If the murderer could but reach the border of such cities of refuge the very hemme of Christs garment had soveraign vertue in it distant as is aforesaid from the City it self it was a sufficient protection for him till his cause was examined before the Judges 4ly Upon examination those were denied the benefit of refuge and delivered up to Justice who had committed murder out of malice prepense or had killed one as we may say with a malicious weapon namely if the bigness or sharpness thereof be it iron wood or stone was mortall in view carried death in the sight thereof as probable enforced with ones hand to kill a man 5ly Others who casually had killed their neighbour might live safely in the City till the death of the High-priest typifying the suffering of our Saviour whose execution is our gaol-delivery 6ly If the murderer wandring out of the suburbs was found by the avenger of bloud he forfeited his protection and might be killed with indemnity 7ly After the high-High-priests death say the Rabbines without Express from Scripture the party was remitted to his innocence not honour restored to his liberty not lustre clouded the remnant of his life because of the scandall that came by his hand Forget we not here that besides these six Cities the Altar in the Tabernacle or Temple was reputed the seventh and paramount place of murderers protection § 9. The brook from the west begins at Machaerus one of the strongest inland Forts in the world nature having prevented Art therein so impregnable is the City and Castle upon the top of a steep hill with a deep valley round about Hither Iosephus saith Herod the Tetrarch sent Iohn the Baptist to be beheaded For which fact his great army was afâ—terwards overthrown by Aretas King of Arabia Hereabout two springs arise of contrary natures One hot and sweet the other cold and bitter Both which meeting together make a most excellent Bath cordiall for severall diseases As if nature thereby would lesson us that moderation wherein extremities agree is the best cure for all distempers These waters are approved excellent for the contraction of the nerves either inwardly taken or outwarldly applied Herod the King being sick newly come out of a Bath of bloud of the innocent Bethlehem-babes was hither directed in vain by his Physitians the water refusing to be guilty of such a Tyrants recovery On this stream stood Lasha mentioned Genesis 10. 19. afterwards called Callirrhoe or the Fair stream And now what pity is it that such percious water should presently be spilt into the the Dead Sea But what remedy Fair and foul faces must meet together in the grave § 10. As for the Dead sea which onely peeps into a corner of this Tribe but stedfastly faceth a whole side of Iudah more properly thereof hereafter And as for Iosephus his valley of Baaras with the strange growing gathering working of the famous root therein we mention it not to seem wholly ignorant thereof and but mention it not to seem over credulous therein Hereabouts is plenty of Alum and Brimstone the latter probably some stragling drops of that direfull shower which was rained on Sodome and Gomorrah leaving some tincture in the adjacent Countrey as a remembrancer of so great a Judgment § 11. It is now high time that we survey the west of this Tribe which Iordan as we have said divideth from Ephraim and Benjamin This is the true meaning of Deborah's complaint uttered and repeated for the divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart namely because that Tribe separated by Iordan from the western continent of Canaan could not come seasonably to the succour of Barak and subduing of Sisera This River used to overflow all his banks in the first moneth 1 Chron. 12. 15. parallel to the end of our March and beginning of Aprill or as it is said Iosh. 3. 15. at the time of harvest Which vast distance in our English Climate as much as betwixt Spring and Autumn is easily reconciled and made to meet in Iudea where the Harvest â—t large is dated from the first fruits and those ripe in Aprill in that hot countrey Let Naturalists discuss the cause whence this inundation of Iordan proceeds whether from the violence of winds then blowing on its stream and angring it beyond his banks or from the influence of the Moon Commandress over moist bodies and their motions or from the confluence of Snow dissolved from the mountains But my discourse like Iordan overflowes it shall return within its banks § 12. In the northwest corner of this Tribe Iordan first entring into it is fordeable at Bethbara or Bethabara that is the house of passage For Gideon having the Midianites in chace sent messengers to all in mount Ephraim a service most proper for them cause in their confines to take before them the water unto Bethbara and Iordan which there with good guides and high Camels might be waded over but more southward the river is fenced by its own breadth and depth against all Passengers And here afterward did Iohn baptize our Saviour As for Aphek hard by we place it here rather in conformity to others then convinced in our own judgment of the true situation thereof § 13. The altar Ed or witnesse was hereabouts erected by the Reubenites Gadites and half Tribe of Manasseh returning from the conquest of Canaan This Altar was a bridge in effect to conjoin these divided Tribes with the rest severed by water the same in worship on the other side Iordan in position on the same side with the other Tribes in Religion But though there was a noon-day of Innocence in their intentions yet because though not a night of guiltiness a twilight of suspicion obscured their actions it occasioned jealousies in their brethren as if they had hatched some idolatrous designe But when the matter came to be disputed in a military way the controversie was ended by the right stating of the question and a seasonable distinction well applied that it was an Altar onely of memoriall and not for any burnt meat or Peace-offering O that all differences between brethren might winde off in so welcome a conclusion § 14.
Tabernacle where the Benjamites as yet unprovided for wives lying in ambush in the vineyards violently seised some of those maides for their brides happy man be his dole making strange matches if each interest concerned therein be seriously considered § 15. First for the Fathers of these virgins Did this equivocating expedient satisfie their consciences who had formerly sworn not to give their daughters to the Benjamites to wife and yet now by laying the design themselves did in effect give these women in marriage to these men § 16. Secondly for the young men What assurance had they they could love not choosing the fittest whom they liked of but catching the first they lighted on Or that they could be beloved storming their wives with violence in stead of taking their affections by mutual composition § 17. As for these Brides of fortune may we not presume that many of them which danced this day wept on the morrow Yet one thing might comfort them they were all richly married to mighty matches of landed men seeing the fair and fruitfull Tribe of Benjamin with all the Cities therein was to be shared amongst their six hundred husbands alone as the sole survivers and absolute heires of the whole Countrey § 18. In Shiloh Eli lived Priest and Judge of Israel whither Elkanah and Hannah Samuels parents repaired to Gods publick worship This Hannah though silent when twiâ—ted by Peninnah for barrenness found her tongue when here taxed by Eli of drunkenness because a meer sufferer in the former but in the latter a sinner had the accusation been true Samuel here prayed for afterward here served God in a linen Ephod and though generally there was a dearth of visions in this age here he had many revealed unto him But Eli's dim eies connived here at his sons impieties Whose servant with his Trident an Innovation no doubt and none of the utensils made by Moses according to the pattern of the mount would have raw flesh for his Master so that what between the raw flesh here sacrilegiously stolne and the strange flesh wherewith those Priests abused themselves at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation any pious eares would now tingle to hear their faults as hereafter at their punishment § 19. For soon after happned the destruction of Hophni and Phinehas slain in battell the Arkes captivity Eli's heart-breaking with the news neck-breaking with his fall the death of Phinehas his wife newly delivered whose son got the sad name not of Benoni a name calculated for private pangs but of Ichabod from this sorrowfull accident because born in this grand eclipse when the glory was departed from Israel § 20. Yea the very city of Shiloh it self may seem in some sort to expire on the same occasion which as it owed its life and lustre to the Tabernacles residence therein so sinks down in silence at the captivity thereof For we finde no after mention of any eminent act therein onely that Ahijah the Prophet long after lived there He was the Jewish Tiresias though blinde a Seer who discerning Ieroboams wife through her disguise foretold the death of her sick son Abijah So much of Shiloh proceed we now to the more northern and mountainous part of this Tribe § 21. Amongst the remarkable places in mount Ephraim we find Timnath Serah or Timnath Here 's by inversion of the letters on the northside of the hill Gaash where when they had made an end of dividing the land the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Ioshua See here his publick spirit not improving his power though ComaÌ„nder in chief to pickout the fattest pastures fairest meadows fertilest fields for himselfe but as if he counted it possession enough for him to have gained possessions for others when the meanest man was first served he was contented to stand to the peoples courtesie what they would bestow upon him If it sound to the praise of a Generalls valour to come last out of the field when it is won no less is the commendation of his temperance to come last into it when it is divided In Timnath Serah asked and built by him Ioshua afterwards was buried and as Saint Hierome reports that in his time the Sun was depicted on his monument This I dare boldly say that whereas modern Heralds blazon armes by the specious titles of Planets their fancy is with most truth appliable to Ioshua's shield bearing Sol and Luna indeed having made both Sun and Moon stand still by his prâ—yers Also Eleazar the High priest was buried in mount Ephraim in an hill which pertained to Phinehas his son § 22. Tirzah was another city near mount Ephâ—aim whose King was conquered by Ioshua In the days of Solomon it was a place of great repute Thou art beautifull ô my Love as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem terrible as an army with banners Ieroboam chose it to be his Royall-seat perchance because near Zereda his native place where he and his successours lived for welnigh sixty years Indeed Baasha had a project to make Ramah the place of his residence as nearer to Ierusalem and therefore more convenient to mark the motions of the Kings of Iudah but frustrated of his designe he was fain to return to Tirzah reigned and was buried here Elah Baasha's son was here drinking in the house of Azzah his steward when a dear reckoning was brought in and no less then his life extorted from him by Zimri his successour Afterwards when Tirzah was taken Zimri either out of envy that the royall Palace should survive him or desire to prevent a more shamefull death burnt himself and the Kings house together We read of King Asa that after his death his subjects made a very great burning for him but Zimri exceeded making a bone-fire for and of himself when alive herein standing alone except seconded by Sardanapalus who in like manner destroyed himself on the same occasion Thus dyed Zimri a King onely for a week whose Reign like a winters day was short and dirty yet long enough to leave this taunt for Iezebels mouth and Proverb to posterity Had Zimri peace that slew his Master Hard by is Tiphsaph where King Menahem barbarously ripped up the women with child because the city opened not to receive him § 23. Besides cities many private dwellings were sprinkled on mount Ephraim as the house of that Levite whose concubine the men of Gibeah abused to death the house of Micah well stored with Idols where first the five spies then the sixe hundred men of Dan took up their lodgings when marching to Laish Ungratefull guests who in stead of discharging their quarters plundered their Land-lord taking his Images and priest away with them Thirdly the house of Deborah under a Palme-tree betwixt Ramah and Bethel where she judged
because by his devotion the Cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel from Ekron even unto Gath. See the difference betwixt Priest and Priest both in service and success Vicious Hophni brings forth the Arke into the field fights falls loseth his own life and part of Israels Land to the Philistines Pious Samuel stays and prays at home the Arke is brought back to him he both saves himself and as a bountifull benefactor regaineth the former loss of his Countrey § 29. Ekron was a stately City and commendable was the discretion of her Inhabitants who learning wit from their neighbours woe would not keep the Arke and Gods anger therein but with the speediest conveniency returned it home to Bethshemes Of these Ekronites David afterward killed two hundred and tendered their Foreskins a Dowry for Michal Sauls daughter For though by the condition of his Espousals he contracted but for an hundred Foreskins yet such was the supererogation of his valour Love and Loyalty never give scant measure that he doubled the number And what injustice was it that he that paid her dowry double should enjoy her but halfe seeing Saul afterwards took her away and gave her to another Beelzebub was the grand Idoll of Ekron whose name importeth a Lord of flies Scaliger conceiving it to be a nick-name which the Iews gave it in derision so that the terming it a God of flies was in effect to say a flie for your God In the new Testament Beelzebub passeth for the Prince of the Devills It seems that Hell it self that place of confusion would wholly be confounded if some superiority were not therein observed § 30. More south we again come to the river Sorek on whose banks grew Grapes of goodly greatness yea the Hebrews report them to have been without any kernels But that hereabouts Lust did not grow without shame and sorrow to attend it Samson will sadly witness For in the house of Dalilah by the brook of Sorek he betrayed his strength to her she his person to the Philistines Thus those that sleep on a harlots lap for their Pillow are overtaken with destruction before they dream thereof Hence they carried Samson to Gaza which is welnigh fourty miles off And why so far Partly to render their triumph more glorious baiting him with all eyes gazing on him and partly the more safely to secure him bringing him far from his friends and beyond the reach of any rescue § 31. But as here was the place where Samsons purity was polluted so hard by was the the fountain or water wherein the Ethiopians pollution was purified This was he who being Treasurer to Candace Queen of Ethiopia rode in his chariot and read Isaias when always some unexpected good surprizeth such as are studious in the Scripture Philip was sent to expound it unto him Can a Blackamore change his skin saith the Prophet But see here the virtue of baptismall water washing away the black hue and vicious habits of his naturall Corruption and making him a true Christian convert § 32. But Philip was found at Azotus and Azotus or Ashdâ—d hardby is easily found for a City seated on a Hill cannot be hid This was the third Satrapie of the Philistines in our definition but first in honour as famous for Dagon an Idol there adored who yet had the manners in homage to the Arke to put off his head and hands and fall flat on the ground And hither first they brought the Arke of God This was allotted to the Tribe of Iudah but left unconquered by Ioshua King Uzziah brake down the wall of it and built Cities in the coast of it And soon after Tartan sent by Sargon King of Assyria took it The Maccabees had divers battells near Azotus Here Iudas overthrows Gorgias And spoiles Azotus And again pursues Bacchides But himself is slain Here Ionathan overcomes Demetrius the younger and burns Azotus and the Temple of Dagon And hereabouts Iudas and Iohn prevaile against Cendebeus As for Dagon here adored some make him Patron of grain and he is translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Philo Biblius others the President of the sea and we may safely beleeve his Power as much over the one as the other His shape save that it was masculine for sexe resembled the Antick laughed at by the Poet. Desinit in piscem mulier formosa supernè Upwards man-like he ascended Downwards like a fish he ended And yet this Fish had also feet under the taile thereof which feet of a fish seem not to stand with any proportion But what shall we say The uglier his shape the handsomer for an Idol and to keep a Decorum it was fit that he should be as mishapen in his form as monstrous in his worship Far handsomer no doubt were the women of Ashdod or else the Israelites would never have been so enamoured with them as after their return from the captivity by marrying with them to beget a mongrell off-spring whose tongues as if divided Parte per Pale spake half Ashdod and half Hebrew But surely God was afterwards better pleased with the Iews solemn submission and fair putting away of their wives then with the cruelty of the Britons if true what reported which marrying French women in Armorica now called little Britain out of a zeale to preserve their native Language they cut out their wives tongues for fear they should infect their children with a mixture of French As for Metheg-Ammah in Philistia because the learned are not resolved whether thereby a place be designed and if so many take it for Gath or else that thereby is signified that David took the Bridle of Power from the hand of the Philistines see it signed with an Asteriske enough to tell the Reader that we doe not shew but seek a certainty therein § 33. So much for the land in this Tribe If we look on the sea bounding it on the west see Ionah in his ship flying as fast as he could from the presence of the Lord that is from the performance of his Propheticall function in Niniveh Otherwise he was better principled then to conceive it probable in any place to avoid Gods presence and if so erroneously opinioned made the worst of choices to goe down into the sea where Divine power most effectually appears Many carnall reasons might cause his flight as fear to he murthered for delivering so unwelcome a message to that bloody City suspicion that his preaching little regarded in Israel would be less in Niniveh zeal to his Countrey as perceiving the conversion of the Gentiles would prove the rejection of the Iews and a Iealousie as himself confesseth his Prophesie should be disproved on the peoples repentance A terrible tempest persuing the ship works wonders in the mariners 1 Out of the bold came
of the people when conscious of their sins and sensible of Gods anger they drew water that is plentifully powred forth tears before the Lord. Say not that their weeping was a labour in vain and such drawing of water like the bottomless buckets of the Belides never to be filled ineffectuall for the expiation of sin because no sorrow for the same is sufficient seeing not the intrinsecall worth of their tears but Gods gracious appretiation of the sincerity thereof gave the value to their weeping Afterwards at Mizpah Saul out of modesty or policy was hid among the stuffe when found there fetched thence and presented to the people for their king appearing so proper a person that nature might seem to design him for supremacy and mark him out to be the Overseer of Israel who was higher then any of the people from the shoulders and upwards § 48. In the days of King Baasa Asa King of Iudah frighted with fear made a pit in Mizpah for his retreating place No doubt though the entrance and orifice thereof did promise no more then a plain pit yet it was contrived into rooms and fortified with substructions therein fit for the receipt of a Prince Wonder not that he would prefer to trust his person here rather then within the walls of his royall City Ierusalem for surely this was not provided for a place of long residence but for present privacy and sudden safety if extremity required it After the Babylonish captivity when Gedaliah was made governour of those poor Iews which were left to till the land he made Mizpah the seat of his short government Thus have I often seen fishermen when they have caught store of fish cast the young fry worth neither the keeping nor killing into the river again to be breeders in which consideration the King of Babylon preserved these poor Iews from destruction Slight not Gedaliahs place as disgracefull to be Prince of beggers for they were in a thriving way and probable to improve themselves to a considerable condition had not Ismael an unhappy name to persecute Gods children a Prince of the bloud killed him with his followers casting them into the midst of the pit that Asa made now employed to bury the dead but first intended to preserve the living In the days of the Maccabees whilest Ierusalem was possessed and profaned by the heathens they repaired to Mizpah as a place formerly fortunate for that purpose to fast pray and beg Gods blessing on their undertakings against their enemies § 49. South of Mizpah lay the place called Eben-ezer that is the stone of help so named by way of Prolepsis in Scripture 1 Sam. 4. 1. for otherwise for the present this place was no help but an hindrance to the Israelites who here were twice beaten in battell by the Philistines At the second time they brought their Reserve I mean the Ark into the field carnally conceited that victory would fly along with them on the wings of the Cherubims over the Mercyâ—seat But the sanctity of the Ark did not so much invite as the profaneness of the managers Hophni and Phinehas did repell Gods gracious presence from going along therewith insomuch as the Ark it self was taken captive and carried into the land of the Philistines Some years after the Philistines again charge the Israelites in the same place presuming on their former victories that in so fortunate a place they might prescribe for conquest but God turned the tide of their success At the importunate suit of Samuel whose prayers were more potent then formerly the presence of the Ark to obtain victory the Philistines were routed and smitten untill they came under Bethcar Whereupon Samuel set up a stone between Mizpah and Shen and called it Eben-ezer the stone of help to perpetuate so memorable a conquest § 50. Hard by is Beeroth once a City of the Gibeonites with Chephirah not far off afterwards the birth-place of Baanah and Rechab the murderers of Ishbosheth Gittaim whither those of Beeroth fled for fear of the Philistines saith Tremellius when Saul was slain and west thereof Bozer and Seneh two famous rocks which Ionathan and his armour-bearer clambred up upon their hands and feet They found it more hard to come at then to conquer their enemies yet wheÌ„ on the top of the rock they were but at the bottome and beginning of their work They lay about them and kill many in a little space so that they climbed not up the hill so slowly but their enemies more swiftly ran down the same Yet such as will justifie Ionathans act herein for pious and prudent must retrait to Divine inspiration and plead that his undertaking as his success was extraordinary otherwise his tempting of God had been higher then the rock he climbed up to adventure himself on such visible disadvantages § 51. Anathoth remains lying hence south-east a city of the Levites yea of the Priests yea of the High-priests as a country-house or retiring place for them out of the populous city of Ierusalem Abiathar being deprived of the priest-hood for practising with Ioab without the privity of David to promote Adonijah to the Crown was sent hither by Solomon and confined to live privately on his own lands Hence plainly appears the power of the Kings of Israel over the Priests which on their misdemeanour in civill matters were subject to secular punishment But Ieremy the Prophet was the honour of Anathoth that man of mourning famous for his book De Tristibus or most poeticall Lamentations though therein not bemoaning his own but the publick calamities born in this city As here he drew his first so he was likely to have drawn his last breath by the conspiracy of the people against him had not God frustrated their wicked designe Herein the observation of our Saviour was verified A Prophet is not without honour save in his own countrey and his own house Afterwards Ieremy at Anathoth bought the ground of his unclâ— Hanameel with all the formalities of bargain and sale most solâ—mnly passed betwixt them Is a Prophet amongst the purchasers commonly they are as clear from money as the Apostles were but this was râ—ally yet mystically done to foreâ—ell the future felicity of Israel after the captivity of Babylon that men should have setled estates with good title to and tâ—nure of their land therein § 52. Michmash is still behinde which we name last because not entirely in this Tribe but in the confines of Benjamin and Ephraim It lay cast from Beth-aven often mentioned in Scripture as the Rendesvouz sometimes of the Israelites in the reign of Saul and sometimes of the Philistines The latter marched hence three severall ways on design to extirpate all the smiths in Israel Mark their motions 1 One party went the way that leadeth to Ophrah to the land of Shual
that is north-east 2 Another turned the way to Bethoron that is full west 3 The third to the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim that is south-east Thus dividing themselves they compass their ends and destroyed that necessary profession in all the land For the musick of the harp may better be spared in a common-wealth then the noise of an hammer Indeed I have heard that therâ— is an house on London-bridge built entirely of wood without any mixture of iron-nailes therein therefore commonly called None-such for the rarity of the structure thereof but if any could shew a civilized State extant on earth without the use of smiths therein it deserveth the name of Nâ—neâ—such indeed Yea the very Philistines themselves though they suppressed the military use of smiths for matter of Armes permitted by way of lone their use to sharpen instruments of husbandry This not their bounty but policy suffered as being confident when the Israelites had ploughed harrowed sown their ground reaped housed and threshed their grain then they at pleasure could come up to take bake and eate it themselves § 53. So much for the cities in Benjamin of whose situation we have any certainty A second sort succeeds known by their conjecturall flags to be of doubtfull position Amongst these Nob justly claimeth the precedency made by us within the compass of Anathoth a city of the Priests where Ahimelech victualled David and his men with shew-bread and armed him with the sword of Goliah there kept for a monument Let others enquire why Davids sling was not rather preserved for that purpose seeing it overcame the other A false brother was present by name Doeg nation an Edomite office master of the Kings heardsmen who told al and more then all to Saul adding of his own head that Ahimelech enquired counsell of the Lord for him Sure I am Doeg enquired not of the Lord when he told so damnable an untruth Hereupon Saul condemned the Priest to death and others declining so savage a service Doeg undertook it killing fourscore and five persons which wore a linen Ephod besides women children sucklings and cattel so voracious was the appetite of his sword and so active his cruelty when in commission and armed with authority § 54. The Readers eye may easily discover such places of uncertain position as remain and amongst them Zemaraim so named in Hebrew for plenty of wooll thereabouts as Woollwich in Kent and Woollton in Dorset-shire are so called upon the same occasion We set Zemaraim next Bethel because named next unto it where some place the Zemarites ancient inhabitants of Canaan as we have formerly observed Nigh this city was an hil of the same name whereon King Abijah stood made his excellent oration wanting nothing but a better man to utter it immediately before his miraculous victory over the Army of Ieroboam The Valley of Craftsmen which though it sounds like a Countrey yet because going in equipage with other cities may be concluded a city it self And what are Valladolit or Vallis Olitana in Spaine and Vale-royall in Cheshire but the former a fair city the latter lately an Abby now a village I am almost of opinion that this Valley of craftsmen took its denomination from Solomons work-men of whom we read that in the plain of Iordan in the clay ground they cast all the brasen vessels of the Temple did not the position of that place whereof before lie a little more north-ward We conclude with Zeboim not the same with that city first burnt then drowned in the Daed-sea but another probably built not far thence near the influx of Iordan into the dead-sea § 55. Sâ—imei the son of Elah was Solomons Purveyor in Benjamin The Armes of Benjamin were Gules a Wolfe salient argent in allusion to Iacobs words He shall ravin as a Wolfe in the morning he shall devoure the prey and at night he shall divide the spoil Surely the conformity hereof was not found in the person of Benjamin who appears rather lamb-like then wolvish in that little left of him in Scripture Some conceive they have found the resemblance in the two Sauls of this Tribe the one persecuting David the other the Son of David Christ in his members with raging cruelty But to wave the various Rabbinicall conceits hereof certainly this as al other similitudes of this nature is not to be sought in the disgraceful but commendable qualities of a Wolf Thus when God saith of himself Behold I come as a thief it is not meant injuriously fraudulently mischievously but secretly suddenly irresistibly This premised though wolves and foxes generally hear ill in Scripture yet the former excell in sight descrying things at great distance in sleight of excessive agility of body in might very strong in proportion to the bulk thereof All which properties discover themselves in the Benjamites quick sighted steady handed witness their good mark-men and stout-hearted in a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that both their valour and success are foretold in this blessing bestowed upon them Here the Map of Judah is to be inserted THE TRIBE OF IVDAH CHAP. 13. § 1. IUDAH foâ—rth son of Iacob by Leab his wife was generally a well-natured man endevouring preservation of his brother Ioseph and an excelleâ—t speaker being the mouth for the rest of his brethren in his eloquent oration to Iosâ—â—h Not that these his good qualities which otherwhiles were allayed with lust and cruelty were the causes buâ— rather the effects of Gods preferring him above the rest of his brethren Of this Tribe threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred canne out of Egypt all which deservedly dying in the wilderness for their disobedience the next generation descended from them being threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred possessed the land of Canaan § 2. Iudah saith the Scripture prevailed above his brethren and of him came the chiefe rulers so that he may be traced all along by the footsteps of his soveraignty Whilest they were in thâ— wilderness God ordered that the standard of Iudah should pitch first oâ— the east side of the Tabernacle towards the rising of the Sun Perchance to denote that the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in his wings should be extracted from that Tribe When Ioshua was dead and the childreâ— of Israel asked of the Lord Who shall goe up first for us to fight against the Candanites It was answered Iudah shall goe up Othniel the first Judge was hence descended and David in whose royall line the Crown lasted for above four hundred years and after the return from captiviâ—y Zorobabel of the Tribe of Iudah is honoured with the style of Governour which office for some time continued in his family In a word besides Princes so puissant was the Tribe in Generalls Ioab Abishdi Amasa
kid was of consequence how he came so quickly by it The Quere here is more considerable how came Adonibezek by so many Kings to have them all at one time With what Royall drag-net did he fish to catch so many together Where got he these Kings and where got they their kingdomes Canaan being so small a Countrey In answer hereunto in the acception of the word King we must grind the honour thereof the smaller to make the number thereof the greater communicating it to the Sons and Nephews of Toparchicall Princes as honours in Germany equally descended to all in the family and so the number is quickly made up § 22. North of Bethlehem lay the Vale of Ephraim or Vale of Giants men of vast proportions which the ancient Ages plentifully afforded Yea our English Antiquary tells us that Risingham a village in Northumberland in old Saxon is nothing else then the dwelling place of Giants In this vale of Rephaim the Philistines little less then Giants were twice subdued once at Baal-perazim where God by the hand of David brake forth upon them as the breach of waters and again where God not onely gave the success but laid the design how the battell should be managed namely as soon as he himself had sounded a charge out of the Mulberry trees David was to fetch a compass and fiercely to fall on his enemies Well is God styled a man of war who here ordered the battell himself and well did David confess Thou teachest my hands to war and fingers to fight who here received from God particular instructions how to regulate his Army § 23. Mulberry Trees pardon a digression were plentifull in Palestine A tree which may pass for the emblem of prudence slow in consultation swift in execution for it putteth forth its leaves the last of all trees but then as it is said all in one night as if sensible of and ashamed for its former neglect she endevours to overtake other trees with her double diligence Men feed on the fruit Silkworms on the leaves thereof Creatures contemptible in themselves admirable in their qualities appearing Proteus-like in sundry shapes in the same year eggs wormes flies finishing for the most part yearly their life and work together But we leave these mysteries to be discussed by Naturalists and will onely adde that if the originall of silke were well considered Gallants had small cause to be proud of gay clothes for from wormes it came and to wormes shall the wearers therof return § 24. Store of the best silks were made and used in Palestine amongst other favours bestowed by God on the ungratefull Iews this was one I have girded thee about with fine linen and covered thee with silk King Saul was the first who made bravery frequent and fashionable in Israel little state and gallantry being used under the Iudges when the Court and costly clothes began together according to our Saviours saying They that weare soft clothing are in Kings houses I say in the reign of King Saul rich rayment began generally to be worn by the Iews Yee daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in Scarlet and other delights yea by the confession of the heathen writers best silks both for fineness and colour were in Palestine Pausaniâ—s writes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The silk saith he of Elis in Greece gives not place in point of fineness to silk of the Hebrews but is not like it in yellowness whereby it appears that the Hebrew silk-wormes were as good spinsters and better Dyers then those in Greece setting a better gloss and lustre on their work So much for the silk in Iudea called Shesh in Hebrew whence haply that fine linen or silk is called Shashes worn at this day about the heads of eastern people § 25. But to return to our description north-west from the vale of Giants lay the City of Emaus afterwards called Nicopolis Hither the two Disciples were a travelling being about sixty furlongs from Ierusalem wheÌ„ Christ after his resurrection unknown joined himself to their coÌ„pany They tax him for not knowing the news in Ierâ—salem he reproves them for being ignorant of the sense of the Scriptures which he began to declare unto them O excellent expositor Christ Commenting on his own prophecies all which he first inspired afterwards fulfilled and now interpreted As he put light into their heads so also heat into their hearts which burned all the while he communed with them onely their eyes were held that they knew him not Day and their journey drew both to an end when Christ makes as if he would goe farther Truth cannot lye but did simulate onely to try how welcome his company was to them They constrain him to stay such civill violences prevaile on heaven it self and in breaking of Bread he brake himself unto them their eyes being opened he left them full of joy and amazement Nor have I ought else to observe of Emaus but that many years before Iudas Maccaâ—eus in that place got an eminent conquest and defeated the voluminous Army of Lysias § 26. Hard by Emaus even at this day are showen the ruines of Zachariah his house where Iohn the Baptist was born being the voice of a cryer begot of a dumb Father This was that Zachariah who would not beleeve God without giving him a sign and was punished that men could not understand him without making of signes To this place then in a City in the Hill-country of Iudea the blessed virgin Mary came with hast to congratulate the pregnancy of Elizabeth her Cousen at the musick of whose salutation the babe danced for â—oy and leaped in the womb of Elizabeth § 27. Hard by is the City Gebah belonging to the Priests afterwards made a garrison of the Philistines who therein were smote by Ionathan King Asa afterwards built that is repaired and enlarged this City as also Mizpah with the remainder of those materials which King Baasha had provided for the fortifying of Ramah Cities so neer in situation that after the captivity their inhabitants are counted together in one sum the men of Ramah and Gebah six hundred twenty and one which returned from Babylon § 28. We have hardly recovered into this map the house of Obed-Edom whence David in a most solemn procession brought the Ark to Ierusalem dancing himself before it in a linen Ephod which was not so white but that Michal found spots therein or rather cast dirt thereon censuring David a fool for his indiscretion But when holy zeal is arraigned at the bar of profaneness and condemned either for folly or madness it may appeal from that sentence and challenge its right to be tried by its Peers carnall eyes being incompetent judges of spirituall actions Yea God himself here took the matter in hand so ordering it that for
opened his eyes that they could stop his mouth from the acknowledging thereof His constancy herein cost him an excommunication and a casting out of the Synagogue The best was the power of the Keys when abused doth not shut the door of Heaven but in such cases onely shoot the bolt besides the lock not debarring the innocent person entrance thereat § 15. The supernaturall pool of Bethesda by the Sheep-market remains whose waters when at a certain season moved by an Angel were medicinall to cure the first commer thereinto whatsoâ—ver disease he had A learned man conceiveth that when Eliashib the high Priest after their return from Babylon with his brethren first began hereabouts to build the sheep-gate and sanctifie it to divine service as leading to the Temple God then and there in approbation of his Act indued the Pool hard by with this soveraign sanative quality but this we leave with the Author § 16. By this Pool an Infirmary was built for maimed folk to lodge in and attend the troubling of the waters How well was Gods bounty and mans charity here met together Commendable it was that rich men did not engross this Spaw to themselves but permitted poor people not able to use Physick and Surgery the benefit thereof This Hospitall for building consisted of five Porches not that the defective in the five senses lame blinde deaf c. were here severally disposed of by themselves but no doubt all promiscuously put together In this Colledge of Cripples he for his seniority might have been the Master thereof who had been longer lame then most men live and now past the fift climactericall of his disease where with he had been afflicted full thirty eight years Indeed so impossible was the conditions of his recovery that being lame He must run before he could goe for seeing the first commer was only served he must hast with speed into the pool after the moving thereof whilst he alas wanted strength to help himself wanted money to hire others and others wanted mercy freely to give him their assistance But because he could not goe to health Health was graciously pleased to come to him and he was cured miraculously by our Saviour § 17. And thus much of the Walls Gates Towers and Waters about Ierusalem come we now into the City it self which anciently consisted of two principall parts therefore dual in the Hebrew Sion on the southwest and Ierusalem properly so called on the north thereof which we proceed in order to describe with the places of principall note therein contained CHAP. VII Of Davids Palace the high-High-priests houses the Coenaculum and other memorable places in mount Sion § 1. WE begin with mount Sion making that first which God most favoured who loved the Gates of Sion more then all the tabernacles of Iacob Here first our eyes are entertained with the stately Palace of David Hiram King of Tyre sending him timber and workmen for the building thereof Flat was the roof of this palace whereon David sate and from whence he beheld Bathsheba hard by is her house bathing her self I cannot excuse her action herein If policy be jealous that hedges may have eares modesty may suspect lest the motes in the aire have eyes But see here divine justice As this roof was the place whereon Davids lust did burn first so thereon Absaloms incest did blaze farthest lying here with his Fathers Concubines This he easily did at the perswasion of Achitophel those spurres needing no rowels which are to prick forward graceless youth into wantonness But that hellish Politician did this to set such a distance betwixt Sire and Son that the affection of the one might never meet with the submission of the other the breach hereafter being made so deep and wide that no bridge of reconciliation might be built betwixt them § 2. Under the Romans this Palace was turned into a Castle where a Garrison was kept to over-awe the City Once the honour now the terrour once the beauty now the bridle of Ierusalem Upon the fair stairs leading thereto stood Saint Paul when he made his speech to the people hearing him with great silence because he spake in the Hebrew tongue untill he came to that passage of preaching to the Gentiles which though spoken in Hebrew was no good Hebrew to his auditours but false construction breach of Jewish priviledg when they turned their attentive eares into railing tongues away with such a fellow from off the earth § 3. And now to shew the frailty of humane happiness pass we from the palace of these Kings to their burying place seeing Sion in a double respect may be called the Westminster of Ierusalem because the Kings thereof resided there while living and rested when dead The reader shall pay nothing but his pains in following me whilest I shew him these royall remains We may observe four gradations of honour in these interments 1 Wicked Amon was buried in his own house not under the roof but within the verge of the wall thereof and so was Manasseh whose true but late repentance was effectuall to save his soul but not his kingdome from destruction 2 Cruell Ioram who had no compassion whilest living therefore no bowels wheÌ„ dying was buried by himself in the city of David neither fire nor water neither burning nor mourning made for him 3 Godly but leprous Uzziah being ceremoniously unclean was interred in the field of the buriall which belonged to the Kings understand it within the suburbs but without the walls of their solemn sepultures 4 All the rest were intombed in a stately place set apart for that purpose namely David the holy the man after Gods own heart Solomon the wise when old befooled by his wives Rehoboam the simple whose rigour rent ten Tribes from his kingdome Abiah the wicked but valiant and fortunate in fight Asa the upright whose heart was perfect all his days Iehosaphat the just whose heart was lift up in the ways of the Lord Ahaziah the Idolater whose onely coÌ„mendation was that he raigned but one year Ioash the backslider the lease of whose goodness determined with his uncles life Amaziah the rash worsted in a needless war against the King of Israel Iotham the peaceable who built the highest gate to the house of the Lord Ahaz the profane who in the time of his distress yet trespassed more against the Lord Hezekiah the pious who destroied the high places Iosiah the tender-hearted who melted at Gods threatnings denounced against the people of the Iews § 4. Amongst these still I miss Iehojakim and long seeking for his tombe light at last on the Prophets threatning he shall be buried with the buriall of an Asse drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Ierusalem § 5. Now as it were in exchange of Iehojakim excluded we finde Ieâ—ojada admitted among
gain on the affections of the beleeving Iews as yet zealous for the Law partly to confute their falshood who traduced him for an Antinomian against all ceremonious observances Hereupon he came into the Temple to signifie the accomplishment of the days of purification untill that an offering should be offered for him and his companions If any grudge that after the coming of the Gospel so much cost should be bestowed on the Law and sullenly say with Iudas Iscariot To what purpose is this wast Might not the Law truly answer with our Saviour in the same case He did it for my buriall and for the more solemn interment thereof § 16. But Saint Pauls devotion in performing these Obsequies was interrupted by the people who accused him for defiling the Temple having seen Trophimus and Ephesian with him in the City whom they supposed he had brought into the Temple Malicious jealousie never makes good Logician so strange are the inferences thereof In vain might Saint Paul deny the consequence of their syllogisme whilest they were ready to prove it by an inartificiall argument from the Authority or prevalency rather of a popular uproare Some cryed one thing some another and those no doubt that knew least railed loudest and no certainty could be known for the tumult the many-headed multitude speaking a Language whereof none can be an interpreter to understand them which understand not themselves § 17. Suppositive was the offence of Saint Paul onely on their bare surmise but positive must be his punishment drawing him out of the Temple whom certainly they had killed had not the seasonable interposing of the Captain rescued him from them Who hence conveyed him safe into the Castle no doubt of Antonia hard by and not the Castle on Mount Sion built out of the ruines of the Palace of David though formerly following the authority of others we made that place the Theater of Saint Pauls future actions on this occasion CHAP. XI Of the vast wealth of the second Temple § 1. WE have cause to conceive that the Corban or Treasury of the second Temple was about our Saviours time welnigh as well lined with wealth as in the reign of Solomon flowing from three principall springs 1 Meer Gentiles 2 Proselytes 3 Native Iews The first of these were very bountifull to the Temple and constantly § 4. Native Iews were the last and best benefactours to the Temple especially if all contributed thereunto in proportion to the poor widow who cast in two mites being all her substance Now had one been present when the Scribes and Pharisees cast in their offerings into the treasury it had been pleasant to behold the conflict betwixt their covetousness and vainglory and how the latter prevailed in them For though they were covetous yet when people beheld them they were content to part with their money or rather to let it out for the interest of popular applause But besides free-will-offerings at any time that Gods service might not be lest arbitrary the Iews were injoyned thrice a year at the solemn festivalls with their men children when able saith the Rabbih led in their Fathers hands to climbe up the mountain whereon the Temple was built to appear before God where none who hoped to return with their hearts ful of joy came with their hands empty of money For seeing the Iews held their estates of no mean Lord but all by tenure in capiâ—e from the God of Heaven these were the three solemn payments of their head rent to their high Land lord Besides these in the days of our Saviour vast were the sums which were advanced to the treasury by that gainfull Divinity current amongst the people though stamped onely with Pharisaicall traditions of which this one that followeth was the most remarkable § 5. It plainly appears that all children if of ability should maintain their parents if by age or accident grown weak and impotent to subsist of themselves according to Gods command Honour thy father and mother Qamp c. Notwithstanding which obligation the Scribes and Pharisees did preach teach that in case any children were pleased to compound with Corban c to pay a round sum proportionable to their estates unto pious uses thereby they were disingaged in conscieâ—de from making any farther provision for their poor parents Going on this ground that one debt was to be but once satisfied and if they paid it in to the service of God the grand-father to all mankinde thereby they were discharged from duty to their immediate and subordinate parents § 6. This commutation-money as I may term it amounted to a Nemâ—scit of revenue but withall made a dearth of dutifull children in the land who counted it the more frugall way once for all to fine to the Temple then to pay the constant rent of daily relief to their parents But can an Acquittance of humane â—â—adition be valid against a debt of Specialty by Gods command Oh! had the hole in the cover of Corban been a mouth to speak as well as to take in how zealously would it have protested against such proceedings And we may conceive this one cause of hastening the wofull ruine of the Temples wealth such ill gotten money poisoning the Corban making it suddenly swell and then break in pieces when swept away by the Romans which we come now to relate CHAP. XII The finall abolition of the Utensils of the second Temple § 1. GReat houses commonly crack before they fall to give the dwellers therein notice to depart Thus before the Temple was finally ruined and her vessels taken away two grand warnings were given the Iews seasonably to amend and prevent farther mischief The first in that famous year wherein Tully and Mark Antony were Consuls some sixty years before our Saviours birth when Pompey the great having taken the City and Temple entred the Holy of Holies with some of his souldiers the floor whereof had formerly felt no other feet but those of the high Priests and those but once a year Here he saw mysterious ornaments understanding not the meaning but the matter thereof to be pure gold a shroud bait to tempt his hungry souldiers to sacriledge besides two thousand talents of silver in the treasury of the Temple On all which he onely feasted his and his officers eies whilest their hands did fast not diminishing the least mite thereof in veneration of that deity to whom they did belong Onely he took on him to restore Hircanus to be high Priest a presage that the Jewish Priesthood would shortly fall down which already did so shake that the high Priest needed to take a Presentation ad corroborandum from the hands of Pompey a Pagan Patron § 2. Secondly when Crassus that rich churl and Roman Generall marching with his Army into Syria and through Ierusalem flayed what Pompey did not fleece spoiling the Temple
eyes Of these buildings in Libanus that tower which looks towards Damascus was the principal to which the Nose of the Spouse in the Canticles is compared for the whiteness uniformity and proportionable largeness thereof whereby the generousness and animosity of the Church is intimated The Philosopher telleth us that a tower-fashioned Nose round and blunt at the top is a signe of magnanimity § 12. From this tower we may take the Prospect of all the adjacent countrey wherein we take no notice of the division of Syria according to humane writers but confine our selves to Scripture expressions 1 Rehob 2 Aram or Maachah 3 Syria of Damascus 4 Zobah 5 The land of Hamah 6 Syrophoenicia 7 Coelosyria 8 Phoenicia Aram Rehob or Beth-Rehoh so called from a principall City therein lay south east of mount Libanus Herein was Dan the place where Abraham overtook the four Kings who after many victories had took Lot and his wife captives By Dan we understand not the city of Dan formerly Laish which some hundreds of years after was so named though Levi is said vertually to pay tithes in the loines of Abraham Dan cannot be conceived formally to name cities being as yet in the body of his great Grandfather but the eastermost fountain of Iordan anciently called Dan. And surely springs the issue of nature are seniours to all cities the result of Art Here Abraham overtook them and with three hnndred and odde men conqueredand pursued them being numerous and flushed with former victorys to Hobah which is on the left side of Damascus Thus that army which is but a handfull of men managed by Gods hand will work wonders Hereby Lot recovered his liberty the King of Sodome his subjects they their goods the Auxiliaries of Aner Eshcol and Mamre received their pay out of the spoile Melchisedec had the tithes Abraham the honour and God the glory of the victory § 13. Aram-Maachah lay southeast of Aram-beth-Rehoh the King thereof appeared very active though bringing into the field but a thousand men in the battell against King David It seems Ioab the politick Generall reputed these Syrians valiant who took the choicest men of Israel under his own conduct to oppose them consigning the refuse under Abishai against the Ammnoites presuming they would fly of course if the other were worsted as indeed it came to pass Appendants to this Aram-Maachah were 1 Geshur hereof Talmai the King and Maachah his daughter was maried to David and mother to Absalom No wonder then if the child proved a cross to his Father begotten on a heathen woman contrary to Gods command And here Absalom changing his climate not conditions staid three years clouded with his Fathers displeasure for murdering his brother Amnon 2 Ishtoh which contributed twelve thousand men in the generall engagement of the Syrians against King David 3 The land of Tob that is the good-land or Goth-land if you please so called from the goodness thereof Though all the good we know of it is this that it afforded a safe refuge to Iephthah when persecuted by his brethren who hence was solemnely fetched to be Judge of Israel Adrichomius and other Authours here make the Land of Uz where Iob dwelt I cannot blame any place to be desirous of so pious a man to be an inhabitant therein But both Iobs friends and foes forbid the situation of the land of Uz here abouts His foes the Sabeans his friends Eliphaz the Temanite c. who are known to live far south of this place of whom properly in the description of Edom. 14. Aram of Damascus succeeds lying northeast of Aram-Maachah watered with the rivers of Abanah and Pharphar This Abanah in humane writers is called Chrysoroas or golden-streame from the yellowness of his banks and water Otherwise as little gold is to be found in his chanell as at the golden grove in Caermarthen-shire or at the golden-vale in Herefordshire However Abanah and Pharphar were highly beholden to Naaman who preferred them before all the waters of Israel as possibly they might equall yea exceed them in some outward respects But what if the water in the Cistern chance to be clearer then that in the Font Know it is divine institution which puts the difference betwixt them leaving the one a plain Element and making the other a soveraigne Sacrament This river Chrysoroas running northward is afterwards swallowed up in the sandy ground and there is the visible end thereof So that Solomons rule All rivers run into the Sea must admit of an exception or exposition namely either openly or secretly as no doubt this river hath an underground recourse to the Ocean § 15. Coming near to Damascus we finde the place where Saint Paul was cast down to the ground as he went with a Commission from the high Priest to persecute the Saints of Damascus Now seeing Damascus was not in Iudea if any demand why Paul should straggle so far from his own Countrey hear his own answer Being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange cities and it is reason enough for the actions of blind zeale that they are the actions of blind zeale Besides it seems the high Priests at Ierusalem had a kind of Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction over the Iews in all places Some seeming contradiction but on serious thoughts easily reconciled appears in the history of Saint Pauls travells Acts 9.7 The men also which journeyed with him stood amazed hearing a voice but seeing no man Acts 22.9 Moreover they that were with me saw indeed a light and were afraid but heard not the voice of him that spakâ— unto me For two things considerable in this viâ—ion 1 The generals thereof communicated to his fellow-travellers that they might attest the truth of this miraculous accident No seeming fancy but really acted Hereupon they heard confusedly that there was a sound but heard not distinctly what that sound was and were admitted to see a light but did not discover the person of Iesus appearing 2 The particulars thereof imparted to Paul alone as calculated onely for his conversion whose eares and eyes plainly heard and saw the voice and apparition Hence Saint Paul was conducted to the city of Damascus whither we follow after him § 16. Damascus is by some conceived to have been founded by Eliezer Abrahams Steward onely because he is styled Eliezer of Damascus But if so then signall was the piety of Eliezer who preferred rather to live a servant in Abrahams good family then to rule as a Lord in a great city of his own building Various was the success and fortune of Damascus under severall Lords and we will onely instance in such as are mentioned in Scripture 1 It was inhabited by the Syrians and accounted the Metropolis of the Countrey 2 It was probably conquered by David when he put garisons into Aram of Damascus 3 In the days
No that was situate among the rivers that had the waters round about it whose rampart was the sea and her wall was from the sea Ethiopia and Egypt was her strength and it was Infinite Put and Lubim were thy helpers Yet was she carried away she went into captivity her young men also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets and they cast lots for honorable men and all her great men were bound in chains It will hardly appear elsewhere in Scripture that Infiniteness is attributed to any created greatness and here we see what became of it so that the ruines of No may have this Epitaph written upon them Hîc jacet finis infiniti § 24. The estern stream of Nilus from the east receiveth the river Trajanus on the south side whereof stood the City On Onii in Ptolemaeus whereof Potipherah was Prince or Priest whose daughter Asenath Ioseph took to wife Aven is hard by a City against which Ezekiel prophesied and by some is made the same with Heliopolis This Heliopolis or Bethshemesh is generally conceived the place though not named in Scripture where our Saviour before he could go forced to fly from the fury of Herod being a babe abode with his parents What he did here besides sucking of his mothers breast is not recorded in the Gospell though one presumes to tell us how the Egyptian Idols at his entring into the land felt a shaking ague and fell down in homage to him as once Dagon to the Ark. Another relates how this infant sate under a great tree which out of dutifulness bowed down to him because his short armes could not reach the branches thereof A third reports of a fountain betwixt Heliopolis and Babylon purified to a medicinall virtue from the foulness of the Babes clothes washed by his mother therein All which Non credimus quia non legimus Thus Authors conceiving it not to stand with the state of Christ to live obscurely in Egypt furnish him with faigned miracles to make him more illustrious and therein mark not the main intent of Divine Providence For in this clandestine flight of his Son God intended not to present him in a glorious appearance but to lessen humble empty him so that his poverty in it self considered was a rich miracle especially seeing we are stayed by his flight and brought home by his banishment Besides the Scripture expresly termeth his turning of water into wine at Cana in Galilee the beginning of his miracles § 25. The precise time of Christs residence in Egypt is not set down but surely his stay here was not so long as to tanne the Virgin Mary and dye her complexion into a Black-more as she is presented in her Chapell of Lauretta I deny not but the purest beauties are soonest subject to sunburning but such a face better became Christs Spouse then his mother I am black but comely ô yee daughters of Ierusalem Nor should I much wonder at the colour in her face if onely the fancy of a libertine Painter had not so many learned men made her picture the object of their adoration Yet the darkness of her face here is as avouchable as the brightness of her clothes elsewhere glistering with gold and rich stuffe some pretended reliques whereof at Paris the finer they are the falser they are better beseeming her ancient royall extraction then her husbands present poor and painfull condition Yet such gorgeous apparell was not so much above her means as such garish attire wherewith some Painters doe dress her was against the modesty of that ever blessed Virgin But pardon our digression and we return to oâ—r matter § 26. Just at the confluence of Trajanus and Nilus stood the once famous City of Babylon though in antiquity greatness and strength far inferiour to a City of the same name in Chaldea It is not yet decided which of these two Saint Peter intended when writing The Church which is at Babylon elected together with you saluteth you and so doth Marcus my Son Protestant Divines generally interpret this of the great Chaldean Babylon where moe Iews dwelt then in any one place which was without the land of Palestine and therefore probable that Saint Peter being the Apostle of the Circumcision might sometimes reside there yet seeing Marcus is mentioned in the same verse who is notoriously known to have lived in this land and once to have been Patriarch of Alexandria why might not this our Egyptian Babylon be here meant by the Apostle But Popish writers are so fond to have Saint Peter at Rome that here they will have Rome mystically to be termed Babylon Good luck have she with her honour always provided that if Rome will be Babylon in this Epistle to gain Peters presence she shall be Babylon in the Revelation on whom those plagues and punishments are denounced But such as plead her heir-apparent to the former endevour to cut off the entail that the latter may not descend upon her § 27. To return to the eastern stream of Nilus which runneth through the land of Pathros Into which the remnant of the Israâ—lites left by the King of Babylon returned under the conduct of Iohanan the son of Kareah contrary to Gods flat command by the mouth of Ieremiah They took also him and Baruch the scribe pity to part them but that the mouth and â—and should go together no doubt against their consents and brought them down hither into the land of Egypt partly out of policy though they would cast away their counsell to weare their forced company to countenance their design and part out of despight that if according to their prediction any evill betided them they also might be joint-sufferers therein Both of them nothing appearing to the contrary dyed here not finding their corpes like Iosephs carried back in a Coffin into their own countrey It matters not though our bodies be bestowed in the earthly Egypt so our souls be translated to the heavenly Canaan § 28. Many were the prophecies of Ieremy during his abode in this land Amongst others that when he solemnly denounced the ruine of Egypt For he was commanded to take stones and hide them in the clay in the brick-kill which is at the entry of Pharaohs â—ouse in Tahpanhes understand it some competent distance thence otherwise such a shop of smoak was but a bad Preface to a Kings Palace and did foretell that Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon should in process of time set his throne and spread his royall pavillion on those very stones when he should conquer Egypt which no doubt came to pass accordingly A little more northernly this western stream of Nile parts it self into two chanels One falling into the Mediterranean at Zoan a City built seven years after Hebron in the land of Canaan Anciently a chief City in Egypt the whole land by Synecdoche being termed
Dead-sea but rather conceive they ran onely through the Tribe of Gad and emptied themselves in Aroer whereof in due time we shall give our best account Philol. I wonder you make Nophah so near to Medeba contrary to others descriptions which set it thence twenty miles at least Aleth I wonder they place it so far from Medeba contrary to the words of the Scripture and we have laid them wast unto N O P H A H which reacheth unto M E DE B A where the verb though supplyed by the Translatours is implyed in the Text. Philol. Why make you three fishponds in Heshbon to which the eyes of the Spouse are compared which is in effect to make her a monster if the resemblance be applyed Aleth I set a certain for an uncertain number in the originall it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 plurall and therefore indefinite In all these comparisons the strength of the similitude lies in the nature not the number of the things They deserve not the name of a flock of sheep which are under an hundred to which the teeth of the Spouse are compared and nature commoly allowes not above thirty two Philol. The City of Misor belonging to the Levites and recorded by Adrichomius in this Tribe is omitted by your oversight Aleth Commendable is his charity to the Levites For whereas Moses allotted them but four Cities in Reuben namely Kedemoth Iahazah Mephaah and Bezar his bounty bestoweth a fifth this Misor upon them But the poor Priests might well be full lean had they nothing to feed them but this imaginary City groundless in the Hebrew and onely founded on the erroneous Vulgar Yea generally the descriptions of Adrichomius are guilty herein that more made ad splendorem then ad veritatem to render them specious to the beholder because a lean bald Map is not so amiable as one filled full he poulders them thick with places rather scraped then gathered thereby offending the judgments of the learned to please the eyes of the ignorant But it is my business to excuse my self not accuse him and consciousness to my own many faults commands me to be tender to the errors of others CHAP. III. Objections concerning Gad answered Philol. VVHy make you the City of Iazer so in-land into this tribe which Adrichomius placeth on the River of Arnon Aleth I can demonstrate it could not stand on that River and by consequence must be more within the Tribe of Gad. For Arnon is notoriously known to be the eastern bound of Canaan Now attend what Moses saith And the suburbs of the Cities which yee shall give unto the Levites shall reach from the wall of the City and outwards a thousand Cubits round about And yee shall measure from without the City on the east side two thousand Cubits and on the south side two thousand Cubits and on the west side two thousand Cubits and on the north side two thousand Cubits and the City shall be in the middest this shall be to them the suburbs of their Cities Iazer therefore being a City of the Levites could not stand upon Arnon because they could not measure three thousand Cubits eastward for then they should take so much out of an enemies Countrey which belonged not to Israel Where we may also observe that no sea-town was allotted the Levites because for the reason aforesaid it would have proved less unto them hindering the circular dimensions of their possessions Philol. You are much mistaken in the placing of the City of Aroer The Scripture saith that it is before Rabba or as Tremellious rendreth it ante conspectum Rabbae within the view or sight of Rabba Whereas your Map presents it six and twenty miles off from that place Lynceus his eyes need a prospective-glass to discover Rabba from Aroer at the distance in your description Aleth Judicious Sir Walter Raleigh answers in my behalf that Rabba near to which Aroer was seated was not as you erroneously conceive Rabba of Ammon to which it was neither near nor in sight as he worthily observes but Rabba a chief City of Moab Which Rabba bordered on Aroer as in our Map of Moab doth appear though here straitned fro room no mention is made thereof Philol. You ill observe Scripture-instructions in fixing the first tent of Ioab when sent to number the people For the text saith that the he pitched in Aroer that is in the Countrey not City of Aroer wherein I concur with you on the right side of the City that lyeth in the midst of the River of Gad and toward Iazer Be your own judge whether or no the tent be set on the right side of the City Aleth The chief directory in placing this tent is the word right hand and that relative term is varied according as the face is setled If Ioabs face in his journy respected the north then the east is the right hand of the City and then the posture of the tent is rightly placed However the best is a tent is but a tent no solid or substantiall structure it will be no great work or weight on better grounds to take it down and remove it Philol. IN Iaâ—obs travells you place Soccoth fifteen miles from Peniel yet was it the very next station to which he removed Now I appeal to Nurses and Drovers the most competent judges in this controversie whether it be not too long a journy for little Children and Eâ—s big with young except you conceive miles are as easily gone on the grounds as measured in a Map with the Compass Aleth Though in Iacobs Gests Succoth succeeds the next place to Peniel yet it follows not that Iacob with his train went so far in one day Probably he might bait yea lodge severall days betwixt them the Scripture not mentioning every stage of his staying but onely marking signall places whereat some memorable accidents did happen or wherein for some considerable time he made his abode Philol. Sir Walter Raleigh whose judgment you deservedly honour makes the River of Iabbok the northern bound on the matter of the Tribe of Gad therein following the example of Adrichomius Whereas you extend this Tribe many miles beyond that river even to the sea of Cinneroth or Galilee a great tract of ground which you injuriously take from Manasseh and bestow on this Tribe Aleth I exactly follow Scripture directions in dividing this land betwixt them The text saith expresly that the border of the inheritance of the Gadites reached even to the edge of the sea of Cinneroth and therefore the land betwixt Iabbok and the edge of the sea undoubtedly belongs to this Tribe which justly may have an action of trespass against the foresaid Author for depriving it of so considerable a part of its true possession And yet under favour I conceive Mr. More in his Maps doth much overdoe stretching the inheritance of this Tribe to the utmost and most northern part of the sea
or in two Rankes two and two as they are ordered by Mercator Skuls in a charnel-house never justle for the upper place and as sensless is the contention betwixt these dead Cities which shall stand first whose foundations long since were doubly destroyed with fire and water But the sole motive of my placing Zeboim most northern of these four Cities is because I finde the valley of Zeboim in the Tribe of Benjamin which probably lay near the influx of Iordan into the Dead-sea denominated from the vicinity of Zeboim thereabouts Philol. The Hebrew Orthography confutes your conceit For Zeboim by you last alledged is spelled with different letters from the City which was burnt with fire from heaven Aleth I confess a threefold variation in the writing of this name though all the same in effect 1 Gen. 14. 2. and so also Deut. 29. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 1 Sam. 13. 18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Hoseah 11. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall set thee at Zeboim c. Here to mollifie the word the Gutturall is either altered or wholly omitted neither amounting to make it a new word How variously are the names of the same English towns spoken and spelled as Lester Leicester Legeocester Legecester yet the same word dressed in severall spellings and pronunciations Philol. Why make you Hebâ—on being a noted City of the Priests and City of Refuge different from all the rest onely with a single circle about it Aleth Because the fields and villages thereof were none of the Priests but were given to Caleb the son of Iephunneh for his possession Philol. If so then Hebron ought not to have had any circle at all about it being a bare City of the Priests without any suburbs belonging thereunto Aleth The Priests in Hebron had and had not suburbs pertaining thereunto according to the severall acception of suburbs If by them you onely understand aedificia suburbana buildings though without the City walls contiguous thereunto these no doubt belonged to the Priests who had Hebron with her suburbs otherwise if you extend them to ager suburbanus the fields surrounding the City these related to Caleb as the proper owner thereof Philol. You might well have afforded conjecturall flags to most of the Cities in Iudah going generally by guess in your placing of them and differing from all other authors therein Aleth The Learned in Anatomy have informed me that veins are alike in their trunks but not in their branches so that although the great Channels of bloud run alike in all bodies yet the smaller veines as is most visible in their divaâ—ication on the back of the hand disperse themselves diversly in divers persons The like is confessed in all Maps of Iudah wherein the grand Cities Hebron Debir Bethlehem c. have their certain position agreed on by most Authors whilest their inferiour places and no Tribe afforded more obscure Cities but once named in Scripture are subject to much variety according to the fancies of Authors Wherein we hope we have observed as much as might be these short and small directions we finde in Scripture Philol. But you are not constant to your self in the location of those lesser places as appears by some diversity of their distances both amongst themselves and from Ierusalem in the particular description of Iudah and in the generall Map of Palestine Aleth I confess the same who having discovered some errors in the particular Map reformed the same in the Map-generall Which may be beheld in this point as a new Edition of the former corrected and amended Request I therefore the Reader in such small differences to rely rather on the credit of the Map-generall Philol. You once placed Hepher a royall City in Manasseh on this side Iordan which since you have removed into Iudah without giving any account of the alteration Aleth Some probability perswaded us to our former opinion Cheifly because Hepher is mentioned in Ioshua's list next to Tapuah which is known to be in Manasseh But since finding also a Tapuah in Iudah and a land of Hepher near Sochoh a place also in Iudah it hath staggered our judgment and caused us to remove Hepher into Iudah with a flag of uncertaintie thereon all Authors finding an Ignoramus for the exact position thereof Philol. The land of Goshen is sufficiently known to be in Egypt And how stragleth of Countrey of Goshen into this Tribe Aleth You know that besides this England wherein we live there is an Anglia in Denmark whence our Ancestors are said to have come and there is England beyond Wales whither some of our nation removed Some such occasion to us unknown might give the name of Goshen to a petty tract of ground in Iudah Or else it might be so called from some assimilation in the fruitfulness thereof Wonder not at a Goshen in Egypt and another in Iudah when we finde two Ziphs two Zenoahs two Socohs c. As two Kirbies market-townes in Westmorland within the compass of this Tribe Philol. Conceive you that any wildernesses wherewith Iudah abounded were places of any pleasant habitation Aleth I am confident thereof For instance Engedi though a Wilderness was so delicious a place that the Spouse is compared to a cluster of Camphire in the Vineyards of Engedi Besides it had the conveniency of Palmtrees therefore in Scripture called Hazazon-Tamar which is Engedi Tamar being in Hebrew a Palme Nor can I omit the testimony of Pliny as the best comment herein in Gods word who speaking of people living on the west of the Dead-sea amongst these saith he is the town ENGADDA Second to Ierusalem in fruitfulness and WOODS OF PALME-TREES but now become another heap of Ashes Philol. I finde indeed a City and wilderness of Maon in this Tribe but were the dwellers therein those same Maonites which are said Iudg. 10. 12. with the Zidonians and Amalekites to have oppressed Israel Aleth O no. I take these tyrant Maonites to have been a fierce and forein Nation Saint Hierom de locis Hebraicis conceives Maon to be the Countrey of Moab The vulgar Latine translates it Canaanites because Maonites signifieth inhabitants and the Canaanites we know were the ancient and originall dwellers in the land whose Relicks left in the land contrary to Gods command were constant thornes in the sides of the Israelites But I conceive rather with learned Cajetan on this place these Maonites were a distinct neighbouring nation whose certain habitation is to us unknown Philol. Saul when marching against the Amalekites is said to have numbred the people being two hundred and ten thousand in Telaim which by the coast of the Countrey seems south in or near Iudah Yet no such place appears in your Map thereof Aleth The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is variously interpreted the Rabbins render it appellatively in Lambes affirming the Saul did not
The populousness and puissâ—nce of Zebulun a Num. 1. 31. b Num. 26. 27. c Iudg. 5. 14. d Psal. 68. 27. e 1 Chr. 12. 33. f Iudg. 12. 12. The situation and sea conveniences thereof g Gen. 49. 13. h Deut. 33. 18 19. Zebulun how bordering on Sidon i Gen. 49. 13. k Bochar Geog. Sacr. par pri pag. 342. The severall measures and names of the Galilean Sea l Ios. l. 3. de bel Iud. ca. 18. m Lib. 5. c. 15. Nat. hist. n De Ter. saâ—c o Trav. of Patriarchs p. 446. p Trav. p. 104. q Iosh. 13. 27. Iosh. 19. 35. r Luke 5. 1. s Iohn 6. 1. t Mat. 15. 29. u Luke 5. 2. w Maâ—ke 3. 9. x Luke 8. 23. y Mark 6. 48. z Acts 27. 37. Why our Saviour traversed sea as well as land Christs first voyage a Luke 5. 7. The second voyage saves Peter b Mâ—t. 14. 24. c Psal. 77. 19. d Iohn 6. 21. The third voyage when Christ was fast a sleep e Mat. 8. 24. f Mark 4. 3. 7. g Mar. 4. 39 40. Why Christ never sailed after his resurâ—ection h Mar. 8. 14. i Iohn 21 4. The method of the future description k Vid. Tabulam Ter. Sanc. l Luke 4. 29. The situation and denomination of Nazareth m Tom. 1. epi. 17. ad Marcellam n Cant. 2. 1. * Mar. 6. 3. A Vulgar error o Luke 4. 34. p Iohn 1. 46. q Iohn 19. 19. r Act. 24. 5. Christ no ceremonious Nazarite s Numb 6. 2. t Mat. 11. 19. u Luke 8. 54. x Mat. 2. 23. * Isay 11. 1. The first fruits of Christs preaching in Nazareth y Luke 4. 20. z 2 Sam 17. 7. * John 7. 15. Why Prophets without honour in their own countrey a Heb. 7. 3. The murdering intents of the Nazarites defeated b Iohn 3. 14. * See them on the place The travels of the chappell of Lauretto * See Tâ—reâ—llinus his historia Laâ—rettana c 1 Tim. 1. 4. Ioseph sold by his brethren d Gen. 37. 2. e Gen. 42. 21. f Gen. 37. 25. * verse 22. * verse 26. g Gen. 37. 25. h See description of Ephraims Tribe Sephoris the greatest city in Galilee i De bel Iud. lib. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 k Josh. 19. 13. l The birth placâ— of Ionah 2 King 14. 25. m Ionah 1. 3. n Ionah 4. 9. o Iohn 7. 52. p Mat. 15. 39. q Mar. 8. 10. Bethulia the stage of the tragedy of Holofernes The high seated city Iotâ—pata The character of Flavius Iosephus Iew and Priest son of Maâ—tathias u Though in his Proeme he promiseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without adding or diminishing any thing w In Apparatu numero 84. Christs Sermon on this sea x Mat. 13. 2. y Exod. 14. 19 20. Tiberias nigh to which Christ multiplied the loaves z Iohn 21. 1. a Ioh. 6. 22 23. b M Biddulph in his Trav. p. 104. M. Biddulphs eye-comment on our Saviours sea-voiage * Mâ—â— 6. 33. The ancient river of Kâ—shon c Judg. 5. 21. d Gen. 1. 9. e Vid. eum in locum f Ad quem utrique excâ—â—citus concurâ—entes manu conseruer unt Trâ—m ibid. The 2 streams of Kishon running into severall seas g Bâ—â—eiden bachius in ter Sacr. h Mat. 17. 1. Mark 9. 2. Luke 9. 30. i In his deâ—cription of Palestin which is neither divided into lâ—aves pâ—ges columns nor chapters k Mâ—t. 7. 7. l Iam. 4. 3. m Luke 9. 33. n Biddulphs Trav. p. 101. The city Naim Judge Elons sepulcher o Luke 7. 11. p Judg. 12. 12. The place where Baals prâ—estâ— were slain by Eliah q 1 King 18. 28. r 1 King 17. 7. The God Carmelus * In Vâ—spâ—siano cap. 5. The pleasure of Carmel a Amos 9. 3. b 2 King 19 32. c Ibid in the marginall note * Vâ—de â—abulas Adrichomii Cain Caiaphas 〈◊〉 c. d Gen. 4. 8. e Joh. 11. 49. f Heb. 12. 2. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 g De bel Iâ—d liâ— 2 cap. 32. h Iohn 2. 1. * Iosh. 19. 11. i Iosh. 12. 22. k Iosh. 21. 34. A châ—rlish difficulty Rather waved then sâ—tisfied l Tostatus Tremâ—llius in locum Chroniâ—oâ—um who maketh Dimnah the same with Rimmon Taboâ— with Nahalol The armes of Zâ—bulun m 1 King 4. 12. Issachars numbers and emâ—nent persons a Gen. 30. 17. b Numb 1. 29. c Num. 26. 25. * 1 King 15. 27 d 1 King 1. 4. e Deut. 33. 18 19. f Josh. 19. â—2 His bounds fruitfulnesse g Psal. 106. 24. h Gen. 49. 15. i Gen. 49. 14. Not defective in valour k Judg. 5. 15. Excelling in Chronology l 1 Chr. 12. 32. m Rivâ—t Exerâ— in 49. Genâ—sios n Josh. 19. 18. Iezreel a regall City o Josh. 17. 10. p 2 King 9. 27. q â— King 21. 3. Naboths refusall defended Iezebels murdering of Naboth r 1 King 21. 10 s 2 King 9. 26. t Deut. 24. 16. Divine justâ—ce u 1 King 22. 34. w 2 King 9. 24 Abaziahs double death reconciled x Heb. 9. 27. y 1 King 21. 1. And his doublâ—â—â—riall z 2 King 9. 28. a 2 Chr. 22. 9 The manner of lezebels death b 1 King 19. 2 c Ibidem d 2 King 9. 31. e Ibid. vers 35. f Feet in thosâ— parts naked iâ—â—andalâ— g 2 King 10. 8. The bloud of Iezebel why requâ—red of Iehu h Hose 1. 4. The brave battell against 〈◊〉 i Iudg. 10. 1 2. k Iudg. 5. 19. l Iudg. 5. 14. Sâ—ars waâ—â—curs m Gen. 15. 5. 22. 17. Kishon Gods besome n Iudg. 5. 21. Kishon and Engaâ—â—im o 1 Chron. 6. p Josh. 21 28. q Biddulphs â—ravells p. 113. r Idem ibidem Shâ—nem Abishags birthplach s Iosh. 19. 18. t 1 King 1. 3. u Psal. 103. 5. w 1 King 2. 23. Elisha his honourable landâ—lady x 2 King 4. 17. y 2 King 4. 20. Restored to her lost possessionâ— z 2 Kin. 8. 1. c. a 2 King 4. 13. b 2 King 4. 10. Tabor a city c Iosh. 19. 22. d Iudg. 8. 18. e Ier. 46. 18. f Hos. 5. 1. g Brocardus in Descrip. Terrae Sanc. Itin. ab Acone versuâ— Eurum h Psal. 89. 12. Daâ—arah and Tarichea i Iosh. 19. 12. k Iosh. 21. 28. l 1 Sâ—m 28. 4. m 1 Sam. 29. 1. n 1 Sam. 29. 11. o 1 Sam. 31. 9 10. p 2 Sam. 1. 10. q Speed in the life of Richard the third towards the end Rain on mount Gilboa r 2 Sam. 1. 21. s Descrip. Tâ—r. Sanc. ab Acone versus Notum t Mat. 17. 20. u Act. 1. 20. w Psal. 109. 7. * 1 King 5. Manassâ—h in Issachar x Iosh. 17. 11. y Ephes. 1. 11. And how in Asher z Viz. 1 Chr. 8. 38. 1 Chr. 9. 44. a Opus est quadringâ—ntis camelis onustis Commentariis rationem reddere Mar. Sutra cited by Buxdors in Thesauro sol 202. b 2 King 9. 27. c Iosh.
ran with the swiftest and held out with the longest Having aâ— King in the days of Abraham and continuing themselves in a considerable condition till after the captivity Returning almost as many forcible impressions as they received from the Israelites What though Shâ—â—gar smote Samson 〈◊〉 and Samuel humbled them yet they grew so great in the reigne of Saul that they left all the Israelites swordlesâ— though afterwards there was one sword too many in Saulâ— hand wherewith he slew himself when overcome by the Philistines Indeed David brought them and Solomon kept them under But in the days of Ioram they so recovered themselves that they plundered Iudah rifled the Kings palace killed and carried captive the seed royall Uzziah after ordered them into obedience but under Ahaz they regnined their lost cities and wan more unto them In a word of the heathen people left for thornes in the sides of the Iewes none had sharper prickles or pierced nearer to their hearts then the Philistines Yea such their puissance that from them the Greeks and Latinos called all this land Palestinaâ— because the Philistines lived on the sea-coast most obvious to the notice of foreiners As in deed a small Port makes a greater report in the eares of strangers far off then a land-locked place though far greater in proportion § 24. The bounds of Philistia are not precisely to be set down For whilest tame cattell are kept in pastures beasts of prey such this warlike people are onely bounded by their own ravenous appetite The best way to measure the borders of the Philistines is to behold the sins of the Israelites For when they were encreased then the Countrey of the Philistines was accordingly enlarged Thus in the days of King Saul they roved and ranged as far as Dor and Bethshean in the half Tribe of Manasseh and had Garisons in the heart of most Tribes of Israel But their constant habitation their den as I may terme it was atract of ground from Gath in the north to Gaza in the south Some fifty miles in length and about halfe as broad in the lands allotted to Iudah Dan and Simeon Their government was a mixture of Monarchy and Aristocracy For as their chiefe Cities had Kings over them which seem absolute in their own dominions so these kingdomes were but Cantons in relation to the whole as members making up one entire Common-wealth § 25. There need no other evidence be produced to prove the fruitfulness of their Countrey then the vastness of their bodies whereof the rankness of their ground must be allowed a partiall cause Our English Proverb saith shew me not the meate but shew me the man The well batling of the Giants bred in Philistia chiefly in Gath their Seminary being Heteroclites redundants from the rules of nature sufficiently attests the fertility of their soil Some of these Giants had their hands branching out into six fingers though they who had one fewer had enough to kill them Let Naturalists curiously inquire whether or no this stock of Giants be wholly spent in our age And if so what the true causes thereof Whether intemperance of diet or over early marriage seeing every one that is raw to work count themselves ripe to wed Let them consult whether nature hath not some other way recompensed in our age that want of strength by giving them quicker wits wheras in voluminous men commonly there is much empty margent However mens lesser strength and stature amounts not to a proof of an universall decay in nature as a most learned pen hath unanswerably demonstrated § 26. One thing more we must observe of the Philistines that they are also called Cherethims or Cherethites in Scripture Know also that the Cherethites were a kind of lifegard to King David Now because it is improbable that so wise a Prince would intrust his Person in the protection of the Philistines his conquered enemies therefore learned Tremellius by Cherethites understands such Israelites as afterwards possessed the Countrey of the Philistines expulsed by David Which seems to some but a forced interpretation For what unlikelyhood was it that David might entertain Proselyte Philistines converts to the Iewish religion if there were such to be attendants about his body Not to instance in the French Kings double gard of Scots and Switzars as improper to this purpose because though forein yet free and friendly nations David out of policy might retain such to wait upon him both for their present encouragement and future engagements of the fidelity of the Philistines Whose service might not onely be free from danger but full of advantage especially when they were under the conduct of so wise and valiant an Israelite as Benajah the son of Iehojada placed governour over them To render this still more probable Consider how Ittai the Gittite with six hundred men of Gath was no native of Israel as appears by Davids words thou art a stranger and an exile and yet was intrusted with the Command of a Terce of the army in the battell against Absolom Wherein he excellently acquitted himself according to his loyall resolution to attend the Kings fortunes whether in life or death § 27. Come we now to describe the Countrey Philistia where in the north part thereof we finde Gath a regall City before Achish the son of Maoch the King whereof David to save his life counterfeited himself mad But whether guilty or no in so doing Divines have not yet determined It would incline me to the more charitable side that he had good warrant for what he did because at the same time understand it immediately before or after he composed two Psalmes Which shew his soul not out of tune solemnly to serve God But David went to Achish a second time with sixe hundred men it seems upon better assurance before-hand then formerly and was with great kindness entertained by him dwelt with him in Gath and after obtained Ziklag from him and by Achish his minde should have been the keeper of his head Achish the son of Maachah tributary no doubt to Solomon was King of Gath. For Shimei confined to Hierusalem by Solomons command and his own consent did fetch from him his fugitive servants Time was when Shimei's tongue ran too fast in railing on David his Master and now his feet moved too far in running after his servants so that breaking the Tedder of his Commission of the pieces thereof a Halter was justly made for his execution This City of Gath was afterwards fortified by Rehoboam and many years after taken by Hazael King of Syria and in the next age had the wall thereof broken down by Uzziah King of Israel § 28. Betwixt Gath and Ekron lying thence south west we are as certain there were Cities as ignorant how to call them For the present let them pass by the name of Samuels Cities