open access 5 But ride on Asses partly that Petitioners though lame and weak might keep pace with them on the way when relating their grievances and partly by that patient creature to shew the slow but sure proceeding of justice and indeed the Judges foot-pace to the sentence is the accused parties post-speed to his grave We finde among these thirty cities but one of them named which is Camon wherein the body of Iair was buried And it is probable that Ira the Iairite so high in favour about King David was an inhabitant of this countrey § 15. More south lay Ashteroth-karnaim or in English the two horned Ashteroth either so named from some forked building or street therein Horn-church in Essex and Horn-castle in Lincolne-shire so called on the like occasion or because the Idol Ashteroth that is the Moon horned in her waxing or waning was worshipped therein or lastly because a fair and gallant City and all strength mirth and jollity are called horns in the Hebrew Yet may we say to the men of Ashteroth in the words of the Psalmist Set not up your horns so high neither speak presumptuous words Horns which first were well blunted by Chedorlaomer when he smote the Rephaims or Giants in Ashteroth-karnaim and afterwards were broken quite off when Og King of Bashan who reigned in this City was overthrown For hard by is Edrei another City wherein Og resided and neer which he bid battell to the children of Israel when he with all his Giant-like race which peopled this place was extinguished For though the Countrey of Pigmies be a Poets-tale this Land of Giants is a Scripture-truth However no eye can now distinguish betwixt the ashes of Giants and dust of dwarfs death having long since levelled all alike in the grave § 16. Such remarkable places as remain in this Tribe will easily be found out if we follow the stream of Iordan and such rivolets as pay tribute thereunto Iordan having newly recovered himself out of the waters of Merom into a competent channell receiveth from the east Hermon a small brook running by Golan a Levites City of refuge whence the neighbouring countrey in Iosephus called Gaulonitis and after Iordan falleth betwixt Capernaum and Chorazin into the sea of Galilee This Chorazin was the place where Christs miracles and preaching were sowen so thick and where the peoples thankfulness for the one and practise of the other came up so thin that it caused that curse Woe be to thee Chorazin c. A woe which at this day hath wasted it from a populous city to a ruinous village As for their conceit that Antichrist should be born in Chorazin I take it to be a meer Monkish device to divert mens eyes from seeking him in the right place where he is to be found § 17. More south-ward the brook Cherith having viewed at some distance Beeshterah afterwards called Bosrah a city of the Levites called also Ashtaroth And it is questionable whether this or Ashtaroth-Carnaim whereof formerly were the Metropolis of Og King of Bashan runneth into the Sea of Galilee By the banks hereof the Ravens brought Eliah bread and flesh in the morning and evening and he drank of the river It seems Dinners are but innovations whilest break-fasts and suppers are mens most ancient and naturall meales Here Eliah having the subâ—â—ance of sustenance cared not for the ceremony of a Table or complement of a Carpet How little will preserve life but how much must maintain luxury After a while this River dried up Collect not thence that the brook was inconsiderably little but that the drought had been extraordinarily long § 18. As for the cities of Hippus Iulias and Gamala whereof as deep silence in Scripture as frequent mention in Iosephus it is enough to name them In the last of these Iosephus reports Iudas of Galilee to be born that grand impostor who in the days of the taxing pretended himself the Champion of popular liberty to protect them from such unreasonable payments Multitudes of men flocked after him for spare their purses and win the hearts of the Vulgar But Iudas having goâ—ten power fell a pillaging all people taking from them the whole griest of their estate so to save the owners from paying toll unto Cesar. How smooth and tender are the gums of Infant-treason but oh how sharp are the teeth thereof when once grown to full greatness However he and his followers came afterward unto confusion and is the second instance alleadged by Gamaliel to prove that councells which are not of God will come to nought The Son of Geber was Solomons purveyer in this half Tribe of Manasseh § 19. The Armes assigned to Ioseph are a tree proper growing by a Well founded on the words of Iacob Gen. 49. 22. David may seem hence to have borrowed his Simile of a blessed man He shall be like a tree planted by the waters side But Ioseph had more not onely a Well before to refresh but a wall behind to support him and his boughs may Heralds word it in their own language grew over the wall Partly foretelling the fruitfulness of Iosephs posterity and partly pointing at the particular posision of his inheritance For as some think Iordan was the wall on the east of the Land of Canaan properly so called and the children of Ioseph having their root planted and main body growing on the other side of the river spread their branches over this wall half Manasseh having his portion on the east side of Iordan To conclude though those Armes did generally belong to the whole house of Ioseph yet custome hath appropriated them to Manasseh alone other Ensigns being assigned to Ephraim whereof God willing hereafter Here the Map of Naphtali is to be inserted THE TRIBE OF NAPHTALI CHAP. 4. § 1. NAphtali Son of Iacob by Bildah his Concubine was multiplied during the aboad of his posterity in Egypt to fifty and three thousand four hundred All which dying in the desert their Sons being fourty five thousand foure hundred entred the Land of Canaan A Tribe acquitting it self considerable in relation to the rest though we meet but with two or rather but with one and a half Glories thereof The former Barak the son of Abinoham who acted by Deborah did act so valiantly against Sisera The half-one Hiram a Naphtalite though his Father was a man of Tyre that curious Artificer in Solomons Temple Other eminent persons though unknown doubtless were of this Tribe for in their martiall addresses to David in Hebron none appeared in more excellent equipage for number and warlike accoutrements And of Naphtali a thousand Captains and with them with shield and speare thirty and seven thousand § 2. This Tribe bordered plainly intimated though not expressed in the bounding thereof on mount Libanus on the north and reacheth as is plainly expressed to Zebulun
Prophet it may be ranked with the making of Dinah Iacobs daughter to be Iobs wife and with Ruth her being daughter to Eglon King of Moab all which three traditions are equally improbable in themselves altogether ungrounded on Scripture and yet peremptorily affirmed of the Jewish Doctors Nor have I ought else to observe of this City save that the Hebrew name of Zarephah signifieth a conflatory or melting place where metals whereof plenty in this Province were made fuâ—il by the fire in their furnaces § 27. Accho remains to be observed in the south part of this Tribe and confines of Zebulun A learned writer conceiveth it called Ace by Grecians from affording medicine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek to Hercules when hurt in his conflict with the Lernaean Serpent Whereas indeed Ace is plainly derived from Accho the Scriputre name of this City Thus those who take aime from the Greek tongue to shoot at the Etymologies of Hebrew places come wide of the mark This city was afterwards called Ptolemais from one of the Kings of Egypt Here I forbear to recite how Ionathan through the perfidiousness of Tryphon and his own over credulity was trained into this city taken and murdered Saint Paul sailing from Tyre touched here saluted the brethren and abode with them one day As for Achzib a city of Asher whence they could not expell the Canaanites it was seated nine miles north of Ptolemais being a tolerable harbour and called Ecdippa afterwards § 28. Many were the rivolets in this Tribe but those no sooner delivered out of the wombe of their fountains but devoured in the grave of the Ocean onely Belus hath got a name though not in Scripture running through the Cendevian Lake famous for its inexhausted sands turning all things it toucheth into glass As for the sepulcher of Memnon whom the Poets feign the son of the Morning and Iosephus erects his monument near the river Belus we take no notice thereof being hereafter to finde his tombe the dew of whose birth is as the wombe of the morning in a far distant place § 29. The Armes usually assigned to Asher are azure a standing cup covered Or relating to Iacobs blessing he shall yeeld royall dainties A cup being taken here by a Synedochicall metonymie for all plentifull Provisions Asher otherwise affording dishes as well as cups and esculents as well as variety of beverage But should the shield of this Tribe be as full of charge as the land thereof was fruitfull of commodities what was the credit of the countrey would be the disgrace of the Coate of Asher Here the Map of Zebulun is to be inserted THE TRIBE OF ZEBVLVN CHAP. 6. § 1. ZEbulun tenth son of Iacob by Leah his wise had his posterity so increased in Egypt that fifty seven thousand four hundred were extracted from him All which dying in the wilderness for their manifold disobedience their next generation being sixty thousand five hundred possessed the land of Canaan Honourable mention on all occasions is made of this Tribe in Scripture How forwâ—rd were they in their expedition against Sisera in so much as out of Zebulun they came down that handled the pen of the writer Gown-men turned Sword-men Clerks became Captains changing their penknives into swords Thus the peaceableness of their profession can bail none to stay at home when eminent danger arrests all at the suite of the Commonwealth to serve in person abroad David calls them the Princes of Zebulun c. and well might he afford them that style of dignity who attended him at Hebron with an army so absolutely accomplished For 1 Number fifty thousand 2 Skill expert in war which could keep ranke 3 Weapons with all instruments of war 4 Loyalty they were not of double hearts Yet in all ages of all the numerous Tribe of Zebulun we finde but two Grandees expressed by name Elon a peaceable Judge and Ionah an eminent Prophet But what shall we say A greater then Ionah was here even Christ himself the honour and dishonour though not of the tribe of the land of Zebulun honor because here miraculously conceived poorly painfully bread brought up here frequent in preaching working of miracles dishonour because carelesly neglected and scornfully contemned yea dispightfully persecuted of his own countreymen § 2. Zebulun had Asher on the north-west Naphtali on the north-east Issachar on the south the Mediterranean on the west and Galilean sea on the east thereof This maritime position of this Tribe Iacob foresaw in his Prophecy Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the Sea and he shall be for an haven of ships and his border shall be unto Zidon Which Charter of sea conveniencies is renewed and enlarged by Moses in his blessing Rejoyce Zebulun in thy going out and Issachar in thy tents They shall call the people unto the mountains and there shall they offer Sacrifices of righteousness for they shall suck of the abundance of the Seas and treasures hid in the sand Where though these two Tribes be made Partners and joint sharers in marine interests and are promised equall profit thereby yet Issachar it seems loved land and an home life best imploying his canvase rather for Tents then Sails whilest the sea and going out in long voiages was rather Zebuluns delight So have I seen chickens and ducklings hatched under the same hen no sooner unhoused out of their shels but presently the one falls a pecking on the ground the other a padling in the water § 3. Nor let any be staggered at the close of Iacobs Prophecy wherein he foretelleth Zebuluns border shall be unto Sidon finding this Tribe to fall many miles short and south of that place For Sidon is not there to be taken for the City but Countrey so named And the land of the Sidonians or Phenicians extended to Accho or Ptolemais a city thereof on which the north bound of Zebulun did confine Greater will be the difficulty to assigne a cleare reason why in the first book of Chronicles where the Pedegrees of all the other Tribes are reckoned up Zebulun and Dan as considerable and deserving as the rest is omitted The best is places not persons concern our present subject and I hope I shall not betray such indiscretion to leave the plain and ready Rode of my work in hand to enter into the wood not to say the bog of an impertinent question § 4. We begin with the sea of Galilee the eastern boundary of this Tribe called always a sea by three of the Evangelists but generally a Lake by Saint Luke Indeed amongst lakes it may be accounted for a Sea such the greatness amongst seas reputed for a lake such the sweetness and freshness of the water therein The extent thereof is most variously reported amongst Authors Iosephus makes it an hundred furlongs long and sixe broad Pliny
heed the differences aforesaid However we had rather offend on the right hand and be censured for overmuch caution Others will adjudge it fitter that the severall towns had been set forth in sundry maps not putting the new piece to the old so to make the rent the worse not mingling modern with ancient places but presenting them apart in entire descriptions But this being a matter of great expence we leave such mens judgments to be rectified by their purses when they seriously consider the price thereof § 3. And now what remaineth but that we humbly beg a measuring reed out of the Sanctuary to be lent us that so by heavens assistance we may be enabled to perform this survey of the land of Canaan This in the first place implored we proceed to our task It was Saint Pauls advice to the Corinthians Be yee followers of me as I am of Christ my humble request to the reader is that while I goe before him in this my description he would follow me in his own pace at his own pleasure so fast and so far as I follow the truth at least the most probability grounded on Scripture ancient Authors and modern Travellers who have been eye-witnesses of the countrey Finis Libri primi To the Right Honourable HENRY LORD BEAVCHAMPE Son to the Right Honourable WILLIAM MARQUES OF HARTFORD MY LORD AMongst many other meditations my serious thoughts have made enquiry concerning Government and Nobility whence each of them derived their originall For the first I finde it as ancient as Man and extracted from God himself Who because he was a Spirit and therefore invisible the better to try what Tribute of obedience Men out of Conscience would pay unto him stamped a character of dominion as his own visible Image in the infancy of mankind on the Father of the family that so honour and duty might be given to God in yeelding subjection to him who represented him These first Governours were termed Patriarches that is Father-Princes their compounded name speaking their mixt authority And Josephus writing of the death of Methuselah saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He left or passed over his principality to Lamech his son and this Prince-ship continued in the Primogeniture for many Ages till the method thereof was discomposed partly by the numerosity of mankinde partly by their far dispersed habitations Thus was Government the Mistresse first born in the world whilest Nobility her Maide came in not long after to attend her For such Persons whose vertuous dispositions commended them to the speciall favour of Princes in Power had in reward of their worth markes of Honour fixed upon them which afterward by succession descended unto their posterity Of these some imitating their Ancestours goodness continued in the splendor of their Nobility whilest others degenerating by their vicious courses invited neglect and contempt upon themselves Insomuch that in some the valour and spirit of their Progenitors which advanced them by the sword in time of war evaporated all into empty aire turning into a wild and riotous animosity And in others the gravity and wisdome of their Grandfathers which promoted them by the Gown in the days of Peace settleth into feculent earth leaving nothing but a tame and unactive stupidity behinde it Herethe Nobility of such had expired save that some of them seasonably perceiving the desperate Consumption thereof did follow the prescription of Physick and returned into the Native aire which first gave Honour her birth and being and did so repair their lost reputation by practising the Primitive vertues of Piety Courtesie Hospitality Valour Wisdome and Learning thus going home to the Climate wherein Nobility was first conceived But thanks be to God your Lordship is none of those personally guilty of any decay of dignity whose vertues preserve your Honour in the perfect health and strength thereof which hath been the main motive to make me so desirous to present my book to your Honour as a proper Patron even to the height for all purposes and intents Whose Iudgment can examine the whole Clemency Pardon what is amiss and Greatness Protect the rest in defiance of opposition Indeed Sir besides desire to shelter my self under your Patronage gratitude obligeth me to tender my service to your Honour For all my Books being my nether and upper milstone and such by the Leviticall Law might not be taken to pledge because a Mans life without which I had been rendered unable to grinde any Grist for the good of my self or others had been taken from me in these civill wars had not a Letter from your Lady-mother preserved the greatest part thereof Good reason therefore that the first handfull of my finest meale should be presented in thankfulness to your family And now my Lord bethinking my self of a blessing for your self and worthy Lady that she-pattern of Meekness Modesty Piety and Patience no fitter can be found then what the Psalmist pronounceth that you may see your childrens children and Peace upon Israel Here is the finest of wares and withall the largest of measures length of days to enjoy them Well may this prayer be read at Marriages there being a marriage in the Prayer wherein Long-life coupleth Posterity and Peace together Otherwise it is wofull to multiply for war to subtract and onely to be fruitfull for the Sword or Famine May this Benediction of the Psalmist light on you and yours in the highest performance thereof which is the desire of Your Lordships most humble servant THO. FULLER Here followeth the Map of Reuben THE TRIBE OF REVBEN The second Book § 1. REuben eldest Son of Iacob by Leah forfeited his Birthright by defiling his Fathers bed For which fact he was cursed that he should not excell Whereupon came such a dearth of eminent Persons of this Tribe that neither King Judge Priest nor Prophet descended thereof Yea few men of fame onely two notoriously infamous Dathan and Abiram Generalls of the mutineers against Moses haply in hope because of their extraction to recover the lost Birthright unto their Tribe Yet these Reubenites though not springing high spread broad little puissant very populous counting no fewer then forty six thousand five hundred at the generall muster in mount Sinai all which dying in the wilderness for their infidelity their children descended from them being forty three thousand seven hundred and thirty possessed this land east of Iordan § 2. A land that five times exchanged her owners in the old Testament First her originall inhabitants were the Emims a younger house of the Anakims accounted Giants being great in stature and many in number Secondly Moabites who though less and lower yet advantaged by divine assistance did overtop and overcome these voluminous Emims and possessed themselves of their land Thirdly Amorites under Sihon their King who somewhat before Moses conducted the Israelites hither acquired the soveraignty of this countrey beating out the Moabites and
Sauls and his sons corps they took down from Bethshan bring them home burn the flesh and bury the bones thereof under a tree neare the City The Iews generally interring their dead under some Oak pleased perchance with the parallel that as those plants seemingly dead in winter have every spring an annuall resurrection so mens dry bones shall have new sap put into them at the day of Judgment David afterwards removed the bones of Saul and Ionathan buried them in the sepulchre of Kish their father in Zelab in the Countrey of Benjamin § 24. From the fords of Ephraim Iordan taketh his course by the Cities of Ataroth and Debir of which we can say neither more nor less but that they are called Ataroth and Debir For these places let Ataroth-shophan Beth-haran c. march in the same rank are so short-lived in Scripture that they live onely to be named and presently vanish away without any more mention of them Not long after Iordan leaving this Tribe runneth into Reuben § 25. More inland in Gad lay the large and fruitfull Countrey of Gilead whereof more fitly and fully in the next Tribe For though this Tribe of Gad had South-Gilead in her borders yet under favour I conceive that North-Gilead which belonged to Manasseh was the firstand best Countrey of that name Now whereas we read in Scripture that Gad had all the Cities of Gilead and few verses after that Manasseh had half Gilead know that Gilead is taken restrictively in the former and generally in the latter acception § 26. Ramoth-Gilead called also Ramoâ—h-mizpeh was metropolis of Gad-Gilead It belonged to the Levites and was also a City of refuge afterwards won by the King of Aram. Then alas that city which so often had saved others from the pursuit of their enemies could not preserve it self from the sword of the Syrians Here it was verified Quod non capit Christus rapit fiscus For upon Ieroboams introducing of Idolatry the pious Levites were outed of their possessions and now the pagan Syrians revenging their quarrell ejected Israel out of this City wrongfully wrested from the Levites § 27. However not long after Ahab and Iehoshaphat with joint forces besieged it when the army of the Syrians bad them both battell Iehoshaphat at Ahabs perswasion pretending his honour but intending therein his own safety appeared in his Princely equipage whilest the other disguised himself in the army Now the Syrians having received speciall orders to fight neither against small nor great save onely with the King of Israel mistake Iehoshaphat for the King of Israel directed in their conjectures unto him by the lustre of his royall Robes Bravery betrays men to danger and not onely sets up a fair mark but giveth malice the right ground to throw at it And was it not just with God that Iehoshaphat who in complement had profest to Ahab I am as thou art should in realty be taken to be the same indeed But upon his crying out the Syrians apprehend their errour and desist from further pursuing him § 28. But divine Justice continues the chace of Ahab Guilt cannot hide it self in a croud and there is no way for a notorious sinner to disguise himself from Gods eye but by his sincere repentance A man draws a bow at adventures and all-seeing providence guiding blind chance to the joints of Ahabs armour mortally wounds him It seems not onely the Corselet but also the putting on thereof must be of proof to fence death out which otherwise will creep in at a small cranny Yet Ahab was staid up in his chariot til even then the Sun his life set together Some years after King Iehoram Ahabs son at the same place received wounds of more honour and less danger when forcibly he recovered this Ramoth-Gilead from the Kings of Syria But of all Iehorams hurts here received none went so near his heart as that in this City a son of the Prophets sent by Elisha did anoint Iehu a Captain of the Hoste to be his successour and King of Israel § 29. We had wholly forgotten no shame to confess and amend our faults the small Countrey of Sharon in the north-east part of this tribe It seems it was parcell of the demeans of the Crown in the days of King David where his heards were fed under the care and charge of Shetrai the Sharonite David we see was not onely a good man and good King but also a good husband stocking this his land to his best profit knowing full well soon would the State of his Court-hall be abated if the thrift in his countrey Kitchin were not preserved Nor was Sharon a place less pleasant then profitable where plenty of fragrant roses grew to which Christ the Churches spouse is pleased to resemble himself not for any fading condition but fair sight sweet smell and cordiall vertues wherein he excelled § 30. Here some will inquire In what capacity did David hold his land in Sharon and elsewhere where his cattell was grased seeing being Iesse's youngest Son little land was left him from his Father and none at all in the Tribe of Gad. The difficulty is increased because in so pent and populous a countrey scarce a foot thereof but related to some owner not having power to alienate it from his heires to whom at the farthest it was to revert at the year of Iubilee when all dead possessions had a resurrection to their proper owners We conceive David held this land by one of the following Titles 1 By the fundamentall establishment of the Crown For sure when that Kings were made publick provision was made for their Princely support who as Lords of Manors have commonage sance number amongst their Tenants might feed their cattell any where in their own dominions 2 By improvement of wast grounds which fell to the King as Lord of the Soile Yea seeing God made provisionary Laws for the Kings behaviour four hundred years before any King was in Israel why might not a reserve of land be also left at the partition of the countrey by lot for their Kings future maintenance 3 By mutuall compact some subjects on valuable consideration as perchance the relaxing the tribute due from every person to his Prince might part not with the propriety but present profit of their land for the Kings conveniency 4 By attainder of Traitours whose lands it seems were at least for some term of time at the Kings disposall witness Davids granting all Mephibosheth had unto Ziba 5 By conquest as most probable it is this Sharon was won from the Ammonites when Rabba was taken from them However we may prefume that Davids title though unknown to us was undoubted in it self free from the least suspicion of injustice according to his own counsell Trust not in oppression become not vain in robbery
ake For Samson applied himself to the two pillars most fundamentall to the roof of Dagons Temple and by the strength of his armes and prayers pulling them down killed and died together Strange that his enemies knowing his strength resided in his haire prevented not the second growth thereof But God first stupefies whom he intends for destruction Samson had lost his sight the Philistines their foresight at the same time § 23. Many ages after Gaza was smote by Pharaoh King of Egypt and not warned thereby to repent utter desolation was denounced against it There needeth no clearer comment on the Prophets prediction Gaza shall be forsaken then that passage in the Acts of the Apostles the way unto Gaza which is wast This vastation was caused by Alexander the great when he utterly razed the city fulfilling what Ieremy had foretold Baldness is come upon Gaza whereby not onely the hair but skin and flesh of this proud place fell away scarce any signes of a city remaining Out of the ruines hereof some two miles westward where Bezor falleth into the sea Majuma or Sea-Gaza once a proper port-town took its rise and increase called afterward Constantia by Constantine the great and Gatzra at this day where simple roofs supported with carved columns and broken pieces of Parian Marble serving for thresholds jambes of doors and sides of windows almost to every beggerly cottage testifie its former better condition So much for these Philistines who are taxed for their soothsaying by Isaiah accused of spightfulness and old hatred by Ezekiel challenged for cruelty by Amos arraigned for pride by Zachary condemned by all to unavoidable destruction Think not that these Philistines fox-like fared the better for being cursed surely though slow sure vengeance overtook them and we undoubtedly beleeve the same although it be hard in history to shew when where and how their particular extirpation was accomplished § 24. Simeon hath usually assigned him for his armes Gules a sword in pale with the point thereof erected argent alluding to Iacobs words Instruments of cruelty are in his habitations because of their perfidious massacring of the Shechemites None of Solomons Purveyours in the Tribe of Simeon the reason whereof shall be rendered in our description of Iudah If any demand why Simeon alone is omitted in Moses his solemn blessing of the other Tribes let them remember how Iacob coupled Simeon and Levi in a curse since which time the Levites had unstrained their credit by their exemplary zeale against the Idolaters but the Simeonites had not recovered their reputation by any eminent act by them atchieved Moses therefore having no commission to recall Iacobs curse and loth to repeat it lest the double-cursed Simeonites should be utterly disheartned thought it in pious policy best to pass them over in silence Of such persons of whom we would willingly say no bad and cannot truly say any good it is the wiseâ—t way to say nothing As for their tradition that the Simeonites were imployed to be Scribes and Notaries to the Tribe of Iudah it is enough to mention it knowing no sound authority whereon the same is grounded Here the Map of Benjamin is to be inserted THE DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIBE OF BENIAMIN CHAP. 12. § 1. BEnjamin youngest son of Iacob by Rachel was by his mother dying of him in child-birth named Ben-oni that is the son of sorrow but by his Father called Benjamin that is the son of the right hand Say not Iacob did ill in altering the Will of his wife and revoking the name the last legacy she bequeathed to her child seeing the alteration was perfective and for the advantage of the Legatee not to say that Rachels pangs imposed that name and might be presumed scarce compos mentis in what she did But the main reason of the alteration was because Iacob could not call his son but must recall his lost wife to his mind so that his very name constantly carried a coffin in the mention thereof Highly he was beloved of his Father and good reason First because begot in his old age Secondly because the youngest and affection which always descends when it can goe no lower settles it self Thirdly because he was motherless Lastly because brotherless Ioseph being conceived dead and so the portion of affection due to him fell to Benjamin as the right heir thereof § 2. Of this Tribe came out of Egypt thirty five thousand four hundred all which dying in the wilderness fourty five thousand and six hundred of their children entred the land of Canaan Afterwards an heavy dysaster befell this Tribe of the cause and manner whereof hereafter insomuch that no. women and onely six hundred men were left of Bemjamin Yea none of Benjamin were left above ground being destroyed from being visible on the face of the earth and the six hundred remaining all hid in the rock of Rimmon Thus Benjamin was cut off from the body of Israel and onely hung dangling by one small sinew which by the carefull Chirurgery of their brethren and Gods blessing upon it in short time recovered it self to be very considerable in Israel § 3. Herein the words of the Psalmist deserve to be observed There is little Benjamin with their ruler Little Benjamin It was therefore no court-complement or modest excuse but a downright truth Saul said unto Samuel Am I not a Benjamiâ— of the smallest of the Tribes of â—srael It is added with their Ruler no Tribe Iudah excepted more trading in Commanders then Benjamin did Hereof were Saul and Ishbosheth both crowned Kings Ionathan the eldest son Mordecai the Favorite Esther the wife of a King Ehud the Judge and Abner the Generall of Israel with divers others And among Ecclesiasticall Rulers let not him be forgot who had the care of all the Churches even Saint Paul the Apostle But beside these Rulers Benjamin bred some enemies to authority Ziba that false cheater Shimei that foul railer Baanah and Rechab privy traitours Sheba a professed Rebell so impossible it is all should be good herbs which grow in great gardens § 4. The lot of Benjamin came forth betwixt the children of Iudah and the children of Ioseph If a sparrow falls not on the ground surely ground falls not to any owner without Gods immediate providence Benjamin joined with Ioseph to day the possession of Rachels children entire together and joyned to Iudah that vicinity of habitation might invite them to unity of Religion And indeed commendable was the constancy of the Benjamites both to God and their King following the house of David at the disloyall defection of the rest of the Tribes Say not that little Benjamin was thus placed in the middle to be ground betwixt the mill stones of two potent Tribes for it matters not who lies on our sides so be it God dwells on our
ridiculous is the unequall contest in point of bulk betwixt their severall workmanships that Natures pismires may be said to exceed Arts elephants § 16. Some to excuse the pride of these builders resolve their design on a point of policy onely to busie their people to prevent in them laziness and luxury the mother of mutinies knowing so rich a soile would invite them to riot if out of employment But whatever was their principall project their secundary end intended such structures for sepulchers where the builders bodies lay not interred but immured with all imaginable cost bestowed upon them For the Egyptians fondly conceived Reader pity them and praise God that thou are better informed that the soul even after death like a gratefull guest dwelt in the body so long as the same was kept swept and garnished but finally forsook it and sought out a new body if once the corpse were either carelesly neglected or dispightfully abused and therefore to wooe the soul to constant residence in their bodies at least wise to give it no wilfull distaste or cause of alienation they were so prodigiously expensive both in imbalming their dead and erecting stately places for their monuments § 17. The long lasting of these Pyramids is not the least of admiration belonging unto them They were born the first and doe live the last of all the seven wonders in the world Strange that in three thousand years and upwards no avaritious Prince was found to destroy them to make profit of their Marble and rich materials no humorous or spightfull Prince offered to overthrow them meerly to get a greater name for his peevishness in confounding then their pride in first founding them No Zelote-reformer whilest Egypt was Christian demolished them under the notion of Pagan monuments But surviving such casualties strange that after so long continuance they have not fallen like Copy-holds into the hand of the Grand Signeur as Lord of the Manor for want of repairing Yea at the present they are rather ancient then ruinous and though weather-beaten in their tops have lively looks under a gray head likely to abide these many years in the same condition as being too great for any throat to swallow whole and too hard for any teeth to bite asunder § 18. We have been the longer hereon because Iosephus as is aforesaid makes the Israelites when enslaved in Egypt against their wills the builders of their Pyramids others conceive them Pharaohs magazines so called not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from fire ascending in a narrowing shape but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from wheat as used for granaries or store-houses where corn was deposited both alike improbable for 1 They afford no concavity of considerable receit for such purpose 2 Their form of all least capable is useless for such intents all the spire being to loss 3 The Israelites built with bâ—icks whereas these are made of Marble But for farther satisfaction of the Reader herein I refer him to that learned Traveller who hath made an excellent tract of his own observations herein § 19. However here we may take occasion to mention the miserable condition of the Israelites in Egypt during which time woefull their slavery if we consider the 1 Long continuance thereof two hundred and odde years in the latitude and fourscore from the birth of Moses in the Paroxysme of their bondage 2 Deep misery insomuch that their lives were made bitter unto them 3 Broad extent none exempted no not Moses and Aaron Get you unto your burthens Say not that the officers of Israel who onely oversaw the rest had an easie place of it for they were beaten because others under them did not their impossible taske as if what was wanting in the tale of the peoples bricks must be made up in blows on their backs who were set to oversee them Onely to give the Egyptians their due they gave the Israelites their belly full as of work so of food which proceeded not so much from their pity as their policy Cariers are so mercifull to their horses meat them well to prevent their trying and the plenty of the land affording at cheap prices abundance of provisions § 20. Somewhat north of the aforesaid Pyramids on the same side of Nilus stood the great City of Memphis anciently the Metropolis of Egypt where their Kings kept their Courts and therefore it is probable here Ioseph was bought and beloved by Potiphar here afterwards accused and imprisoned unjustly favoured by the jailer advanced by Pharaoh whose dreams he expounded in a word likely it is that all those eminent passages betwixt him and his brethren were transacted in this City Some hundred years after the frequent addresses of Moses and Aaron to another Pharaoh in the behalf of the Israelites were performed in the same place and here or hereabouts the ten Egyptian plagues were first inflicted in manner and order ensuing 1 All the water formerly the merciless executioner of the Jewish infants was for seven days turned into bloud whereby the fish dyed and the river stank so that the Egyptians could not drink of the water thereof Water which otherwise in it self was most sweet and delicious witness the answer of Pescentius Niger unto his murmuring souldiers What crave you wine and have Nilus to drink of The transubstantiation of this element into bloud extended over all the streams rivers ponds and pooles in Egypt and the sea onely was excepted from whence or from pits newly digged in the ground the Magicians might fetch their water which in imitatition of Moses quoad similitudinem if not veritatem they also turned into bloud 2 Frogs so plentifull that they covered the land and so presumptuous they came into Pharaohs Bed-chamber though never sworn his Grooms in ordinary attendance yea they crept into the very ovens as if Salamanders rather then frogs and no private place was priviledged from their unwelcome company But the Magicians made the like in show if not in substance the Devill much delighting in their monstrous shape for we finde in Scripture Three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the Dragon 3 Lice Insects with so many lineaments in a little compass that the eyes of the Magicians could not see much less imitate them so that they were forced to confess it the finger of God But whether thus beaten out of distance they here left off their race of emulation with Moses or still continued it it is hard to determine 4 Flies properly waspes or hornets armed with stings wherewith they tormented the people Surely they were more then ordinary flies because they brought Pharaoh to proffer to Moses a partiall and conditionall departure of the people 5 A generall Murrain insomuch that all the cattell of Egypt dyed Some will object If this was a totall destruction of all the beasts in the land how came it to pass
the three Cities for Refuge west of Iordan the Israelites were bound if God did inlarge their coasts to adde three more for the same service By which analogy it may be collected that the Ephraimites in gratitude to God who gave them more intire possession of their portion then any other Tribe in Ioshua's division nothing out â—ezer a Levites City being detained from them by the Canâ—anites might give this Raâ—a as a gratuity to the Levites Besides the suburbs and lands of the Levites reached from thâ— walls of the Cities three thousand Cubits round about with in which space they might erect what buildings they please being therein without incroaching on any other Tribe resident on their proper inheritance Rama therefore might be built within that circumference and by the proportion of miles we collect it to stand within the circuit of Gezer so that though they could not get Gezer it self they might gain and build Rama within the compass thereof for their habitaâ—ion However we define nothing positively much less impose it on the beliefe of others Clipt money is worth as much as it weighs though it will not pass for what it was coined and conjectures though they will not goe for certain truths deserve to finde as much acceptance as they bring probability with them Philol. Have you nothing more to observe concerning the blessings and 〈◊〉 pronounced on mount Ebal and Gerizim Aleth I conceive on second thoughts that the Prieâ—ts with the Aâ—ke stood in the valley betwixt the two hils whilest the whole body of the ordinary Levites were on the mount of Geriziâ— whose station in the half way betwixt both when they pronounced the blessings and the cursings facilitated the conveyance of the sound on both sides as appeareth on the serious comparing of the Scripture Philol. Tiphsah is made by you a City in this Tribe But if it were situate herein very short were the dominions of Solomon even in the very height of his greatness who then reigned on this side of the river from Tâ—phsah even to Azza or Gaza in the Tribe of Simeon not fully an hundred miles as appears by your Scale in the generall Description of the land Aleth Tiphsah there mentioned being the eastern boundary of Solomons Empire from our Tiphsah where cruell Menahem began his reign was near a thousand miles north-east on the river Euphrates probably the same with the City Tharsacus whereof Ptoleâ—y Strabo and Stephanus take speciall notice Philol. Have you any miraculous faith who so easily have removed the mountain of Phinehas wherein Eleazar was buried from the north of this Map within the suburbs of Bethhoron a Levites City to the south thereof near Shiloh where in your Map generall the same is presented Aleth On better consideration I see no necessity that his mountain should be brought within the bounds of any Leviticall City Phinehas was an extraordinary person and therefore his land might be extraordinary in the location thereof This his portion was no part of the Levites patrimony in their forty eight Cities given them by God but seems rather the sâ—perpondium of the peoples bounty cast into the balance as an honourable augmentation in reward of his eminent desert I conceive therefore it lay in Mount Ephraim near Shilob where the Tabernacle was set up bestowed upon him thereabouts for his more convenient attending of Gods service therein CHAP. XI Objections against Dan answered Philol. YOu positively affirme that the land of Dan belonged primitively to Iudah yet produce no Scripture for the proof thereof We beleeve the same of Simeon the Text affirming that their inheritance was within the inheritance of Iudah but no evidence appears of such derivation of Dans possession originally from Iudah Aleth The same is infallibly collected from Scripture because the Cities of Eshtaol Zoreah Timnah Ekron were first bestowed on Iudah and afterwards we finde the same places with the Countrey thereabouts by necessary consequence conferred upon Dan's posterity for their portion Philol. Such an alteration seems utterly inconsistent with divine immutabâ—lity with whom is no 〈◊〉 nor shadow of changing To give a thing and take a thing is unproportionable with his proceedings whose Gifts are pronounced by the Apostle to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Repentance Aleth Indeed such gifts as amount to the notion of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are uncapable of alteration to which his other grants are subject Besides God never so passed away that land but he still reserved it as his own Demesnes For the land saith he is mine not was but is even after the Israelite had long possessed the same Is it not lawfull for him to doe as he will with his own and to change at pleasure what tenants to rent or rather what Bailifes to occupy his own ground Philol. The faces of the Men which bear the great bunch of grapes are set the wrong way For being to goe south-east to Kadesh-â—arnea they look full west to the Mediterranean sea Aleth You put me in minde of a man who being sent for to pass his verdict on a Picture how like it was to the person whom it was to resemble fell a finding fault with the frame thereof not the Limners but the Ioiners work that the same was not handsomely fashioned In stead of giving your judgment on the Map how truely it is drawn to represent the Tribe you cavill at the Historyâ—properties therein the act of the â—raver not Geographer Yet know Sir when I checkt the Graver for the same he answered me that it was proper for Spies like Water-men and Rope-makers for surety sake to look one way and work another CHAP. XII Objections against Simeon answered Philol. VVHy both an Asteriske and flag of uncertainty over Sheba For though unassured of the exact position thereof the Text ascertaineth us that it was a reall City in Simeon Beer-sheba and Sheba and Moladah c. Aleth I am not satisfied that Sheba was a distinct City by it self but rather conceive it the same with Beer-sheba Because 1 They are both accounted the same when originally denominated 2 Sheba is omitted in Chronicles where other Simeonite Cities are summ'd up as the same with Beer sheba 3 Simeon had but thirteen Cities which make fourteen if Sheba be accounted a distinct City by it self The premisses considered Sheba appears the same with Beer-sheba as Salem with Ierusalem commonly so called for brevity sake Philol. But then how doe you answer the Text which expresly maketh Sheba a distinct City Beer-sheba and Sheba and Moladah c Aleth Proteus appeared not in more shapes then the Particleâ— here rendred and hath severall significations for though chiefly it is copulative other whiles it is causall collective adversative exegeticall redditive and disjunctive as Bonfrerius readeth it here Beer-sheba or Sheba and Moladah c. Philol. You say that Simeon was