Pilgrimage, Book 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP III.
Of the Religious places of the Israelites.
IN the discouery of their ancient Religion, it seemeth fittest to discourse first of places, secondly of times, thirdly, of Rites, fourthly of Persons consecrated to Religion. And first, of the first. Neither were the first men, *Hosplnian.de Templis cap.1.nor first Hebrewes, very religious in this point of dedicating places to religion; as appeareth in Histories both holy and prophane: and if for some vision, made vntounto them in some places, they did for a time hallow the same with Altars, and Sacrifices: yet neither were they alway, or onelyonly thus esteemed. But He, whose is the earth and all that therein is, did by his law appoint, as it were, a place of his residence amongst these, whom he had chosen for his owne people: and commanded them to erect a Tabernacle in the wildernesse, fitting that their peregrination. Afterward Salomon built him a house in Ierusalem: which therefore is called the holy Citie and the Citie of the great King.
The Tabernacle (a moueable Temple that might bee taken asunder, and ioyned together againe) was, by Gods commandement, erected in the wildernesse, in the same manner, and of the same matter, which God had both commanded and shewed to Moses in the Mount; the matter and forme whereof, with all that thereunto appertained; the Arke, the Candlesticke, the Altar, &c. in the booke of Eoeodus are liuely declared. It was after (as we reade in the booke of aIosh.3.14. 15.Ioshua with great solemnitie carried miraculously thorow Iordan, by the Leuites deputed to that seruice: and, after their conquest of the Countrey, b…os….18.1.placed in Shilo, a Citie of Ephraim. There did Ioshua diuide the Land to her new conquerours: there were their solemne assemblies for state and religion. In the time of Helt they remoued the Arke from the Tabernacle into the armie, which they had gathered against the Philistims; of whom the Arke was taken. The Tabernacle, in the time of Saul, was carried to Nob, and, in the time of Dauid, to Gibeon, where Salomon offered a thousand burnt offerings. The Philistims forced by Diuine iudgements, sent backe the Arke, receiued by the Bethsamites, curious to their cost, it was after placed in Kiriath-Iarim, in the house of Aminadab, next of Obed-Edam, and then by Dauid in the place, which he had fitted for the same in Ierusalem; whence it was remoued into the Temple, which Salomon had built: where it was till the time of the deportation: in which time c2.Maccb.2.5.it was hidden by Ieremie the Prophet. But that Author is beholden to the Councell of Trent for his credit, the Iewes themselues in that point, not beleeuing him; dR. Samuel in lib. Sanhedrim. Hierosol. cap. Ellu hen baggol. Pet. Galatin. l.4. Genebrard. lu Chron.who affirme, that the second Temple came short of the former, by the want of the fire from heauen, of the Arke, of the Vrim and Thummim, of the succession of Prophets, and the glorie of God betweene the Cherubims.
The Temple was built on Mount Moriah by Salomon, according to the eI. Chron. 28. 11.12.paterne, which he had receiued of Dauid: to which worke he had gathered a greater masse of wealth, then easily we shall reade of in the Persian, Greeke, Roman, or any other Christian, Turkish, or Heathen Empire; fI.Chron.22. 14.namely, 100000. talents of gold; 1000000. talents of siluer, and afterward 3000, talents of gold, and 7000. talents of siluer: to which was added, by the offerings of the Princes, 10000. talents of siluer, and more then 5000. talents of gold, besides iewels, and brasse, and iron, without weight, with Cedars and stones without number. The gold alone amounteth after the common computation of the common talent, at 6000. crownes, to sixe hundred fortie eight millions of crownes, and vpwards; the siluer to about the same summe.
This beautifull frame I should deforme with my description, if (after a double narration of all the parts; forme, and contents thereof in the Historie of the Bible) I should recite the particulars. This Temple, fleeced by some, repaired by others, continued in varietie of state, till the sacking and ruine of it, together with the Citie by Nabuchodonosor. And after their returne, by the edict of Cyrus, and other the Persian Kings, it was rebuilded (but farre inferiour in glorie) in the space, as the Iewes say, gIoh. 2.20.vntounto Christ, of six and fortie yeares: after others it was longer in hand, by reason of impediments from their cauilling, and malicious neighbours. This second Temple hauing receiued accesse of magnificence in succession of times, was spoiled and polluted vnderunder Antiochus, who dedicated the same to Iupiter Olympius; but being freed and dedicated anew by Maccabaeus, it recouered great part of the former beautie; till as hIos.Antiq. lib. 12. Iosipp. debel Iud.Iosephus saith, and his abbreuiator Iosippus, it was pulled downe by Herod, and built anew. Herein both that allegation of the Iewes of sixe and fortie yeares, is against this assertion of Iosephus, and the Historie also of Hegesippus iEgesip. lib. I.who reporteth that he only compassed the circuit about the Temple with a wall, and beautified the same with costly buildings, erected from the foundation the porches about the Sanctuarie, and fortified it with the castle Antonia.
Chrysostome kChrysostom. in Ican. hom.22.vnderstands those words, of the Iewes, Forty and sixe yeares was this Temple a building, of the Herodian, Temple: and herein lHospinian. de Tem. cap.3. Caesar Baron. To.1. Annal. An.31.Hospinian, and the great Cardinall Baronius follow him: accounting exclusiuely from the eighteenth yeare of Herods reigne, which Functins reckoneth A. M. 3947. to the yeare 3992. in which Iohn Baptised, and CHRIST vttered these words: in all which they coniecture that somewhat was still a doing about the new building thereof, although the principall part thereof was performed and finished by Herod in eight yeares. This they gather by Iosephus his owne testimonie, that the building continued till the time of Nero, and in an other place, where he affirmeth that the East porch, which Luke cals mAct.5. 12.Salomons porch, was still remaining of the ancient building, in the dayes of Nero, and elsewhere, that Herod repaired the Temple. *Ies. de bells Iud.lib.1.c.16.Iosephus is therefore herein contrarie to the truth, and himselfe. Neither doe the Iewes in the Talmud speake of any third Temple: nor can the Prophecie of *Hag.2.10.Haggaus bee fulfilled, that the glorie of the second Temple should exceed the glorie of the former; if CHRIST (of whose comming it is interpreted) had not by his presence, preaching, and miracles, not onelyonly supplied the defects (before mentioned) but made it surmount the other in effects of Maiestie and glorie. And the zeale vntounto this testimonie, not the meanest which the Christian Veritie *Morn. deverit.Christ. Religvrgeth against the Iewish Incredulitie and Apostasie, which is necessarily demonstrated and euinced, whiles yet they continue their vaine hopes of a Messias, so many Ages after the desolation of that Temple whereof Aggee prophecied, hath caused me to vse so many words in this matter. But to satisfie the fancies of great men, their great workes are commonly made greater: For howsoeuer it was very great in it selfe, that Herod should hauehave, eight yeares together, many workemen at worke (which Iosephus numbreth for some part of the time tenne thousand and a thousand Priests) yet sustaining, no doubt, some intermission after his time, either wholly, or in part, it could not be so great as to hauehave accomplished it wholly from the foundation, wherein Salomon spent seuen yeares: and besides, what any of the naturall Israelites performed in this worke, hee imployed an hundred three and fiftie thousand and sixe hundred workemen of the Strangers or Forainers found in the Countrey. And whereas the second Temple was but halfe the height of the former, perhaps it is true, that (according to Iosephus) he perfected it to that height of an hundred and twentie cubites, whereof twentie cubites sanke downe in the setling of the foundations. It was builded by Herod of white stones fiue and twentie cubites long, eight thicke, and twelue broad. He that would further reade the particulars, let him hauehave recourse to Iosephus in his fifteenth booke of Antiquities. This Temple was burned by Titus, in the sacke of the Citie, the same day that before it had beene fired by the Chaldaeans. Adrian the Emperour nDion Nicaeud in Adriano.did after destroy the Reliques thereof, that a stone was not left vponupon a stone, and there, in the same place, dedicated another Temple to Iupiter, that former being ouerwhelmed with earth. Iulian gaue leaue to the Iewes to reedifie the Temple, in despight of Christian Religion, and contributed frankely thereto: but Ammianus Marcellinus oAmm. Marcellinus, lib. 23., a Heathen Writer, witnesseth, That fire issued out of the Earth, *Metuendi slammaruns globi prope sundamenta crobris assultibus erumpentes, secere locum exustis aliquoties operantib…, inaccessum.and burnt both worke and workemen: when as an Earthquake (which had before, sayth pSozomen. li. 5.Sozomen, killed a great many, in the very attempting of this Worke) could not deterre them from proceeding in their purpose: and Crosses, miraculously fallen on the garments of many, did both teach them to forsake their Iudaisme, and to become Christians.
Chrysostome qChrys. hom.3. contra Iudeos.mentioneth this, and saith, that vnderunder Adrian the Iewes sought to recouer their libertie, and lost their Countrey, VnderUnder Constantine they attempted the like, who therefore cut off their eares, and branded their bodies for rebels, as the elder of you (saith he to his Auditors) do know. And in our dayes, about twentie yeares since, Iulian the Emperour was at great expences, appointed officers, sent for worke-men from all places, thinking to frustrate CHRISTS Prophecie concerning the Temple, and to bring the Iewes to Idolatrie. But so soone as they had attempted this businesse, and bared the foundation, had drawne forth the earth, and were now readie to begin their building; a fire burst forth from the foundations, and burnt many, which caused them to cease. And if you now go to Ierusalem, you may see the foundations naked: Hereof we all are witnesses. Neither did this happen vnderunder Christian Emperours, lest any should impute it to the Christians, but vnderunder an Ethnike, when Christianitie was persecuted. Thus much in effect, Chrysostome. Gregorie Nazianzen *Greg. Naz. orat.1. in Iulian.also testifieth the same, affirming that the Earth (as it were taking a Vomit from the Diuine hand) spued out the stones, which yet till this day had continued therein, and dispersed them to the great damage of the neighbour buildings.
Other holy places they had which the Scripture mentioneth as high places, which were high hils, or other open and loftie places, shaded for the most part with Trees: the Prophets inuey against them, and rDeut.12.3.they were commanded to be destroyed, together with the Groues: some yet were permitted, either by extraordinarie commaund for a time, as to Gedeon sInd.6.24.and to Manoab tIud.13.19.; or because of the Tabernaclent Gibeon, or of the Arke at Ierusalem. The not reforming this toleration of high places is reckoned as an eclipse of Iehoshaphats and Asas glorie; which Ezekiuh and Iosiah quite remoued and polluted. These high and open places, it seemeth, were consecrated, as fitting to the celestiall bodies; to which, and to Baal (who is interpreted the Sunne) they vsed for the most part on them to sacrifice. They had also their Houses and Temples for Baal, in Israel and Iuda; and Dan and Bethel were by Ieroboam dedicated to his Aegyptian Idolatrie: and Gilgal was a place of request in this kinde. Salomon also built Temples or Houses for his idolatrous wiues. And to reckon eueryevery particular in this kinde were a worke endlesse: in the 2.Reg.17. & 23. and other places ynough is of them recorded.
Two other Temples were erected of some reputation: one by Sanballat at Samaria, on Mount Garizin, by licence obtained of Alexander the Great, whose part he followed, rebelling against Darius his true Lord. The occasion was, because Manasses, brother of Iaddi the High Priest, had married, contrarie to GODS Law, Nicaso uIos.Ant.l.11.daughter of Sanballat, and was forced either to leaue his Priestly Function or Heathenish bed. Whereupon Sanballat, hauing obtained licence to build that Temple aforesaid, constituted him the high Priest thereof, many other Priests for the like fault, resorting thither to him. But of these Samaritans we shall hauehave fitter occasion to say more when we come to handle their Sects.
Ptolomaeus Philometor xIos.Ant.l.13. 6.abouesaid, graunted licence to Onias (the sonne of the high Priest Onias, whom Antiochus had slaine) who for the same cause had here shrowded himselfe, to build a Temple, induced herevnto by a false interpretation of the prophecie of Esay, Esay 19.19at Leontopolis, in the shire, as I may terme it, or nomus of Heliopolis: hauing Priests and Leuites ministring therein, and other things answering in some sort to that of Ierusalem. When the Temple of Ierusalem was burnt by Titus, this Temple was shut vp also of Lupus, the Deputy, three hundred and thirtie yeares after it had been builded: and after by his successour Paulinus vtterly dispoiled both of the wealth and the religion. The Citie was called of Onias, Onion. aIos.l.7.c.30. de Bel.Iud.It had a Tower and an Altar like that of Ierusalem, but in steade of a candlesticke, a lampe of golde hanging on a chaine of golde, enriched by the king with large reuenues.
Synagogues the Iewes had many, both in Ierusalem where are said to hauehave been foure hundred and fourescore, and in all cities of Iudea, and among the Gentiles where the Iewes were dispersed. When they first began to be builded, is vncertaine. Cornelius Betramus thinketh, That the eight and fortie Cities of the Leuites had their fit places for Assemblies, whence Synagogues had beginning. bCar.Sig.l.2.c.8Sigonius coniectureth, That their Babylonian exile ministred occasion to them to helpe themselues with these Houses of Prayer and Instruction. The word Synagogue cErastus de excommunicat. Thesis.is taken both for the Assemblies, whether in this place, or out of it, and for the Place it selfe; hauing a ciuill as well as a religious vse. And these Synagogues they hauehave in the places of their dispersion vntounto this day. The order they obserued in their Synagogues was this: they disputed and preached sitting; *Ambros…in.1.Cor.14.the Elders sat in Chaires which were set in order, of which CHRIST sayth, They louelove the chiefe Seats in Synagogues: those of meaner sort sate in Seates, and the meanest of all on the floore vponupon Mats. The Synagogue was gouerned by the Scribes, and the chiefe of them called Archisynagogus, resembling the High Priest and the inferior Priests in the Temple.
Besides these Temples and Houses consecrated to GOD, Ambition, the Ape of Deuotion, founded some of other nature. Herod the Great erected a sumptuous Temple and Citie in the honour of Caesar, which sometime had beene called Stratonis turris. and after Caesarea. The Temple of Caesar, was conspicuous to them which sayled farre off in the Sea, and there in were two Statues, one of Rome, the other of Caesar. The sumptuousnesse of Herods ambition in this Citie, Temple, Theater, and Amphitheater, &c. Iosephus amply describeth. dAnt.l.15.13…He built another Temple at Pahiuni, the fountaine of Iordan, in honour of Caesar; and least this should stirre vp the peoples hearts against him to see him thus deuoutly prophane and prophanely deuout, he remitted to them the third part of the tributes. Hee consecrated Gaines, after the like Heathenish solemnitie, in honour of Caesar. to be celebrated eueryevery fift yeare at Caesarea. He built also the Pythian Temple at Rhodes of his owne cost. He gaue yearely reuenue to the Olympian Games, for maintenance of the Sacrifices and solemnitie thereof: Quis in rapacitate auarior? Quis in largitione effusior? He robbed his owne to enrich (or rather vainely to lauish out on) others. He spared not the sepulchres of the dead. For the Sepulchre of Dauid had lent before to Hyrcanus three thousand talents of siluer; which filled him with hope of the like spoyle: and entring it with his choice friends, he found no money but precious clothes; and whiles he in a couetous curiositie searched further, he lost two of his companie, by flame (as fame went) breaking out vponupon them. Hereupon he left the place, and, in recompence, in the entrie of the Sepulchre, built a monument of white Marble.
He built also eIos.de Bell. Iud.l.1.c.16.Sebaste in the Region of Samaria, wherein he erected a Temple, and dedicated a Court of three furlongs and a halfe of ground before it, to Caesar. Thus Caesar was made a God by him, who would not allow CHRIST a place among men, but, that he might kill him, spared not the infants of Bethleem, no not his owne sonne amongst the rest, as this his GOD iested of him fMacrob. Saturn.l.2., saying, That he had rather be Herods Hogge then his Sonne. For his Iewish deuotion prohibited him to deale with Swine, but not Religion, not Reason, not Nature could protect those innocents from slaughter.