The Jewish Synagogue, Chapter 36
CHAP. XXXVI.
Touching the Jews Meſſias who is yet for to come.
THat a Meſſias was promiſed unto the Jews, they all with one mouth acknowledge; hereupon petitioning in their daily prayers that he would come quickly; before the houreglaſs of their life be run out. The only ſcruple is of the time when, and the ſtate in which he ſhall appear.
They generally beleeve, that this their future Meſſias ſhall be a ſimple man, yet nevertheleſs far exceeding the whole generation of mortals in all kinde of vertues: who ſhall marry a wife and beget children, to ſit upon the throne of his kingdom after him.The Jews twofold Meſſias. When therefore the Scripture mentioneth a twofold Meſſias, the one plain, poor, and meek, ſubject to the ſtroke of death: the other illuſtrious, powerful, highly advanced and exalted: the Jews forge unto themſelves two of the ſame ſort, one which they call by the name of Meſſias the ſon of Joſeph that poor and ſimple one, yet an experienced and valiant leader for the warrs; Another whom they entitle Meſſias the ſon of David that true Meſſias who is to be king of Iſrael, and to rule over them in their own land. About whoſe coming they are among themſelves altogether diſagreeing.
Thoſe ancient Jews who lived before Chriſts incarnation, did not much miſs the marke, when Elias ſaid that the world ſhould continue ſix thouſand years, whereof two thouſand were to be void and without force, that is, without the law of God, the other two thouſand under the law: and the laſt under the Meſſias.
Their hope was therefore this, that foure thouſand years after the worlds creation fully expired, their Meſſias ſhould come in the fleſh: in which their errour was ſmall or none at all; for according to the vulgar account of us Chriſtians, Chriſt the true Meſſias was borne in the 3963. year of the world, but according to the Jews computation in the year 3761, we and they differing 202 years. And now becauſe Chriſt came not unto them in great power, a king of glorious ſtate (ſuch as were David and Solomon) to deliver them from the tyranny of that uſurping Herod, and Roman cruelty, neither with a rod of iron to break in pieces and deſtroy their enemies: but only began his kingdom over them▪ with the ſpiritual ſcepter of his doctrine, even for this very cauſe they would not receive him for the true Meſſias, though ſome few did acknowledge and embrace him,Luk. 2. 25. and at that time the moſt ancient and approved men amongſt them did expect his coming: thus we finde a Simeon waiting for the conſolation of Iſrael,Ib. v. 38. and Anna that old Propheteſs ſpeaking of him to all that hoped for deliverance in Jeruſalem.Rom. 11. 5. The very ſame that the Apoſtle Paul witneſſeth in his Epiſtle to the Romans, that though the Jews were moſt ingrateful, yet is there a remnant of them according to the election of grace. Yea, when all kingly power, ſacerdotal honour and dignity was taken from them, the city Jeruſalem made a ruinous heap, and their beauty the temple turned into aſhes, every one now begins to ſuſpect the time of the coming of the Meſſias to be paſt. Hence it was that in the 52. years ufter the deſtruction of the Temple, a certain proud and haughty Jew boaſting that he was the true Meſſias, feared not to affirme himſelf the ſame of whom Balaam propheſied in theſe words:Num. 2. 4. 17, 18. I ſhall ſee him, but not now, I ſhall behold him, but not nigh: there ſhall come a ſtar out of Jacob, and a Scepter ſhall riſe out of Iſrael, and he ſhall ſmite the corners of Moab, and deſtroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom ſhall be a poſſeſsion, Seir alſo ſhall be a poſſeſsion for his enemies, and Iſrael ſhall do valiantly. Others underſtood this propheſie of the then newly begun kingdom of the Chriſtians. But the Jews even at this day determine their Meſſias as yet to come, and to fulfil thoſe things which Balaam foretold, according to their ſubſtance. That the ſaid Jew ſhould proclaim himſelf the Meſſias, was moſt grateful unto them: who preſently in their own conceits can nouriſh hopes, that they ſhould become the conquerours of the Romans, who a little before had deſtroyed their City and Temple. This Seducer following the letter of the propheſie, names himſelf, Ben Chocab, which is by interpretation, the ſon of a Star. His chief follower, who at the very firſt clave unto him, was Rabbi Akibha, a man of great learning, who had under his tuition twenty four thouſand Scholars, proclaiming him to be Malka Meſchiccha, Chriſt the King. By this means much people went after him; inſomuch, that he chuſed unto himſelf the City Bittera for the ſeat of his kingdom. But when that Adrian the Roman Emperour, had after a ſiege of three years and an half taken and killed this their Meſſias, and together with this beautiful Star had miſerably ſlaughtered more then four hundred thouſand Jews,Schebet Jehndah, the tribe of Judah. A hiſtorical book of the many afflictions, martyrdoms of the Iews, as alſo of their diſputes with the Chriſtians in Spain, and Italy. It was printed at Crncovia in Germany. An. d. 1591. then the remnant of ſo great a maſſacre perceiving themſelves led aſtray by this their Star, turn Anabaptiſts, and call him from that day to this Barcozabh, that is, the ſon of a lye, a lying and baſtardly Meſſias. Yet nevertheleſſe, many ſince have lived who would be reputed for the Meſſias, as you may read in a book called Schebhet Jehudah *.
The iſſue of all is this; that the Jews convicted in their own conſciences, will they, nill they, are forced to confeſſe that the time in which the Meſſias was to come, is already paſt.
When therefore they had deſpiſed and rejected Chriſt the true Meſſias, and no other appeared, they falſified the above mentioned tradition of Elias (which was that the Meſſias ſhould come about the four thouſandth year of the world) by annexing unto it this Comment; that the time was prolonged for their offences. But when at length no reaſon could be pretended of this long delay, neither could they deſine the time of his coming: their onelyonly evaſion is, to ſmite with this curſe the head of him that ſhould determine a certain ſeaſon for his coming,Sanhedrin c. 11. p. 97. Tippach ruchan atzman ſchel mechaſſchebhe Kitzin *, Which is, Let their ſoul and body burſt with a ſw…lling Rupture, who peremptorily ſet down the time; that time (I ſay) in which the Meſſias is expreſly for to come. Yet this not at all pondered, and nothing ſet by, many of them moved by the propheſies of the men of God concerning the coming of the Meſſias, have in their ſouls and conſciences confeſſed, that the time of his coming was already paſt; and therefore in their writings they acknowledge that he is born indeed; but for their ſins and impenitent life, not as yet revealed. And at this inſtant all the Jews dwelling amongſt us are of the ſame opinion. Hereupon Rabbi Solomon Jarchi ſaith, that according to their anceſtors, the Meſſias was born in that day in which …eruſalem was laſt of all deſtroyed, but where he hath ſo long been hid, to be uncertain. Some of them think that he lies in Paradiſe, bound to the womans hair, grounding upon theſe words in the Song of Solomon: Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, Cant. 7.5.and the hair of thy head like purple, the King is bound in the Galleries. By King underſtaning the Meſſias, and by Galleries, Paradiſe. Rabbi Solomon follows this expoſition of theſe ancient Rabbines.Sanhedrin c. 11. p. 98. The Talmudists write, that he lies in Rome under a gate among ſick folks and Lepers, perſwaded by the words of Eſay, who ſaith, that he is one deſpiſed and rejected of men, a man of ſorrows, Eſay 53. 3.and acquainted with grief. Others forge other lies and tales.
Well, let all theſe things fall out according to their own deſire;The miracles before Chriſts coming. yet they ſtill believe he is to come. Firſt then before his coming ſhall happen ten notable miracles, by which every one ſhall be admoniſhed and incited to an accurate preparation for his coming, and alſo be warned to conceive that he ſhall not come ſo poor and privately as Chriſt came. Theſe ten miracles I mean here to preſent in the ſame words that the Rabbines have commended them to poſterity, in a little book called Abkas Rochel.
The firſt miracle, God ſhall ſtirr up and produce three kings,Abkas rochel pulvis aromatarius, the author Rimchar a little book in octavo it hath 3 parts, the firſt of the miracles, before the coming of the Meſſias, two of the ſoule, and the ſtate of it after this life. The third of Moſes his tradition about Mount Sinai, mans creation. &c. It was printed at Venice anno Dom. 1597. Hos. 3. 4. Jaſcibhah. foreign a Synagogue from foreign to ſit or reſt. who proving traitors to their own faith, ſhall alſo turn Apoſtates: ſo living before men as though they ſerved the true God: yet in very deed practiſing nothing leſs; ſeducing ſilly ſouls, and after ſuch a manner tormenting their conſciences, that they may abjure God and their own faith, even ſo that many of the ſinners of Iſrael ſhall utterly deſpair of redemption, being ready to deny God, and forſake his fear. Concerning theſe things Iſaiah ſpeaketh, c. 59. 14, 15. Judgment is turned away backward, and juſtice ſtandeth afar off; for truth is fllen in the ſtreet, and equity cannot enter, yea truth faileth. What? All they why ſhall love the truth ſhall flee in troops, and flying hide themſelves in the caves and holes of the earth, and ſhall be maſſacred by the great, and mighty, and tyrannical perſecutors. At that time ſhall be no king in Iſrael, as it is written. The children of Iſrael ſhall abide many dayes without a King, and without a Prince, and without a ſacrifice, and without an Image, and without an Ephod, and without a Teraphin: There ſhall not be any more Roſch Ieſchibhah (b) that is head of the Synagogue, no faithful teachers who may feed the people with the word of God, no merciful and holy, no famous and eminent perſons ſhall remain. The heaven ſhall be ſhut up and food ſhall fail; theſe three kings ſhall enact laws ſo many, ſo burdenſome, and ſo tyrannical, pronounce ſuch heavie judgments upon men, that but a very few ſhall be left, becauſe they had rather die, then living deny their maker. Yet theſe three kings by Gods ordinance and diſpoſition ſhall only reign three moneths.
In the time of their reign▪ they ſhall double the ordinary tribute, ſo that who formerly paied only eight pieces, ſhall then pay eighty, he who formerly paied ten, ſhall then be forced to give an hundred. He that hath nothing at all to give, ſhall be puniſhed with the loſs of his head: yea alſo, the longer they ſhall reign, the greater and heavier will the burdens be which they ſhall impoſe upon the children of Iſrael. There ſhall alſo come certain men from the ends of the earth, ſo black and abominable, that if any man look upon them he will die through fear. Every one of them ſhall have two heads, and eight eyes, ſhining like a flame of fire. They ſhall run as nimbly and ſwiftly as an hart. Then ſhall Iſrael cry out, woe unto us, woe unto us, the frighted little ones cry alaſs alaſs, dear father what ſhall we doe? then ſhall the father anſwer, the deliverance of Iſrael is now at hand,The ſecond miracle. and even at the door.
The ſecond miracle, God ſhall make the ſun to exceed in heat, that many burning feavers, plagues, and other diſeaſes ſhall be ſcattered abroad upon the earth, by reaſon of which, a thouſand thouſand of the Gentiles and people of the world ſhall die daily. Hereupon, the Gentiles at length weeping, ſhall bitterly cry out, woe and alaſs whither ſhall we turn our ſelves? where ſhall we hide us? Thus with expedition they ſhall goe and dig their own graves, wiſh for death, and oppreſſed with thirſt and grief, hide themſelves in the Caves and Dens of the Earth. But this great heat ſhall be as phyſick and a refreſhing to them that are juſt and good in Iſrael,Mal. 4. 2. as it is written, unto you that fear my name ſhall the ſun of righteouſneſs ariſe with healing in his wings, and ye ſhall go forth and grow up as calves of the ſtall; by this ſun of righteouſneſs underſtanding that in the heavens.Num. 24. 23. Balaam (ſay they) alſo propheſied of this; ſaying, alaſs who ſhall live when the Lord hath brought it to paſs.The third mirale.
The third miracle, God ſhall make a dew of blood to fall upon the earth: which all Chriſtians and people of the earth thinking to be watery and moſt delightful, ſhall take and drink, and drinking die. The Reprobate alſo in Iſrael who deſpaired of redemption, ſhall alſo die by drinking of it, but it ſhall not be hurtful to them who are juſt among the Iews, who in a true faith firmly cleaving unto God,Dan. 12. 3. do perſevere in the ſame, as it is written. They that be juſt ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteouſneſs, as the ſtars for ever and ever: again, the whole world for three dayes ſpace ſhall be full of blood;Joel 2. 30. according to that which is written: I will give ſignes in heaven and in earth, blood and fire and pillars of ſmoke.The fourth miracle.
The fourth miracle, God ſhall ſend a wholſome dew upon the earth. They ſhall drink of this who are indifferent honeſt▪ It ſhall ſerve as a ſalve to them who were made ſick by drinking of the former,Hoſ. 14. 5. as it is written. I will be as dew to Iſrael, he ſhall grow as the lillie, and caſt forth his root as Lebanon.
The fifth miracle.The fifth miracle. God ſhall turn the ſune into ſo thick a darkenſs, that it ſhall not ſhine for the ſpace of thirty dayes, as it is written, The ſun ſhall be turned into darkneſs, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. At the end of thirty dayes God ſhall reſtore its light: as it is written,Eſa. 24. 22. They ſhall be gathered together as priſoners are gathered in the pit, and ſhall be ſhut up in priſon, and after many dayes they ſhall be viſited. The Chriſtians being ſore affraid to see theſe things, they ſhall be confounded with ſhame, and acknowledg that all theſe things come to paſs for Iſraels ſake: yea, many of them ſhall embrace the Jewiſh religion: as it is written,Jon. 2. 8. They that obſerve lying vanities forſake their own mercy.
The ſixth miracle,The ſixth mimiracle. God ſhall permit the kingdom of Edom (to wit that of the Romans) to bear rule over the whole world. One of whoſe Emperours ſhall reign over the whole earth nine moneths, who ſhall bring many great kingdoms to deſolation, whoſe anger ſhall flame towards the people of Iſrael, exacting a great tribute from them, and ſo bringing them into much miſery and calamity. Then ſhall Iſrael after a ſtrange manner be brought low and periſh, neither ſhall they have any helper: of this time Eſay propheſied,Eſa. 59. 16. And he ſaw that there was no man, and wondred that there was no interceſſor: therefore his arm brought ſalvation unto him. After the expiration of theſe nine moneths, God ſhall ſend the Meſſias ſon of Joſeph, who ſhall come of the ſtock of Joſeph, whoſe name ſhall be Nehemiah, the ſon of Huſiel. He ſhall come with the ſtem of Ephraim, Benjamin and Manaſſes; and with one part of the ſons of Gad. As ſoon as the Iſraelites ſhall hear of it, they ſhall gather unto him out of every City and nation, as it is written:Jer. 3. 14. Turn ye back ſliding children ſaith the Lord, for I will reign over you, I will take you one of a City, and two of a tribe, and bring you to Sion.
Then ſhall Meſſias the ſon of Joſeph, make great war againſt the king of Edom, or the Pope of Rome, and being conqueror ſhall kill a great part of his army, and alſo cut the throat of the king of Edom, make deſolate the Roman Monarchie, bring back ſome of the holy veſſels to Jeruſalem, which are treaſured up in the houſe of Aelianus. Moreover the king of Egypt ſhall enter into league with Iſrael, and ſhall kill all the men inhabiting about Jeruſalem, Damaſcus, and Aſcalon: which thing once noiſed over the whole earth, a horrid dread and aſtoniſhment ſhall overwhelm the inhabitants thereof.
The ſeventh miracle.The Seventh miracle. They ſay that at Rome there is a certain piece of marble, in ſhape reſembling a Virgin, ſo framed and faſhioned, not by mans workmanſhip, but by the Lords hand. To this Image ſhall all the wicked livers in the world gather themſelves, and burning in luſt towards it, ſhall commit inceſt with it. Hereupon, in the ſame marble will the Lord forme an Infant, which by a certain rupture ſhall iſſue out of it. This infant ſhall be called Armillus Haraſcha, Armillus the wicked, and ſhall be the ſame which the Chriſtians call Antichriſt. His length and bredth ſhall be tenn…els, the ſpace betwixt his eyes and the palm croſs wiſe. His hollow eyes red, his hair yellow like gold, the ſoles of his feet green; and to make his deformity compleat, he ſhall have two heads. He coming to the wicked king of Rome, ſhall affirm himſelf to be the Meſſias and god of the Romans, to whom they eaſily give credit: and make him king over them. All the ſons of Eſau ſhall love and ſtick faſt unto him. He ſhall bring under his yoak the whole Roman Monarchie, and to all Eſaus ofſpring glorying in the name of Chriſtian, he ſhall ſay, bring me the law which I gave unto you. Which they ſhall preſently deliver, together with their book of Common-prayer, which he ſhall receive as true and legitimate, acknowledging that he gave that law and book unto them, deſiring that they will beleeve in him.
Theſe things once finiſhed, he ſhall ſend his Embaſſadors to Jeruſalem to Nehemiah the ſon of Huſiel, and to all the Congregation of Iſrael; with this mandate to bring their law unto him: and confeſs him to be God: At the report of this, fear and wonder aſſault their ſouls: and Nehemias accompanied with three hundred thouſand voluntiers of the tube of Ephraim, carrying alſo the book of the law with him, ſhall come unto Armillus, and out of it read him this ſentence,Exod. 20. I am the Lord thy God, thou ſhall have none other Gods before me. To whom Armillus making anſwer, ſhall deny any ſuch ſentence to be extant in their law, and that therefore they ought to acknowledge him for a God, following the example of the Chriſtians, and other people of the earth. Then ſhall Nehemiah the ſon of Huſiel in that inſtant command his followers to binde Armillus, and entering the field with thirty thouſand armed Nobles, ſhall put to the ſword two hundred thouſand of his aſſiſtants. For this cauſe Armillus greatly enraged, ſhall gather together all his forces in a deep valley to fight againſt Iſrael, and to deſtroy no ſmall number of Jacobs poſterity. There ſhall Meſſias the ſon of Joſeph breath his laſt, whom the holy Angels ſhall take, hide, and casket up with other Patriarks of the world. The Iſraelites ſhall be ſtruck with ſuch aſtoniſhment, their hearts ſhall fleet like water; but Armillus himſelf ſhall not know of the death of their Meſſias, who otherwiſe would not leave one of them alive.
Then ſhall all the Nations of the earth baniſh the Jews out of their dominions, no way permitting them any longer to be their coinhabitants. Moreover, ſuch trouble and diſtreſſe ſhall at that time perplex the Jews, as hath not been from the beginning to the world.
Then ſhall Michael come and fan away the wicked in Iſrael, The coming of Michael. Dan. 12. 1.as it is written; At that time ſhall Michael ſtand up, the great Prince, which ſtandeth for the children of thy people, and there ſhall be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was ſince there was a nation even to that ſame time. Then the remnant ſhall flee into the wilderneſſe, where God ſhall try and purge them after the ſame manner that ſilver and gold is tried in the Furnace. For the Lord ſaith, I will purge out from among you the Rebels, Ezek. 20. 38. Dan. 12. 10.and them that tranſgreſſe againſt me. And again, Many ſhall be purified, made white, and tryed; but the wicked ſhall do wickedly, and none of the wicked ſhall underſtand: but the wiſe ſhall underſtand. Then ſhall the whole remainder of Iſrael be in the wilderneſſe for forty five dayes, the chief of their fare being graſſe, leaves, and herbs; and that Scripture ſhall be fulfilled in their ears,Hoſ. 2. 14. I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderneſſe, aud ſpeak comfortably unto her. The truth of this appears out of that of the Prophet, From the time that the daily ſacrifice ſhall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deſolate, ſet up, there ſhall be a thouſand two hundred and ninety dayes. Bleſſed is he that cometh to the thouſand three hundred and five and thirty dayes. But goe thou thy way till the end be: for thou ſhalt reſt▪ and stand in the lot at the end of the dayes.
Conceive that forty five being added to the precedent number of ninty, the laſt number of 1335 daies doth ariſe. In that time all the wicked in Iſrael ſhall periſh; who are unworthy to be copartners in ſuch a deliverance. Finally, Armillus invading Egypt with great power ſhall ſubdue it, as it is written:Dan. 11. 42. The land of Egypt ſhall not eſcape. From Egypt he ſhall muſter his forces for Jeruſalem, ſtriving with might and main once more to make it a deſolate heap.Dan. 11. 45. And he ſhall plant the tabernacle of his palace, between the Seas, in the glorious holy mountain, yet he ſhall come to his end, and none ſhall help him.
The eighth miracle. The Archangel Michael ſhall ariſe, and ſhall thrice winde a mighty trumpet,The eighth miracle. as it is written; It ſhall come to paſs in that day, that the great trumpets ſhall be blowen, and they ſhall come that were ready to periſh in the land of Aſſyria, Jſa. 27. 13.and the outcaſts in the land of Egypt, and ſhall worſhip the Lord in the holy mount at Jeruſalem. Again, The Lord God ſhall blow the trumpet, Zech. 9. 14.and ſhall goe with the whirlewinds of the South. At the ſound of this trumpet the true Meſſias the ſon of David, and the Prophet Elias ſhall appear and manifeſt themſelves to the devout Iſraelites inhabiting the wilderneſs of Judea. Then ſhall they receive incouragement, the weary hands ſhall be lifted up, and ſtrength ſhall viſit the feeble knees. All the Jews alſo whereſoever diſperſed over the whole earth ſhall hear the ſound of the trumpet, and at laſt confeſs, that God in mercy hath viſited his people, and by a plenary deliverance hath been gracious to his inheritance, and all the captives of Aſhur ſhall be gathered together. But the ſound of this trumpet ſhall blaſt the Chriſtians and people of the world with fear and aſtoniſhment, caſting them into horrid maladies, Then ſhall the Jews gird up their loins, and with many a weary journey ſeek to reviſite their Jeruſalem. Meſſias alſo the ſon of David, together with his harbinger Elias, and all the faithfull his followers in Iſraell with great joy ſhall come into Jeruſalem. So ſoon as this pierceth the ears of wicked Armillus: he will babble out, how long will this abject and baſe people thus behave themſelves? and ſhall once more with a great army of Chriſtians haſten to Jeruſalem to give battel to to their newly inaugurated ſoveraign. But God ſhall not permit that the Iſraelites ſhould fall out of the fire into the pit, but ſpeaking unto the Meſſias ſhall ſay unto him, Come thou and ſit at my right hand, and to the children of Iſrael, ſit you ſtill, hold your peace, and quietly expect that great deliverance which the Lord this day will impart unto you. Then ſhall the Lord rain from heaven fire and brimſtone, as it is recorded,Ezech. 38. 22. I will plead againſt him with peſtilence, and with blood, and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailſtones, fire and brimſtone. Then ſhall Armillus with his whole army die, and the Atheiſtical Edomites (the Chriſtians they mean) who laid waſte the houſe of our God, and led us captive into a ſtrange land, ſhall miſerably periſh; then ſhall the Jews be revenged upon them, as it is written,Obad. 18. The houſe of Jacob ſhall be a fire, and the houſe of Joſeph a flame, and the houſe of Eſau (that is, we Chriſtians, as the Jews interpret, whom they' Chriſten Edomites) ſhall be for ſtubble. This ſtubble the Jews ſhall ſet in fire, that nothing may be left to us Edomites which ſhall not be burnt and turned into aſhes.
The ninth miracle.The ninth miracle. At the ſecond blaſt of Michael his trumpet being long and loud, all the graves in Jeruſalem ſhall open, and the dead ariſe, Meſſias alſo the ſon of David together with Elias the Prophet ſhall reſtore to life Meſſias that good ſon of Joſeph reſerved under a certain gate.
At the ſame time ſhall all the Congregation of Iſrael ſend Meſſias the ſon of David as an Embaſſador to the remnant of the Jews ſuperviving the laſt ſlaughter, diſperſed here and there among the Chriſtians and other people of the earth, to ſummon them to Jeruſalem. Then ſhall the kings of the nations without delay, carry the Jews inhabiting their quarters, upon their ſhoulders, and in Chariots unto Sion. I think this will come to paſs much about the Greek Calends.1. never. The tenth miracle.
The tenth miracle. At what time the Angel Michael ſhall blow the trumpet the third time, then ſhall God bring them forth who border upon the rivers Goſane Lachlacke, Chabore, and alſo inhabited the cities of Juda, and they in number infinite and immeſurable, together with their infants ſhall enter into Moſes Paradiſe; the earth before and behinde them ſhall be nothing but a flame of fire, which ſhall conſume all which is needful for the preſervation of life among the Chriſtians and other people.
When the ten tribes of Iſrael ſhall return out of the land of their captivity, then the pillar of the cloud of the divine glory and majeſty ſhall encompaſs them,Micah 2. 13. as it is written: the breaker up is come before them: they have broken up, and have paſſed through the gate, and are gone out by it, and their king ſhall paſs before them, and the Lord on the head of them. Moreover God ſhall open unto them fountains flowing out of the tree of life, wherewith he ſhall refreſh them in their journey, leſt at any time thirſt ſhould annoy them.Jſa. 41. 18. For the Lord ſaith, I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midſt of the vallies: Jſa. 49. 10.I will make the wilderneſs a pool of water, and dry land ſprings of water. Again, They ſhall not hunger nor thirſt, neither ſhall the heat nor ſun ſmite them, for he that hath mercy on them, The Jews ten fould comfort againſt the foreſaid ſignesſhall lead them, even by the ſprings of water ſhall he guide them. To comfort them againſt theſe ten ſignes foregoing the coming of the Meſſias, the moſt of which pretend great calamity and affliction to the Jews, they have a tenfold conſolation.Conſol. 1. Zach. 9. 9. The firſt is, that the Meſſias is certainly yet for to come: according to that of the Prophet, Behold thy king cometh &c.
The ſecond that he ſhall again gather them together being diſperſed over the face of the whole earth,The 2. Conſ. as it is written: I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coaſts of the earth, and with them the blinde and the lame, the women with childe, and her that travelleth with childe together, a great company ſhall return thither: From which place we may learn thus much, that if any went unto his grave blind or lame, the ſame ſhall God raiſe up cloathed with the ſame imperfections: that one may more eaſily know another, yet the Lord ſhall ſo perfectly cure the lame,Eſa. 35. 6. that they ſhall skip like Roes, as the Scripture witneſſeth, Then ſhall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumbe ſing; for in the wilderneſs ſhall the waters break out, and ſtreams in the deſert. The third is;The 3. Conſ. that God ſhall raiſe up the dead: as it is written; Many that ſleep in the duſt of the earth ſhall ariſe: theſe to life eternal, they to ſhame and everlaſting contempt.
The fourth is,The 4. Conſ. that God ſhall build them up a third temple, according to that plat-form and faſhion which Ezekiel hath deſcribed cap. 41. ver. 1. 2, 3.
The fift is,The 5. Conſ. that the people of Iſrael ſhall be the ſole Monarchs of the whole world, their dominion ſtretching from one end of the earth unto the other, according to that of Eſay 60. 12. The nation and kingdom that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh: yea, theſe nations ſhall be utterly waſted. Yea, the whole world being turned unto the Lord ſhall be ſubject to his law,Zeph. 3. 9. as it is recorded, For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to ſerve him with one conſent.
The ſixth is,The 6. Conſ. that God at that time ſhall defeat and deſtroy all the enemies of his people (that is, the Chriſtians) and mightily to revenge himſelfe upon them: as it is written, I will lay vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Iſrael, Ezek. 25. 14.and they ſhall do in Edom according to mine anger.
The ſeventh is,The 7. Conſ. that God ſhall take away all diſeaſes and maladies from among the people of Iſrael, according to that; The inhabitants ſhall not ſay I am ſick: Jſa. 33. 24.the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquitie.
The eight is,The 8. Conſ. God ſhall prolong the dayes and yeares of the life of the Iſraelites. So that they ſhall live as long as the oake or other of that kinde:Jſa. 65. 22. for ſaith the lord, as the dayes of a tree are the dayes of my people, and my elect ſhall long enioy the works of their hands, and againe, there ſhall be no more thence an infant of dayes, nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes: for the child ſhall die an hundred yeares old, bnt the Sinner being an hundred years old ſhall be accurſed, See Reſchaim in the Talmud c. 6. p. 68.which is as much as to ſay, if any die at an hundred years of age, it ſhall be ſaid of him, that he died as a little infant, or in his infancy: for at that time the years of life of the Iſraelites ſhall be equal to them of the fathers from Adam to Noah, as Abenezra comments upon the place.
The ninth is,Ninth Conſ. that God ſhall ſo clearly manifeſt himſelf to the Iſraelites, that they ſhall ſee him face to face. As it is recorded:Iſa. 40. 5. The glory of the Lord ſhall be revealed, and all fleſh ſhall ſee together: becauſe the mouth of the Lord hath ſpoken it. Yea, all the Lords people ſhall be Prophets, as it is written: It ſhall come to paſs afterward that I will powr out my ſpirit upon all fleſh, and your ſons and your daughters ſhall propheſie: your old men ſhall dream dreams, your yong men ſhall ſee viſions.
The laſt degree of comfort is,Tenth Conſ. that God ſhall quite root out of them all imbred luſts, and inclinations unto evil, as it is written: A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you, Ezek. 36. 26.and I will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh, and I will give you an heart of fleſh. Hitherto we have delivered what we promiſed out of the book called Abhkas r…chel, in which though it be ſummarily ſet down what the Jews beleeve concerning their Meſſias, as alſo the manner how he is to bring them back to Jeruſalem: yet I think not impertinent in this place a litle more largely to declare with what ſolemnities their Meſſias ſhal give them intertainement in their own land, and with what happineſs and felicitie they ſhall lead their lives under him.
When then the Meſſias hath gathered all the Jews together out of all the nations under heaven and from the foure winds of the earth,The feaſt which the Meſſias ſhall make unto the Jews at his coming. and hath brought them unto the land of Canaan flowing with milk and hony; then ſhall he cauſe to be prepared a ſumptuous and delicate banquet, inviting and friendly welcoming unto it all the Jews with great pomp and joy inexpreſſible.
At this banquet ſhall be diſhed up and ſerved in, the greateſt beaſtes, fiſhes and fouls that ever God created. The worſt wine that they ſhall drink ſhall be that whoſe grape had its growth in paradiſe, and hath been barrel'd up and reſerved in Adams Cellar unto that time.
The firſt diſh in this feaſt ſhall be that huge oxe deſcribed in the book of Job, The firſt diſh. Behemoth. Job. 4. 10.to be of ſuch great ſtrength and magnitude, named Behemoth. This the Rabbines affirme to be the ſame oxe whereof David makes mention in his 50 Pſalm and 10 verſe. All the beaſts of the forreſt are mine, and the cattel (Behemoth) feeding on a thouſand hills, that is to ſay, which every day eateth up the graſs of a thouſand hils. But a man will aske what at length would have become of this oxe, if he had lived ſo long, ſeeing he had long ſince eaten up all his fodder. The RabbinesaRabbi Sal: Jarchi, & Rabhuenaki. learnedly anſwer that this oxe is ſtallfed, and remains always in the ſame place, and that whatſoever he eateth on the day grows again upon the night in the ſame length and forme.
The ſecond diſh adorning the table ſhall be that vaſt whale,The 2. diſh. Leviathan. Leviathan, (according to the Jewiſh tone Pronounced Lipiaſan) who is alſo deſcribed in the book of Job, and mentioned in other places of holy writ.
Concerning theſe two beaſts there hath bin handſomly compiled this tradition by the wit and ingenuity of the ſolid pated Rabbins in their Talmud,Babha Baſra. c. 5. p. 74. it runs thus, Rabbi Jehudah ſaith that what thing ſoever God created in the world he created it male and female and that without all doubt; for he created the Leviathan. yet leaſt the he and ſhe Leviathan: by engendring ſhould augment the number, and at length by there monſtrous magnitude and multitude deſtroy the whole world, God gelded the male, and killed the female, reſerving her in pickle to be meat for them that are juſt in Judah and feared him, in the dayes of the Meſſias,Jſa. 27 1. as it is written: In that day will the lord with a ſore and great and strong ſword puniſh Leviathan the piercing ſerpent, even Leviathan that crooked ſerpent, and he ſhall ſlay the dragon that is in the ſea. In the ſame manner he created that great ox called Behemoth feeding on a thouſand hils male and female: yet leſt by multiplying they might fill and deſtroy the earth, he gelded the male and killed the female, reſerving it for the Jewes diet in time to come, as it is written: Loe now his ſtrength is in his loynes, Job 40. 16. 19and his force in the navell of his belly, he that made him can make his ſword to approach unto him.
The third diſh in this banquet as Elias Levita in his dictionarie named Teſbi out of the Rabbins reports,The third diſh. Barinchue. ſhall be that horrible huge bird called Barinchue which killed and unboweld ſhall then be roſted. Concerning this bird it is written in the Talmud ſhe caſt an Egge out of her neſt by whoſe fall three hundred tall Cedars were broken down.Bechoros c▪ ult. p. 57. and the Egge breaking in the full drowned three ſcore villages. By this relation it is eaſie to conceive this bird to have been little inferiour in greatnes to the forementioned oxe and fiſh; whence we may alſo collect how glorious a diſh the Meſſias is to make of it for his gueſts, and when there are many ſuch birds (Guls I think) found in the land of Judah, none ought to think that which is reported of this to be fabulous.The Crow. Babha baſra. c. 5. p. 72.
In the forementioned book of the Talmud, we read of a certain great crow which was ſeen of a Rabbine, worthy to be credited. The relation runs thus. Rabbi barchannah ſaith, At a certain time I ſaw a frog, which is as great as the village Akra in Hagronia, well how big was the village? It conſiſted of no fewer then threeſcore houſes. Then came a mighty ſerpent and ſwallowed up this frog. Inſtantly upon this, a great crow flying that way picked up as a ſmall morſel both the frog and the ſerpent; and taking him to flight ſat upon a Tree, now think with your ſelves how great and ſtrong this tree muſt be. To which Rabbi papa the ſon of Samuel making anſwer, unleſs I had been in the place, and with theſe mine eyes ſeen the very tree, I would not have beleeved it. Thus much the Talmudiſt. Who dare give the lie to this Rabbine? When that good man Kimchi commenting on the fifty Pſalm, and explaining the word Ziz hath there witneſſed that Rabbi Judah the ſon of Simeon did avouch Ziz to be a bird of that bigneſs,The great bird. ziz. that when he ſpreads abroad his wings he hides the body of the ſun, and wraps the world in darkneſs. Furthermore, on a certain time, a certain Rabbine was upon the ſea in a little ſhip, in the middle of which he ſaw a bird ſtanding of ſuch an height,Talmud in the ſame place. that water came only to her knees: which the Rabbine obſerving, beſpeaks his companions that there they might waſh themſelves ſeeing the water was not deep. But a voice from heaven hindred the attempt, ſaying unto the Rahbine, ſee that thou do it not: for now ſeven whole years are gone and paſt, ſince a certain man let a hatchet fall in this very place, which hath been ever ſince a falling, and is not as yet come to the bottome. By which a man may eaſily gather how long legs this bird had, and how great her body ought to be in proportion to her feet. Without doubt theſe birds keep their reſidence in the wood Ela, in which,The great Lion Cholin. cap. 3. p. 59. a Lion is reported to live of ſuch an unheard of portraicture, that only to relate would ſtrike a man with aſtoniſhment. Of this Lion the Talmud thus fables. When upon on a certain time the Emperor of Rome asked Rabbi Joſuah the ſon of Hananiah, what the reaſon was why their God compared himſelf unto a Lion; and whether he was of ſo great ſtrength that he could kill a Lion? the Rabbine made anſwer, that God did not compare himſelf unto an ordinary Lion, but unto ſuch an one as lived in the wood Fla: to whom the Prince replied, ſhew me that Lion. Then the Rabbine by prayer obtained of God that the lion ſhould leave the wood, and come, when hs was yet foure hundred miles diſtant from the Emperour, he roared ſo terribly, that all the women with child in Rome became abortive, and the walls of the City fell flat unto the ground. When he had come an hundred miles nearer, he the ſecond time roared ſo fearefully that all the teeth of the Romanes fell out of their heads, & the Emperour falling from his throne, lay proſtrate upon the earth half dead; who with vehement entreaties begs of the Rabbin to ſend back the Lion; which was likewiſe put in execution. But theſe fables draw us too far from the ſmell of that faſt which the Meſſias hath provided for the Jews in the land of promiſe.
The fleſh of the foreſaid Behemoth and Leviathan will not digeſt well without a Cup of older wine; therefore the Meſſias ſhall broach that wine and give it unto his gueſts,The wine for the feast. which was made in Paradiſe, and was kept from the begining of the world to that time in Adams Cellar, as it is written: In that day ſing you unto her a vineyard of red wins. Eſa. 27. 2. 3.I the Lord do keep it, I do water it every moment: leſt any hurt it, I will keep it night and day: again,Pſal. 75. 9. There is a cup in the hand of the Lord, and the wine thereof is red: it is full mixt; he ſhall poure it out, and the dregs therof all the ungodly of the earth ſhall drink and ſuck them up.
Before the ſupper be ſerved in,The ſports where with the Meſſias will delight the Jews. the Meſſias after the manner of Kings, and Princes, and others celebrating Feſtivals and Marriages, ſhall preſent the Jews with pleaſant ſports and plaies to make them merry. He will cauſe Behemoth and Leviathan to meet in ſome ſpacious place, and there they ſhall play before the Meſſias to paſs away the time, and for his minds refreſhing, as it is written:Job 40. 20. Surely the Mountains bring him forth food, where all the beaſts of the field play. And again, There go the ſhips, Pſal. 104. 26.there is that Leviathan whom thou hast made to play therein. Then the oxe running hither and thither ſhall bend his hornes againſt the Leviathan; which will greatly affect the Meſſias, Pſal. 69. 32.according to that, It will be more grateful to the Lord then a bullock that hath borns and hoofs. The Leviathan alſo ſhall come to encounter the oxe, armed with his fins as an helmet, not eaſie to be ſeen, as it is written:Job 40▪ 14. 15. Who can open the doors of his face, his teeth are terrible round about. His ſcales are his pride, ſhut up together as with a cloſe ſeale. Here ſhall be the ſummons to the battle, and the firſt encounter begin moſt hot and furious, but to ſmall purpoſe, for they being of equall ſtrength neither can overcome the other, but at laſt wearied out both ſhall fell upon the ground. Then the Meſſias drawing out his ſword ſhall ſlay them both, as it is written:Jſa. 27. 1 At that day will the Lord with a ſore great and ſtrong ſword puniſh Leviathan.
Now comes the Cooks part, nothing but boyling and roaſting: and great proviſion for this ſumptuous ſupper, as it is recorded:Eſa. 25. 6. The Lord of hoſts ſhall make unto all people in this mountain a feaſt of fat things, of fat things full of marrow. The fiſh ſhall be ſerved up in parcels to the gueſts, which done, every one ſhall greatly rejoyee, as it is written: ſhall thy companions make a banquet of him? Job 41. 6.ſhall they part him among the merchants.
This donative ſupper being ended, the meſſias ſhall marry a wife: the scripture being witneſs:The marriage of the Meſſias pſ. 45. 10. Schegal foreign properly ſignifieth the wife of a King foreign from foreign Shagal which is to exerciſe the very act of venery▪ Kings daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand ſtood the Queen in a veſture of gold. So the Jews themſelves interpret: and the meaning is this, as Kimchi profeſſeth in his great gloſs: Among the honourable women which the Moſſias ſhall have, ſhall be the daughters of Kings. For every King of the earth ſhall eſteem himſelf highly graced, ſo that he may give his daughter in marriage unto the Meſſias. But the genuine and rightly ſo named wise of the Meſſias (properly ſignified by the word Schegal) ſhall be one of the moſt eminent beauties among the daughters of Iſrael; ſhe ſhall ſit at his right hand, without intermiſſion abide in the Kings cloſet: whereas the other ſhall ſtay in, the ſupping room, or houſe of the women: not approaching the King, unleſs it be his pleaſure to ſend for them. In this bond of Wedlock the Meſſias ſhall beget children; after he ſhall die as other mortals, and his children ſhall ſit upon his throne after him, as it is written: He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his dayes, Iſa. 53. 10.and the will of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hands, that is, as a Rabbine expounds it, The Meſſias ſhall live to a good old age, and laſt ſhall be brought to his grave with great ſolemnity: and his ſon ſhall reign after him, and after his death his poſterity ſhall poſſeſs his ſeat.
For the manner of life which the Jews ſhall have under their Meſſias. The manner of life the Jews ſhall have under their Meſſias.Firſt of all the remnant of the Chriſtians and other people which fell not by the hand of the Jews ſhall make haſt and build the Jews houſes and Cities, not for hire, but of free accord, till their ground, plant them vineyards, yea, beſtow their very goods upon them;The firſt benefit. moreover Kings and Princes ſhall be their ſervants whom they have ſubdued. They themſelves ſhall be cloathed in coſtly aray: all their Prieſts anointed ſhall be holineſs to the Lord; as it is written: The ſons of ſtrangers ſhall build up thy walls, Jſa. 60▪ 10, 11. 12.and their Kings ſhall miniſter unto thee: for in my wrath I ſmote thee, but in mercy have I had favour on thee, therefore thy gateſ ſhall be open continually, they ſhall not be ſhut day nor night, that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their Kings may be brought, for the nations and kingdom that will not ſerve thee ſhall periſh, yea thoſe nations ſhall be utterly waſted,Jſa. 61. 5. 6. and again strangers ſhall stand and feed your flocks, and all the ſons of the alien ſhall be your plow-men, and your vine-dreſſers. But you ſhall be named the Prieſts of the Lord, men ſhall call you the Miniſter of our God: you ſhall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory ſtall you boaſt your ſelves. (Oh here with hunger and thirſt how are the Jews oppreſt? Although ſome of them ſatisfie and appeaſe both, without the ſweat of their own brows gaining many a million: for which many a poor Chriſtian ſuffers toile and vexation.)
2. They ſhall have a new and wholſome aire,The 2 benefit. as it is written:Jſa. 65. 17. Behold I create a new heaven and a new earth, the former ſhall not be thought upon, by the benefit of this aire they ſhall enjoy their health and prolong their life, even as the men before the flood. In their hoary old age their ſtrength and agility ſhall not forſake them, but remain in the ſame temper as in their youth,Psal. 92. 14, 15 as it is writen, They who are planted in the houſe of our God, ſhall flosriſh in the courts of the Lord, they ſhall bring forth more fruit in their age, they ſhall be fat and well liking.
3. The ſeed once sown ſhall for ever grow up,The 3 Benefit increaſe, and ripen of its own accord: after the manner of Vines which require but one plantation, as it is written, They ſhall revive as wheat, flouriſh like a vine, Hoſ. 14. 8.his ſmell is like Lebanon.
Whenſoever any one ſhall deſire rain for the watering of any particular Field, Garden, or the ſmalleſt herb therein, the Lord will pour out upon that place, and on that onelyonly, without delay: for ſaith the Prophet, Ask you rain of the Lord, and he ſhall create lightnings, and give you ſhowres of rain. Then ſhall they gather their fruits and wine with great quietneſſe and ſecurity, and ſhall not be moleſted by any enemy: as it is written, The Lord hath ſworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his ſtrength,Iſay 62. 8, 9. I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies, and the ſons of ſtrangers ſhall not drink thy wine for the which thou haſt laboured, but they that have gathered it ſhall eat it.
4. No war nor rumour of war ſhall any more be heard in the land:The 4 Benefit and there ſhall be a firm and ſecure peace eſtabliſhed, not only between man and man, but alſo between man and beaſt; as it is written, I will make a covenant for them in that day with the beaſts of the field, with the fowls of heaven, and creeping things of the earth: I will put away the bow and the ſword and war from the earth, and make them to ſleep ſecure. And I will eſpouſe thee unto me for ever and ever: I will marry thee in juſtice and judgement, in mercy and commiſeration. Again, The Cow and the Bear ſhall feed: Eſay 11. 17.their young ones ſhall lie down together, and the Lion ſhall eat straw with the Ox. The Wolf ſhall lie down with the Lamb, and the Leopard with the Kid: and the Calf and the young Lion and the fa…ling together, and a little childe ſhall lead them.
5. When any war or diſcord ariſeth among the Gentiles,The 5 Benefit then the Meſſias ſhall reconcile them, and renew the league amongst them: ſo that there ſhall be no more mutiny; as it is written, He ſhall judge among the nations, and rebuke many people;Iſay 2▪ 4. he ſhall beat their ſwords into plowſhares, and their ſpears into pruning-hooks: nation ſhall not lift up ſword againſt nation, nor learn war any more. Then ſhall the Iews live in everlaſting joyes, make new marriages, ſing praiſe and glory to God without ceaſing: ſhall be full of the wiſdom and knowledge of the Lord: as it is written, In this place of which you ſay that it is forſaken, ſhall again be heard the voice of joy, the voice of exultation, the voice of the Bride and the Bridegroom, the voice of them that ſay, Give thanks to the Lord of hoſts. And again, the earth ſhall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the ſea is full of water.
Briefly, the happineſs of this holy people ſhall at that time be ſo immeaſurable, that neither can the heart of man conceive it, or the tongue yeeld the leaſt expreſſion thereof. Which things thus ordered and declared, leaving the Iewes in this their proſperous eſtate, I will put a period to my labours, and hide the ſecret of their faith from the Chriſtians; ſeeing I have attempted more then they themſelves, if they could have ruled the matter, would have permitted. What I have done already will not be pleaſing unto them, in which I have expoſed to every mans eye the full anatomy of their life and belief.
The Chriſtian Reader may eaſily perceive by that which hath been ſaid, that the faith of the Jews and their whole religion, is not grounded upon Moſes, but upon meer lies, falſe and forged conſtitutions, fables of the Rabbines, and inventions of ſeduced Phariſees. And that therefore it ought no more to iſſue out of the mouth of a Chriſtian, that the Jewes ſtand for the Law of Moſes, Jer. 8.but rather with Jeremy, that they are ſtrong defendants of the falſe worſhip of the true God, not ſuffering themſelves any way to be drawn from it. And with our Saviour to affirm,Matth. 15. 5. that they make the Commandments of God of none effect by their traditions; in vain they worſhip him, when they teach nothing but the mandates of men: honouring him with their lips, but in their hearts are far from him.Titus 1. In their words they profeſſe to know God, but in their works they deny him: theſe are the men whom the Lord abhors, who being diſobedient unto his word are unto every good work reprobate, as the Apoſtle Paul hath recorded. By which it is more manifeſt then the light of the Sun at noontide, that the puniſhment is now fallen heavie upon them wherewith Moſes threatned them: that the Lord ſhould ſmite them with madneſſe, Deut. 28.blindnesse, and aſtoniſhment of heart, that they ſhould grope at noon day as the blinde gropeth in darkneſſe. And this appears moſt clearly, and is more then evident from this, that they miſerably pervert, and contrary to all reaſon with an impudent front inveſted with a dull ignorance expound and interpret the word of God.
O merciful God, who haſt vouchſafed to impart this gracious favour unto us Chriſtians, that we being warned by ſuch an horrible example of the divine wrath, ſhould with awe and reverence embrace his holy word, leſt the ſame things ſhould befal us, and ſo our Candleſtick ſhould be removed for our ingratitude, God of his mercy grant, that the Sun of his juſtice may alwayes ſhine in our hearts until perfect day, and by the illumination of his good Spirit conduct us unto all truth. Amen.
The End.
Soli Deo Gloria.
End of the text · Johann II Buxtorf, The Jewish Synagogue (1657)