A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 2 – Book 3
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. AndaAnt. Iud. …. 1. cap. 2. Josephus writing of the death of Methuselah, saith foreign, 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 MansbDeut 24. 5. 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, andcPsal. 128. 7. 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 onelyonly 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 byaGen. 35. 22. defiling his Fathers bed. For which fact he was cursed,bGen. 49. 4. 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, onelyonly two notoriously infamous,cNumb. 16. 1. & 26. 5, 8, 9. 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 sixdNumb. 1. 21. thousand five hundred at the generall muster in mount Sinai: all which dying in the wilderness for their infidelity, their children descended*Numb. 26. 7. 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 theeDeut. …. 10. 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 divinefDeut. 2. 9. 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,gNumb. 21. 26. beating out the Moabites, and banishing them south of Arnon. Fourthly, Reubenites: on whom Moses bestowed it, after Sihon was conquered and killed. Fifthly, Moabites again. For it seems after the captivity of the Reubenites by Tilgath Pilneser 1 Chron. 5. 26. they made a re-entry on their old possessions: seeing those cities (formerly inhabited by the Reubenites) are prophecied against byhIsa. 15. & 16. …a. ler. 4. 8. Isaiah and Ieremiah, under the notion of places belonging to the people of Moab, to be destroied by Shalmaneser, and Nabuchadnezzar.
§ 3. This Countrey had Iordan on the west, (dividing it from Ephraim and Benjamin) the River Arnon on the east and south (parting it from the kingdome of Moab) and on the north confined on the Tribe of Gad. The extent thereof from east to west may be allowed forty two miles, not exceeding thirty five from north to south. A Countrey excellent for grazing, not as if defective in corn and wine, wherein it shared with the rest of the Tribes, (besides the benefits of some Mineralls, and medicinall waters, whereof in due place) but because exceeding in conveniencies for Cattell:iNumb. 32.1. Pastures to feed, Woods to shade, and Rivers to wate… them. Therefore was it bestowed upon the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, which much abounded in cattell. In which three we may observe some shadowes of Primogeniture, (which might imbolden them to petition to be first served) Reuben the eldest of Iacob by his wife; Gad eldest by Zilpah his concubine, and Manasseh first born of Ioseph. But these Tribes as first planted were first plucked up. God carved unto them the first cut of the Land, and after called for the Voider to take it first from them. For they falling from the house of David, and following Ieroboam through rebellion to Idolatry, and not being warned with the terrible blowk2 King. 10. 33. Hazael gave them, shroudly shrubbing their branches, God rent them up by the roots in the days of*2 King. 15. 29. Pekah, by the hand ofl1 Chr. 5. 6. 26. Tilgath-Pilneser King of Assyria; some twenty years before the generall captivity of their brethren, at the end of the reign of Hosheah, 2 Kings 17. 6.
§ 4 Leaving the people, come we to survey the places, and memorable actions in this Tribe. In the north…east corner thereof, near the banks of Arnon, we finde the tract or territory of Aroer. For though Aroer the City was undoubtedly entire in the Tribe of Gad; yet itm1 Chron. 5. 8. plainly appears, that at least a Moity of the countrey adjacent (so called from the city) was possessed by the Reubenites. A populous place it was, thenIsa. 17. 2. Prophet mentioning the cities of Aroer, though their names or number is not expressed. Probably Arnon one of the principall, Tell yee it in Arnon (oIcr. 48. 20. says Ieremy:) surely not to the fishes in the River, but to a City seated on the brink thereof, and thence denominated: as Hull in York-shire, so commonly called from the Rivolet running by it.
§ 5. Going south-west, having the stream of Arnon for our guide, we leave Kedemoth, not far from the north bank thereof. The Septuagin… read Kedson for Kedemoth, and the Vulgar, without any warrant, read Iethson for Kedson: so procreative is one errour of another. This Kedemoth was *Josh. 21 30. 37.one of the four Peculiars of the Levites, wherein they were accommodated with Safety, Pleasure, and Profit. Safety, in the City it self, within whose walls they dwelt in secure habitations: Pleasure in their suburbs, reaching a pNumb. 35. 4.thousand Cubits from the wall round about, (little less then an English mile) where they had houses of retirement, with stalls and stables for their cattell: Profit in their glebe land, extending two thousand Cubits from their suburbs on every side, improved for pasture, tillage and vineyards. For thus the survey of the Levites lands, Numb. 35. 4, 5. (though the difficult place is capable of severall senses) is expounded by learned Rabbi Maimonie, and we in our Maps have described them accordingly. Now though herein we have given the Levites lands the largest and most favourable bounds (seeing I am unable to endow them, they shall lose nothing by my restrictive measuring thereof) yet know that narrower limits are assigned them by Tremellius, as shall hereafter be presented in*In our answers to the objections on Reuben. Diagram we have prepared for that purpose.
§ 6. Behold here Levi's curse turned into a blessing,qGen. 49 7. Divide them in Iacob, and scatter them in Israel. Now the dividing of them proved the disposing of them, for their own and others advantage. Their scattering was their ranking for the best behoof of the people, for whose instruction they were intended. They were the Salt of the earth, and therefore God sprinkled them here and there, the more conveniently to season the whole nation. Insomuch that some English Parishes are more remote from their Mother-church, then most places in Canaan were distant from the Cities of the Levites. We must not forget that in Ieroboams apostasie, the religious Levites forsook their Cities andr2 Chr. 11. 14. fled to Ierusalem, preferring voluntary exile before wealthy homes, on the condition of an Idolatrous compliance. It appears not in Scripture, how these Cities and lands thus left were disposed of. Whether Ieroboam himself seised on them, converting them into demeans of his Crown, or whether he suffered them to revert to those respective Tribes, from whom they were taken: so fastning his subjects affections unto him with nailes of gold of their own profit. Either course may be conceived a cause to hasten the captivity of the people; it being just that those, who swallow Gods morsels, should be spewed out of their own possessions.
§ 7. Round about this City, is the wilderness of Kedemoth, not wholly abandoned to solitariness, but as the rest of this kinde, more thinly inhabited. It abounded with wild beasts, Lions, Bears, Bores, Wolves, Foxes, where the pleasure in hunting the game, did not recompense the pains and dangers of the shepheards lying constant Perdues in defence of their flocks. From this wilderness, Moses sent messengers tosDeut. 2. 26. Sihon King of the Amorites, for peaceable passage through his countrey. But Sihon (path-wise and land-foolish) by denying a civility, drew destruction on himself and subjects. For seeking in fight to traverse it, for their pedibus ambulando, he was by a firme Ejection outed of his whole kingdome.
§ 8. To return to Arnon. Hereabouts the children of Israel passed over it, miraculously with dry feet, saithtAdri. in theat. ter. sanct. fol. 51. Adricomius. But the miracle seems rather of his, then Gods making, the Scripture being silent therein, and the river not of that depth or breadth, but that it was fordable, especially with the help of Camels, Mules, and Asses. Many miles hence this river solitarily runs on as sensible of its sad fate suddenly to fall into the dead-Sea, at Ashdoth-pisgah. Where all his comfort is, to have the company of two other Brooks: whereof the eastermost runs near touJosh. 20. 8. & 21. 36. & … Chron. 6. 78. Ier. 48. 24. Betzar or Bozra: A City of refuge belonging to the Levites Merarites, whereof there were six in the whole Countrey of Canaan, with axDeut. 19. 8, 9. provision that they should adde three more (mans mercy must increase proportionably with his means) if God enlarged their coast; though we read of no such addition, either in Davids or Solomons time. The Cities were so conveniently distanced by Gods appointment, that in half a day (men for their lives will take wide and thick strides) some one of them might be recovered from the remotest corner of the land. Let Historians relate the Laws of such Sanctuaries, whereof these most fundamentall.
1t.yNumb. 35. 15. Strangers and sojourners in Israel were capable of the priviledge thereof, as well as native Iews.
2ly. Any murderer that could, might fly thither without any hindrance or interruption;zDeut. 19. 3. Thou shalt prepare thee a way: Otherwise such obstructions would have frustrated, and defeated the main intent of such priviledged places.
3ly. If the murderer could but reach theaNum. 35. 27. & Rabbi Maimo. lb. cap. 8. sec. 11. border of such cities of refuge (the very hemme of Christs garment had soveraign vertue in it) distant as is aforesaid from the City it self, it was a sufficient protection for him till his cause was examined before the Judges.
4ly. Upon examination, those were denied the benefit of refuge, andbDeut. 19. 12. delivered up to Justice, who had committed murder out of malice prepense, or had killed one (as we may say) with a malicious weapon: namely, if the bigness or sharpness thereof, be itcNumb. 35. 17, 18, 23. iron, wood or stone, was mortall in view, carried death in the sight thereof, as probable, enforced with ones hand, to kill a man.
5ly. Others, who casually had killed their neighbour, might live safely in the City, till the death of the High-priest: typifying the suffering of our Saviour, whose execution is our gaol-delivery.
6ly. If the murdererdNumb. 35. 26, 27. wandring out of the suburbs, was found by the avenger of bloud, he forfeited his protection, and might be killed with indemnity.
7ly. After the High-priests death (say theeMaimo. on Numb. ca. 35. ver. 2…. ca. 7. Sect. 14. Rabbines without Express from Scripture) the party was remitted to his innocence, not honour; restored to his liberty, not lustre; clouded the remnant of his life, because of the scandall that came by his hand.
Forget we not here, that besides these six Cities, thefExod. 21. 14. 1 King. 2. 29. Altar in the Tabernacle or Temple, was reputed the seventh and paramount place of murderers protection.
§ 9. The brook from the west, begins at Machaerus: one of the strongest inland Forts in the world, nature having prevented Art therein, so impregnable is the City and Castle upon the top of a steepgIosep. 13. Aati. Iudae. cap. 22. hill, with a deep valley round about. HitherhIos. 18. Antiq. cap. 10. Iosephus saith, Herod the Tetrarch sent Iohn the Baptist to be beheaded. For which fact, his great army was af…terwards overthrown by Aretas King of Arabia. Hereabout,iIdem bel. Iud. lib. 7. cap. 25. two springs arise of contrary natures. One hot and sweet, the other cold and bitter. Both which meeting together make a most excellent Bath, cordiall for severall diseases. As if nature thereby would lesson us, that moderation, wherein extremities agree, is the best cure for all distempers. These waters are approved excellent for the contraction of the nerves, either inwardly taken, or outwarldly applied. Herod the King being sick, (newly come out of a Bath of bloud, of the innocent Bethlehem-babes) was hither directed in vain by his Physitians, the water refusing to be guilty of such a Tyrants recovery. On this stream stoodkHier. quaest. Hebr. in Ge…e. Lasha mentioned Genesis 10. 19. afterwards called Callirrhoe or the Fair stream. And now what pity is it that such percious water should presently be spilt into the the Dead Sea! But what remedy? Fair and foul faces must meet together in the grave.
§ 10. As for the Dead sea, which onelyonly peeps into a corner of this Tribe, but stedfastly faceth a whole side of Iudah more properly thereof hereafter. And as for Iosephus his valley oflLib. 7. bell. Iudae. cap. 25. Baaras, with the strange growing, gathering, & working of the famous root therein, we mention it, not to seem wholly ignorant thereof; and but mention it, not to seem over credulous therein. Hereabouts is plenty of Alum and Brimstone, the latter probably some stragling drops of that direfull shower, which was rained on Sodome, and Gomorrah, leaving some tincture in the adjacent Countrey as a remembrancer of so great a Judgment.
§ 11. It is now high time that we survey the west of this Tribe, which Iordan (as we have said) divideth from Ephraim, and Benjamin. This is the true meaning of Deborah's complaint, uttered and repeated, for*Iudg. 5. 15, 16. the divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart, namely because that Tribe separated by Iordan from the western continent of Canaan, could not come seasonably to the succour of Barak, and subduing of Sisera. This River used to overflow all his banks in the first monethmonth. 1 Chron. 12. 15. (parallel to the end of our March, and beginning of Aprill) or, as it is said Iosh. 3. 15. at the time of harvest. Which vast distance in our English Climate (as much as betwixt Spring and Autumn) is easily reconciled and made to meet in Iudea; where the Harvest …t large is dated from the first fruits, and those ripe in Aprill in that hot countrey. Let Naturalists discuss the cause, whence this inundation of Iordan proceeds; whether from the violence of winds, then blowing on its stream, and angring it beyond his banks; or from the influence of the Moon, Commandress over moist bodies, and their motions; or from the confluence of Snow dissolved from the mountains. But my discourse like Iordan overflowes, it shall return within its banks.
§ 12. In the northwest corner of this Tribe, Iordan first entring into it, is fordeable at Bethbara or Bethabara, that is, the house of passage. For Gideon having the Midianites in chace, sent messengers to all in mount Ephraim, (a service most proper for them, cause in their confines) to mIudg. 7. 24.take before them the water unto Bethbara and Iordan, which there with good guides and high Camels might be waded over; but more southward the river is fenced by its own breadth and depth against all Passengers. And here afterward didnIoh. 1. …8. Iohn baptize our Saviour. As foroIosh. 13. 4. Aphek hard by, we place it here rather in conformity topAdrich. theat. Ter. sanc. pa. 126. others, then convinced in our own judgment of the true situation thereof.
§ 13. The altar Ed, or witnesse, was hereabouts erected by the Reubenites, Gadites, and half Tribe of Manasseh, returning from the conquest of Canaan. This Altar was a bridge in effect, to conjoin these divided Tribes with the rest; severed by water, the same in worship; on the other side Iordan in position, on the same side with the other Tribes in Religion. But though there was a noon-day of Innocence in their intentions, yet because (though not a night of guiltiness) a twilight of suspicion obscured their actions, it occasioned jealousies in their brethren, as if they had hatched some idolatrous designe. But when the matter came to be disputed in a military way, the controversie was ended by the right stating of the question, and a seasonable distinction well applied, that it was an Altar onelyonly of memoriall, andqIosh. 22. 23▪ 24. not for any burnt meat or Peace-offering. O that all differences between brethren might winde off, in so welcome a conclusion!
§ 14. And now he that shall cast his eye over the Plain on the east of Iordan, shall finde it well stockt with multitudes of goodly sheep, which caused Deborah's rIudg. 5. 16.expostulation, Why abodest thou Reuben amongst the sheepfolds, to heare the bleating of the flockes? And yet no wonder if he preferred such musick, before the clashing of swords, and sounding of trumpets in the battail against the Canaanites: seeing naturally men chuse profitable ease, before honourable danger. The tails of those sheep, both for fat and wooll, were incredibly great, some of them a sSyriae cubitales ovium caudae, plurimúmque in …a par…e lanicii. P…m Nat. hist. lib. 8. cap. 48.Cubit long. So that nature who hath tyed the tails to other creatures, may seem to have tyed the Syrian sheep to their tails, which with great difficulty they drag after them. This is the reason, why it is expresly commanded in the law, that when a sheep is sacrificed for a Peace-offering, the fat thereof and the wholetLevit. 3. 9. tail (not observed in Kine, or Goats) taken off hard by the backbone was to be offered: that part being for bulk and value considerable in their sheep, which is contemptible in other creatures.
§ 15. To goe back to the River, having left that place behind us, where theu2 Sam. 19. 18. Ferry-boat passed over to carry David and his houshold, after his conquest of Absalom. We are now arrived at that memorable place, where God magnified Ioshua, heartened his own people, and shrivelled up the hearts of their enemies, by drying up the waters of Iordan, whilest the Israelites passed over in this admirable Equipage.
1 The Priests went into the river bearing the Ark; in homage whereunto Iordan reverently retreated; (very farre from the river Adam, which is besides Zaretan) and they stood on firm ground in thewJosh. 3. 17. midst thereof, till all the Israelites were passed over.
2 Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh led the Van, aboutxJosh. 4. 13. forty thousand men of Armes, the residue of them (in all aboutyNum. 26. 10. 18. 34. an hundred thousand) remaining at home to husband their ground, guard their houses, govern their families.
3 After them the other Tribes followed: and it is observed that theyzIosh. 4. 10. hasted, not with a distrustfull haste (as suspicious that the returning waters might drown the hindmost of them) but an industrious speed, and mannerly quickness, as not willing to make God wait upon them in continuing a Miracle longer then necessity did require.
4 When all were over, the Priests with the Ark, who first entred, last left the water, (all dangerous designes are begun and finished by Gods assistance) and then Iordan, whose streams hitherto suspended, returned into his channell.
5 A duplicate or double monument was erected to perpetuate the memory hereof, being a Grand Iury of great stones. Of these, twelve were solemnely set up on the land in the Tribe of Benjamin at Gilgal, and the other twelve (the counterpart of this deed) were left in the midst of the river.
Some perchance may admire that Ioshua should set this latter invisible monument, in a place where it is drowned both in water and obscurity. But this River-mark was such, as possibly the tops of the stones might appear at low water; or if wholly hidden, and dangerous for boats to approach, the …ailers constant care to avoid them in their passage, called the occasion of placing them there to their daily remembrance.
§ 16. We must not dissemble the difference betwixt Authors, about the situation of the aforesaid City of Adam, but once mentioned in Scripture, and therefore (as the Hebrews have a Proverb of words but once named, that they have no kindred and alliance) more difficult to know the true posture thereof. The best is, this Adam, though having no kindred hath some company to notifie it; Adam besides Zaretan: and one Zaretan is sufficiently known to have been in the half Tribe of Manasseh west of Iordan, not far from the sea of Galilee. Hence learnedaIn Iosh. pag. …6. Masius concludes, that the waters of Iordan were cut off, full seventy miles together, north of the peoples passage over it. To which opinion, under favour, we can in no wise consent. Conceiving rather that just against Iericho, the river was dried up, for whereas the station of Iordan was most wonderfull, the Israelites had lost all the sight of this wonder on their right side, if done out of distance so many miles from their view. Place we therefore on these reasons (and thebAdric. de Ter. sanct. pa. 129. example of others) both Adam and Zaretan in the Tribe of Reuben.
§ 17. Some difference also there is betwixt Divines concerning the latitude of their passage over the river: Some conceiving it onelyonly to amount to the proportion of a fair alley, lane, or path of such receit alone as admitted the Israelites in a full and free march a competent number a brest, and that the waters, as in the Red sea, standing still on both sides, *Exod. 14. 2….were a wall to them on the right hand and on the left, as the Graver in our Map hath designed it. Others doe not onelyonly make a gap, through Iordan, but pluck down the whole hedge thereof, maintaining that all the water of that river on the left hand, (betwixt their passage over, and the Dead sea) failed and were cut off, or dried up. Which latter opinion is most agreeable to*Josh. 3. 16. Scripture, and reason: for seeing the stream of Iordan south of their going over, was not supplied with any reciprocall or refluous tide out of the Dead sea, the stopping of the waters above must necessarily command their defection beneath, and that the channell by consequence for the time being was dried up.
§ 18. Iordan, having now closed his streams together, runs by Livias, a City which Herod cEus…b. in Chron. Hi…o. in Ioel & ….built, and so named, in honour of Livia the Mother of Tiberius Caesar. For to enfavour themselves with the Emperour, the Jewish Kings called many Cities by their names (Augusta, Tiberias, two Cesarea's, Iulias, Livias) as if Palestine had been a Register book of the Imperiall Roman family.
§ 19. Let us now take an account of the inland Parts of this Tribe, and return to the place where the Israelites passed over Arnon. Betwixt Egypt and Arnon they had forty severall stations, and then entred into the Promised land. In comemoration whereof, probably God did order, that an offender should receive but forty stripes (what Judge soever counts them too few, would think thirty too many, if he felt them himself) and then be freed from further punishment. Coming into Canaan, their one and forty and first fixing there was at the foot of mount Abarim, and edge of the wilderness of Ked…moth. Hence they removed to Abelshittim, where Deuteronomie was made, the second Edition of the Law revised, and enlarged by God, the Author thereof. Here the people of Israel were numbred the second time. And although some particular Tribes were encreased, amongst whom those three that pitched on the east side of the Tabernacle, Iudah, Issachar, and Zebulun, (God and the rising Sun make any thing fruitfull) yet in the whole, they were diminisheddCompare Numb. 2. 3…. with Numb. 26. 51. one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Let such, as admire hereat, that people being in slavery should multiply more then when they were at liberty, consider,
1 Some Plants, (Palme trees and Camomile) the more deprest, the further they expand themselves.
2 Infant Nations, like infants, grow more discernibly at the first, then when they approach their full stature.
3 God purposely to defeat the designe of Pharaoh, to destroy the Israelites, blessed them with transcendent fruitfulness.
4 The breeders in the wilderness, were visited with many casualties, bringing them to untimely ends; whereas all those in Egypt, though painfull in their livings, were healthfull in their lives.
But the most memorable Accident in this place, was the Idolatry of the Israelites to Baal-peor an Idoll, conceived by most learned men to be Priapus. And who could worship him with piety, whom none with modesty can describe? It seems that Moab and Midian (perceiving S…hon King of the Amorites overthrown in battell) counterfeited amity with them, and pretending to shew them (being strangers) the courtesie of the countrey, made them an entertainment, which could not be courtlike and compleat without the company of their women. The Israelites beholding the Midianitish women, first liking their faces, then tasting their feasts, stepped from their Boards to their Beds, thence to their Altars, adding spirituall to corporall fornication. This was done by theeNumb. 31. 16. advice of Balaam, whose counsell did more hurt then his curse. All his charmes could have done them no harm, had he not raised these female spirits to improve them, which cost the lives of twenty four thousand Israelites, dying of the Plague; till the Javelin offNum. 25. 8, 9. Phinehas executing of judgment, stopped Gods fiery sword amongst them.
§ 20. Let us now request the Reader, to climbe up the hills of Abarim, Nebo, and Pisgah. These are a ledge of mountains rising by degrees from east to west. So that some have compared Abarim to the Chancell, Nebo to the Church, and Pisgah to the steeple. In mount Nebo the Authour of theg2 Macc. 2. 5. Maccabees, speaks of a Cave, wherein Ieremy laid the Tabernacle, and the Arke, and the Altar of Incense, and so stopped the door. But the same Authour in the conclusion of his book confesseth, that his work is like h2 …ac. 15. 40.wine tempered with water: and we take this story to be no genuine juice of the grape, and value it accordingly. On Pisgah, Moses surveyed the whole land of Canaan, and although he was advantaged by the height of the place, and clearness of his eyes (no whit abated in their sight at an iDeut. 34. 7.hundred and twenty years of age) yet much of miracle must needs be admitted, in so plain and far discovery. Here Moses was buried, being priviledged above other servants of God (whose souls Angels convey to heaven) that an Angel was his Sexton, to cover his body in earth. Here he concealed Moses his grave, lest the Israelites should goe a whoring after it. Destroying Idolatry is a pious, but preventing it a more provident Act, crushing it in the occasions thereof. Let none condemn this for a needless caution, as if no fear that they who sometimes would stone Moses while living, should adore him when dead. For the crooked nature of the Iews was bowed to Extremes, and had no mean betwixt hating, and adoring. Besides, when the memories of eminent men, hated or envied when living, have passed the purgation of death, it is usuall for their former enemies to fall in love with them.
§ 21. May the reader now conceive himself standing on the top of mount Pisgah. Where (though content with a narrower compass, then what Moses discerned) he descrieth a fair Prospect round about him. Not to repeat the places of the west, because mentioned before, looking south ward behold the City of Nebo, at the foot of its namesake mountain: and both of them so called from Nebo and Idoll God, hereabouts worshipped. We read indeed howkNum. 22. 38. Reuben changed the names of the Cities of Nebo, and Baalmeon (because their old names taken from false Gods resented of Idolatry.) But so hard it is to unhabit mens mouths from old ill customes, that it seems their ancient names still prevailed in common discourse.lVoss. de origi. & progres. Idol. lib. 2. pa. 346. Criticks start many controversies concerning this Idoll of Nebo; as: First, whether not originallymIsa. 4…. 1. a Babylonish Deity. Secondly, whether under it the Moon (as the Sun under Bell) was not mystically adored. Thirdly, whether the same with Chemosh and Baal-Peor (which is the opinion of Saint Ierome) and if not, wherein lay the difference? But it shall never trouble me, whether the fictitious Serpents of Iannes and Iambres the Egyptian enchanters, were made alike, or did differ in some particulars, seeing the reall serpents of Moses nExod. 7. 12.devoured them all up. And seeing long since the service of the true God hath confuted and confounded all worship of false Idols, I list not to trade in the curiosities of distinctions betwixt them.
§ 22. Eastward behold Kiriathaim, or the two-towns (like Bridge-North in Shropshire) two lesser Cities being modelled into one. Here lived the Emims, shrowdly smote byoGen.14. 5. Chederlaomer, which probably did facilitate the Moabites in their victory over them. Iahaza, a City of the Levites, where the Israelites in battell vanquishedpDeut. 2. 32. Sibon King of the Amorites. A little further see the City of Medeba, before the walls whereof aq1 Chr. 19. 7. double battell was fought and won at once, by Ioab against the Aramites, and Abishai against the Ammonites. And it seems that the latter of these had at this time the City in their possession, whither they retreated after their overthrow. For what else doe those words import; The children of Ammon likewise fled before Abishai his Brother,r1 Chr. 19. 15. [and entred into the City,] except any (conceiving it inconsistent with the present potency of David, to have any of his enemies nestled in his dominion) will by the City understand Rabbah the Metropolis of Ammon, next year besieged and sacked by Ioab. As for Medeba, there needs no other evidence to speak her ancient greatness, then that Ptolemy by name takes notice thereof (though placing it in Arabia) which name it retained in the days of Saint Ierome.
§ 23. But northward is the most pleasant Prospect over the fair and fruitfull Plains of Moab. Nor need any wonder why the Plain is so called, seeing Moab had nothing on the north of Arnon (after the time of Moses) when they recollect, how lately all this land was possessed by the Moabites, before Sihon sNum. 21. 26.forcibly expulsed them. Now to prove that places sometimes are termed by their ancient Inhabitants, though some hundred years after: we that live in London, need not goe no further then the Old Iury; so called from the Iews once dwelling there, now banished thence three hundred years agoe. But we keep the Reader too long upon the top of this bleak and cold mountain. 'Tis time to come down, when we have told him, that though Pisgah here be taken for a proper name, yet it is often used as an appellative, for any eminent ridge of a hill, which aspires above his fellowes. Know also that all the Countrey hereabouts was calledtHiero. de loc. Hebr. Pisgah in the days of Saint Ierome.
§ 24. Having now for a while reposed our selves in the pleasant Plains of Moab, let us not tire when our task in this Tribe grows so near to an end. Going a little northward we cannot misse the three Stations whither Balak brought Balaam to curse the Israelites. For having first freely feasted Balaam at Kiriath-Huzzoth, his chief City in the land of Moab, he brought him over Arnon, onelyonly to see the utmost skirts of the people, hoping if he could but kindle his curse in any corner, it would quickly burn all the house of Israel. But thrice he struck fire to no purpose.
1t. In BamothuNum. 22. 41. Baal or the high places of Baal.
2ly. In the field ofwNum, 23. 14. Zophim at the top of the hill.
3ly. In the top of Peor, which looks towardsxNum. 23 28. Ieshimon: building in each place seven Altars, and sacrificing a Bullock, and Ram on every of them.
What was the designe of the Sorcerer? Conceived he that heaven was covetous like himself, and might be bribed with sacrifices? Surely the stench of his hypocrisie out-sented all the smell of his burnt offerings. Or thought he by often changing the scene to act the more upon God? He that is the same yesterday and to day, and for ever, receives no more impression from the shifting of place, then from the changing of time. Or did he hope with the mystery of his numbers, Thrice seven Altars; to flatter heaven into a consent? All numbers are but bare Cyphers to him, that is infinite. O how he sweats for the wages of iniquity? How is his tongue distracted between the Spirit of God and the spirit of gold. All in vain; the further he goes, the worser he speeds: but the better he speaks, falling at last from …lenting, to down right blessing of Israel. However, though he did not his work, he received his wages. And if Balak at that time did not pay him with gold; yet afterwards the Israelites did with steel, justly slaying him with the yNum. 31. 8.sword.
§ 25. Pass we now, still more northward, by the place, where Elias ascending to heaven in a Chariot of fire, left his mantle and a double portion of his spirit toz2 King. 2. Elisha his servant and successour: and by Mephaah a City of the Levites, to Sibmah, so famous for her fruitfull vinyards. Going through which, the Reader may eat grapes to the full at his ownaDeut. 23. 24. pleasure: A liberty lawfully allowed him, but beware putting up any into his vessell, lest he be apprehended for a trespasser. For the same law which provides for his necessity, punisheth his covetousness. And what is this whole world with the wealth thereof, but a vinyard, wherein happy he, who hath enough to serve his turn, seeing when he dieth, he shallbPs…l 49. 17. carry nothing away with him. It seems in Sibmah there was some one signall vine eminent for greatness above the rest, or else that all her vines grew so close and uniform, that they resembled one entire and continued tree: ThecIsa. 16. 8, 9. & Ier. 48. 32. Prophets always addressing themselves unto it in the singular number, O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee, &c.
§ 26. Our work is ended, when we have viewed the north part of this Tribe, where it confineth on Gad. Where we onelyonly meet with one place of note Heshbon, anciently the royall Palace of Sihon King of the Amorites, & afterwards a City of the Levites. Which the Scripture placeth sometimes indNum. 32. 37. Reuben, and sometimes ineIosh. 21. 39. Gad. To accommodate this difference without making of two Cities of the same name (such multiplication unwarrantable, save where absolute necessity enforceth it) I finde no fitter expedient, then by setting Heshbon so equally between these two Tribes, as partially in both, and totally in neither. Thus Bristoll is situated betwixt Glocester and Somerset shires; and yet challengeth to be an absolute Liberty of it self; as this Heshbon also was an entire demeans of the Levites. One fair gate it had, called Beth Rabbim gate, nigh to which were most clear and pleasant fishponds, to which thefCant. 7. 4. eyes of the Spouse are compared by Solomon. Not that she was troubled with watery eyes like Leah, (the resemblance being recounted amongst her perfections, not defects) or that her eyes (as some may fancy) are compared to Pools, moistened with teares for her sins, but because of her clear and perspicuous vision and apprehension of heavenly Mysteries.
§ 27. As for the mountains of Emek, which Mr. More in his Map, without alledging any warrant from Scripture, (otherwise his constant custome) makes the bounds betwixt Reuben and Gad; I have placed them accordingly, yet so that the Reader (without a miraculous Faith) may remove these mountains to some other place, when he finds just cause for the same. At which time also, when proceeding on more infallible principles for their situation, let him take down our conjecturall Flags from the tops of Mephaah, g…osh. 13. 19.Zerethshahar, &c. now placed but by guesse, and let him dispose of them, if he can, in a more exact position.
§ 28. So much for Reuben, not forgetting how in the days of Solomon when the land was divided into twelve Purveyer-ships to make monthly provisions for his Courts*1 King. 4. 19. Gebar the son of Uri had al the country once of Si… on King of the Amorites (but then possest by Reuben) in his circuit whence no doubt plenty of good fare out of this Pasture-countrey so abounding in cattell, was brought to Ierusalem. Now we have placed the name of Amorites on the sinister front of this our description, because they were the old inhabitants of this Countrey: our constant custome through this Book in the adverse page opposite to the Tribes name to insert one of the seven Nations of Canaan, (former owners of that land) conceiving it to conduce much to the illustration of Scripture.
§ 29. Modern Heralds, by Commission authorized from the Jewish Rabbines, assign to Reuben for armes, Argent, three Bars waveè azure, in allusion to Iacobs Legacy,hGen. 49. 4. Unstable as water, thou shalt not excell. For as water cannot hold it self, but as it is held in a vessell, so Reuben could not contain himself within the bounds of chastity, till shame and sorrow did reclaim him. Besides, as water once shed, is never to be gathered up again; so Reuben could never after recollect his lost credit, to recover the full favour of his Father. Though once he endevoured to gather up some spilt drops of his reputation by projecting the deliverance ofiGen. 37. 21. Ioseph from his brethren: but his design miscarried.
§ 30. For mine own part, I cannot concur with the common opinion, that these three Bars waveè were the Armes of Reuben; principally because Armes are honorary ensignes, assign'd, or assum'd for the greater grace of the bearer▪ Improbable therefore, that this Tribe to perpetuate the infamy of their ancestour would always have water running in their shield, as if Reubens crime were the Reubenites credit; like such whom thekPhilip. 3. 19. Apostle reproves, that glory in their shame. Rather let us hearken to Aben Ezra, who allots to the banner of Reuben a man or male child (others a mandrake, others put mandrakes in his hand) relating to Leahs words at his birth, calling him Reuben, that is,lGen. 29. 32. See a Son, causing her to forget her pain, for joy that a man child was borne into the world.
§ 31. The proper place for the standard of this Tribe was to be themNum. 2. 10. first of the three Tribes which pitched on the south of the Tabernacle. Thus though Reuben lost the Primacy of power over all, he still kept the precedency of place before one quarter of his brethren. Whence parents may be taught, that though on just ground they disinherit, yet not so wholly to dishearten their eldest sons, but still suffer some remembrances of a birthright ever to remain unto them.
FINIS.
Here the Map of Gad is to be inserted.