A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Body of book · Chapter 3
Here followes the Map of the half Tribe of Manasseh beyond Jorda….
MANASSEH beyond IORDAN. CHAP. 3.
§ 1. MAnasseh eldest Son of Ioseph by Asernath daughter of Potipherah Prince-priest of On, was by his propheticall grandfatheraGen. 48. 14. Iacob placed behind Ephraim his younger brother. Not that Reuben-like he was disinherited for any misdemeanour, but onelyonly so it pleased al-disposing Providence to transpose him. However (though inferiour to Ephraim in power) he grew so great that thirtybNumb. 1. 35. two thousand two hundred of his body from twenty years old & upward as able men to goe forth to war came forth of Egypt, all which digging their graves in the wildernes by their own infidelitycNum. 26. 34. fifty two thousand seven hundred entred the land of Canaan. Many Worthies were extracted from this Tribe (for this Countrey wasd6…sh. 17. 1. conferred upon them in Intuition to their valour) as Gideon, and Iephthah the warlike, Iair the younger, the peaceable Judge of Israel, Eliah the Prophet; nor must the fiveeJosh. 17. 4. daughters, and coheires of Zelophehad, be forgotten, who argued their case so strongly about their inheritance. Bashfulness it self will be bold rather then lose a rightfull possession, and a good cause when plainly told, is learnedly pleaded, especially if a meek Moses or just Ioshua be the judge thereof.
§ 2. We are now onelyonly to describe that part of Manasseh which was east of Iordan. Some will say, was it not pity the possessions of this Tribe should be thus dismembred? Was it not enough that Ioseph was fGen. 49. 26.separated from his brethren, but Manasseh his Son must also be parted from himself? How came that wisdome who pronounceth itgPsal. 133. 1▪ good and pleasant for brethren to live together in unity, to cleave this Tribe asunder? But let such know, that unity in affection may consist with locall separation. Besides, divine Providence might seem to have a designe herein, that this Tribe of Manasseh having a joint interest on both sides of Iordan, might claspe these Countries together: and the Manassites being (as I may say) Amphibii, on both sides of the River, might by visits amongst their kindred, continue a correspondency and civill communion one with another.
§ 3. Manasseh had mount Hermon and Gilead on the east, parting it from the Ammonites, and Ismaelites, Iordan on the west, Gad on the south, Syria, and particularly the kingdomes of Geshur and Maachah on the north. In which compass of ground,hDeut. 3. 4, 5. & Iosh. 13. 30. & 1 King. 4. 13. threescore Cities with high walls, gates and bars, besides unwalled towns, were contained. Many will be amazed at this number, & the wonder will seem the greater when they shall reckon butiIosh. 19. two and twenty Cities in Asher, nineteen in Naphtali, seventeen in Simeon, sixteen in Issachar, & but twelve in Zebulun: unproportionable that half a Tribe should have treble the number of Cities to those that were bigger. All we can say herein is this, that being a frontier Countrey, and being exposed on the north and east to heathen enemies, it must have more fenced Cities, then the Tribes on the other side Iordan, which were better secured by their situation. Thus the hem is turned in, and sowed double, to prevent the ravelling out thereof. And if I reck on right, there be more Castles in our marches betwixt Scotland and Wales, then in all England besides. However, our eye shall not be evill at Manasseh because Gods was good unto it, who are so far from repining at, that we rejoyce for the plenty of strong places therein; onelyonly grieving that we cannot give the Reader an exact account of their names, though we will endevour our best in the following description.
§ 4. Mount Hermon is the north-east bound of this Tribe, called by the SidonianskDeut. 3. 9. Syrion, by the Amorites Shenir, by humanelProlemee & Strabo. writers Hippus, and Trachones, being a branch of Lebanon bended south-ward. A stately strong mountain fixed on firm foundations, and yet the voice of the Lord (understand the thunder with an earthquake) makethmPsal. 29. 6. Syrion to skip as an Unicorne; and well may mountains dance when God himself shall pipe unto them. ThenPsal. 133. 3. dew of Hermon is highly commended by David, and brotherly love is compared thereunto, because (whilest heat of hatred like a drought parcheth all to nothing) fraternall kindness dewlike gives refreshment and increase. But how this dew of Hermon fell upon the hill of Sion (mountains an hundred miles asunder) so troubled Saint Augustine, that at last leaving the literall sense, he is fain to fly to a mysticall meaning. Others interpret that the dew of Hermon fell upon the hill of Sion, because the fruitfull flocks fatted on that mountain came afterwards to be sacrificed at Ierusalem; which is but a harsh construction; as if one should say, The fruitfulness of Linconcolne-shire which falls on London, because the fatted cattel thereof are sold and eaten in the City. But whilest sundry Interpreters have severall wit-engines to draw these two mountains together, our last translation saves their needless paines, rendring it, As the dew of Hermon, & as as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. Indeed it is the same specificall, though not individuall dew which lighteth on both mountains, flowing from heaven the same fountain, though falling on earth in severall channels.
§ 5. Now as Hermon is a chain of continued hills, so a principall link thereof is the mountain Amana. Christ courting his Spouse inviteth her to look from the top ofoCant. 4. 8. Amana. pAdricho. in thea…. Ter. san…. in Manass…h.Some conceive thereby Amanus a mountain in Cilicia is meant; but seeing Solomon clean through that Poem, maketh use of onelyonly native similitudes (whereof a self-sufficiency in his own land) it is improbable that herein he did borrow a forein and exotick expression. Know also, that the region hereabouts is called Trachonitis or Sharp…land in English, from the steepness of many pointed hills (in shape not unlike the Rocks called Needles near the Isle of Wight) wherewith this countrey abounded; and it was a moity of theqLuke. 3. 1. Tetrarch-ship of Philip the brother of Herod.
§ 6. South of Hermon lay mount Gilead, famous for the interview of Laban and Iacob: the former keen with anger (save that God in arGen. 31. 24. vision took off his edge) overtaking Iacob charged him with a double action of felony, for stealing himself, and his Gods away without his privity. The first, Iacob confessed, yet pleaded not guilty to the second, but traversed his innocency. Hue and Cry is made in vain after the thief and felons goods, (or Gods if you please) for she, whose conscience would permit her to carry away, cunning did perswade her to conceal them. Iacob thus cleared (as it were by Proclamation) of Defendant turns Plaintiffe, accusing the Accuser for his false accusation. At last all winds off in a good agreement, and an Instrument is drawn up betwixt them, not in paper but in stone, interchangeably sealed with solemn oaths. The Condition whereof, was to this effect; That if either of them should passe that place to doe any act of hostility to other, he should forfeit his fidelity, and be liable to divine justice for his perjury.
§ 7. This Pillar and heap of stones had a threefold name imposed on it, called
1 By Laban,sGen. 31. 47. Iegar Sahadutha, that is in the Aramite tongue, A heap of witnesse.
2 By Iacob,tIbid. Galeed, the same in effect in Hebrew.
3 By both Mizpah; that is, a Watch-tower, Iacob giving the name, and Laban the occasion thereof by that his expression, The Lord uGen. 31. 49.watch betwixt thee and me.
Here was abundant caution, three names and two languages, and yet nothing too much. For Iacob having formerly been sensible of Labans notorious shuffling with him, knew the best way to finde sure was to binde sure; and Laban being guilty, and therefore jealous, thought no security sufficient. And therefore in their mutuall suspicions a Triplicate was used in naming the places, that a threefold cable might not be broken.
§ 8. Gilead was at first onelyonly appropriated to that heap and pillar, whence the name may seem to be translated to the adjacent mountains, and thence transmitted to the valley in the east of those mountains, and thence imparted to some eminent persons born in that valley. For as w1 Chr. 7. 14.Gilead Son of Machir, grand-child of Manasseh, being born in Egypt, so called by a Propheticall Prolepsis, foretelling that his posterity should possess the Countrey of Gilead; soxJudg. 11. 1. Gilead the Father of Iephthah, Gilead of Gilead, seems to take his denomination from the Countrey possessed. Thus as theyPsal. 49. 11. Psalmist observes some called their lands after their own names, and some it seems were called after the name of their lands.
§ 9. A fruitfull Countrey Gilead was, till the people thereof were infected with Idolatry, growen so frequent therein, that the Prophet complains, TheirzHos. 12. 11. Altars were as heaps in the furrows of the field. Thus falling into Gods displeasure they quickly fell under their enemies disposall. The Syrians of Damascus threshing them withaAmos 1. 3. instruments of Iron, and thebAmos 1. 13. Ammonites ripping up their women with child that they might enlarge their border. This latter cruelty seems done in revenge of Davids usage of the Ammonites in taking of Rabbah,c2 Sam. 12. 13. putting them under saws and harrows &c. And although some hundreds of years were betwixt that action of David and this of the Ammonites, yet we know malice hath a strong memory, long to retain and at last to return injuries offered unto it.
§ 10. Under the hills of Gilead (famous for flocks of goats, to which for thickness and whiteness the hair of the Spouse isdCant. 4. 1. compared) lay Rogelim a Manor of Barzillai the Gileadite. This was he who so bountifully victualled David at Mahanaim, so civilly waited on him to Iordan, so equally requested, and so easily obtained a Writ of ease from Court attendance, being nowe2 Sam. 19. 35. fourscore years of age: having first bequeathed his Court-pleasures to Chimham his Son (neither covetous to keep them himself, nor envious that another should enjoy them) because such excusable vanities might become his green youth, which would be burdensome to the withered winter of his Father. Pella seems to be hereabouts, whither many Christians warned by many prodigies fled for shelter from Ierusalem, before the Romans besieged it. As we congratulate their thus preventing persecution according to ChristsfMat. 14. 16. precept, so we cannot but condole, that the samegVid. Epiphani um Haeresi 29. persons were afterwards poisoned with hereticall opinions, contrary to the express word of God, and became Apostate Nazarites. Somewhat more north ish2 Sam. 17. 27. Lodebar the possession of Machir, a bountifull benefactor to David during his distress, and Guardian to*2 Sam. 9. 4. Mephibosheth in his minority; and Thisbe the birthplace of Eliah the Prophet, the Iohn Baptist of the old Testament. Great was the resemblance betwixt their persons and preaching (all similitudes run like Pharaoh's Charets in the red-sea,iExod. 14. 25. wanting some wheeles) especially because both were born in bad times, when the world was generally infected with wickedness, both contented with plain clothes, and course fare, undaunted in reproving the faults of Princes, and implacably persecuted for the same.
§ 11. But the principall City in Gilead was Mizpah the place of Iephthah's kJudg. 1. 34.habitation. This is he whom his brethren banished for alJudg. 11. 2. Bastard; but the elders of Gilead oppressed by the Ammonites, brought back for theirmIudg. 11. 9. Generall. When they felt their own woe, they began to see Iephthah's worth, formerly exiled for his Fathers fault, but now restored for his own abilities. Vertue once in an age will work her own advancement, and when such as hate it shall chance to need it, they will be forced to prefer it. To Mizpah Iephthah returned, though a conquerour, yet a captive and a prisoner to his own rash vow, to sacrifice whatsoever came first forth of the doors of his house; it so happening that his onelyonly daughter met him with a virgin-quire and musick, which was sad in the close. Here Divines both for number and learning are almost equally divided,nIoseph. lib. 4. anti. Iud. ca. 9. August. l. 7. quaest Iud. quaest. 47. Ambro. l. 3. de o…iciis. cap. 12. Chrys. hom. 14. ad popu A…ti. Origen. fo. 9. in lo…n. pa. 308. Peter Martyr in locum. Capellus in Diatribe. Forbes or Perkins his case. Brodman Theog. Syst. tom. 2. 4034. &c. some avouching her really sacrificed according to the letter of the text, whereof some footsteps in the Fable of Agamemnon sacrificing Iphigenia (haply corrupted for Iephthagenia or Iephtha's daughter:) othersoNicolas Lyra in locum, with most Roman commentators since his time in hope to found Nunnery thereupon. I…m. & Tremel. in locum. M. Perkins li. 1. cas. con. ca 15. Scharpius. Symph. p. 171. &c. maintaining that she was onelyonly sequestred to perpetuall virginity. If any demand my judgment in this difference, I seasonably remember how one being asked in the Massacre of Paris, whether he was a Catholick or an Hugonite, answered he was a Physician. My return must be in this work, I am onelyonly a Chorographer, and the controversie in hand concerns matter of fact, not of place, proper onelyonly to us for this present.
§ 12. East of Mizpah lay the plain of Mizpah. Ioshua having conquered the Kings of Canaan (at the waters of Merom in the next Tribe) pursued them hither on the east and topIosh. 11. 8. Mizrepoth…maim near Sidon westward. A chace with a vengeance all the latitude of the land, the Canaanites flying as far as sea or mountains would give them leave: so that their flight may pass for a Scale of miles for the breadth of this Countrey, so smitten untill they left them noneqibid. remaining, understand it, not in a considerable body to make any resistance.
§ 13. So much of Gilead. We come now to Bashan: for these two provinces did the Tribe of Manasseh rIosh. 17. 1.contain, though it is impossible accurately to distinguish their bounds. Bashan was a grazing countrey (as indeed all Canaan east of Iordan was fitter for Abel then Cain, for pasturage then tillage) antiently called the Land sDeut. 2. 20. & 3. 13.of Giants; which though now extirpated, Og being the last of that race, yet retained some footsteps thereof in the strength and greatness of her
1 Oakes, whereoft… zek. 27. 6. oares were made for the gallies of Tyre.
2 Rams, uDeut. 32. 14.of the breed of Bashan, being the fattest and fairest of their kinde.
3 Bulls, so often mentioned in Scripture. But bywPsal. 22▪ 12. Davids metaphoricall bulls of Bashan, strong, sturdy, curst, cruell men are understood.
This Province was subdivided into severall petty lands: as, first, the La…dxDeut. 3. 14. & 1 King. 4. 13. of Argob on the north next Syria. Secondly,*Deut. 3. 14. Bashan-avoth-Iair: where taking the first word for the Genus and the two latter for the Difference, we have the exact definition of the Countrey.
§ 14. Iair was a fortunate name in the family of Manasseh, and we must be carefull not to confound two eminent men of that name.
1 Iair the elder, contemporary with Moses, who, when the field-forces of Og were utterly destroied, smote theyNum. 32. 41. & Iosh. 13. 30. small towns thereof (being threescore in number, as Ioshua counted them) and called them Bashan-Avoth-Iair, that is, the Cities of Iair in Bashan.
2 Iair the younger, a peaceable Judge in Israel immediately before Iephthah, who as he came many years in age short of the former, so the number of his Cities were but half so many, viz. zIudg. 10. 4.thirty, which he left to his thirty sons, calling them also Avoth-Iair.
It is further recorded of his thirty sons that they rode on thirtyaIbid. Assecolts, i. e. they were itinerantbIudg. 5. 10. Judges, say some, in their respective places, it being improper that they in their severall circuits should
1 Goe on foot. Authority would be contemned if not somewhat heightned above the comon people.
2 Or ride on prancing steeds. Marshall law may be so mounted, where the heels of the horses are as terrible to poor people, as the face of the rider.
3 Or ride on swift Coursers; seeing no such hast to execute suspected innocence.
4 Or be housed in covered chariots; which is a kinde of engrossing of justice, shutting that up, to which all ought to have open access.
5 But ride on Asses: partly that Petitioners, though lame and weak, might keep pace with them on the way when relating their grievances; and partly by that patient creature to shew the slow but sure proceeding of justice; and indeed the Judges foot-pace to the sentence is the accused parties post-speed to his grave.
We finde among these thirty cities, but one of them named, which is cIudg. 10. 5.Camon, wherein the body of Iair was buried. And it is probable, that Ira thed2 Sam. 20. 26 Iairite so high in favour about King David, was an inhabitant of this countrey.
§ 15. More south lay Ashteroth-karnaim, or in English, the two horned Ashteroth, either so named from some forked building, or street therein; (Horn-church in Essex, and Horn-castle in Lincolne-shire so called on the like occasion) or because the Idol Ashteroth, that is, the Moon horned in her waxing or waning, was worshipped therein; or lastly because a fair and gallant City, and all strength, mirth, and jollity are called horns in the Hebrew. Yet may we say to the men of Ashteroth in the words of theePsal. 75. 5. Psalmist, Set not up your horns so high, neither speak presumptuous words. Horns, which first were well blunted by Chedorlaomer, when hefGen. 14. 5. smote the Rephaims or Giants in Ashteroth-karnaim, and afterwards were broken quite off, whengDeut. 1. 4. Og King of Bashan who reigned in this City was overthrown. For hard by is Edrei another City wherein Og resided, and neer which he bid battell to the children of Israel when he with all his Giant-like race, which peopled this place, was extinguished. For though the Countrey of Pigmies be a Poets-tale, thishDeut. 2. 20. Land of Giants is a Scripture-truth. However, no eye can now distinguish betwixt the ashes of Giants, and dust of dwarfs, death having long since levelled all alike in the grave.
§ 16. Such remarkable places as remain in this Tribe, will easily be found out, if we follow the stream of Iordan, and such rivolets as pay tribute thereunto. Iordan having newly recovered himself out of the waters of Merom into a competent channell, receiveth from the east iVide Tabulas Mercatoris.Hermon a small brook running by Golan, akDeut. 4. 43. & Iosh. 20. Levites City of refuge, (whence the neighbouring countrey in Iosephus called Gaulonitis) and after Iordan falleth betwixt Capernaum and Chorazin into the sea of Galilee. This Chorazin was the place where Christs miracles and preaching were sowen so thick; and where the peoples thankfulness for the one, and practise of the other, came up so thin, that it caused that curse,lMat. 11. 21. Woe be to thee Chorazin &c. A woe, which at this day hath wasted it from a populous city to a ruinous village. As for their conceit, that Antichrist mVide Adrichomium in Manasse tit. C.should be born in Chorazin, I take it to be a meer Monkish device, to divert mens eyes, from seeking him in the right place where he is to be found.
§ 17. More south-ward the brook Cherith (having viewed at some distancenIosh. 21. 27. Beeshterah, afterwards called Bosrah, a city of the Levites; called also*1 Chr. 6. 71. Ashtaroth; And it is questionable, whether this, or Ashtaroth-Carnaim (whereof formerly) were the Metropolis of Og King of Bashan) runneth into the Sea of Galilee. By the banks hereof the Ravens brought Eliaho1 King. 17. 3. 5, 6. bread and flesh in the morning and evening, and he drank of the river. It seems Dinners are but innovations; whilest break-fasts, and suppers are mens most ancient and naturall meales. Here Eliah having the sub…ance of sustenance, cared not for the ceremony of a Table, or complement of a Carpet. How little will preserve life, but how much must maintain luxury! After a while this River dried up. Collect not thence that the brook was inconsiderably little, but that the drought had been extraordinarily long.p1 King. 17. 7.
§ 18. As for the cities of Hippus, Iulias, and Gamala, whereof as deep silence in Scripture, as frequent mention in Iosephus, it is enough to name them. In the last of theseqIud Ant. lib. 18. cap. 1. Iosephus reports Iudas of Galilee to be born, that grand impostor, whorAct. 5. 37. in the days of the taxing pretended himself the Champion of popular liberty, to protect them from such unreasonable payments. Multitudes of men flocked after him; for, spare their purses, and win the hearts of the Vulgar. But Iudas having go…ten power, fell a pillaging all people, taking from them the whole griest of their estate, so to save the owners from paying toll unto Cesar. How smooth and tender are the gums of Infant-treason, but oh how sharp are the teeth thereof when once grown to full greatness! However, he and his followers came afterward unto confusion, and is the second instance alleadged by Gamaliel to prove, thatsAct. 5. 38. councells which are not of God will come to nought. *1 King. 4. 13.The Son of Geber was Solomons purveyer in this half Tribe of Manasseh.
§ 19. The Armes assigned to Ioseph are, a tree proper growing by a Well, founded on the words of Iacob Gen. 49. 22. David may seem hence to have borrowed his Simile of a blessed man,tPsal. 1. 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the waters side. But Ioseph had more, not onelyonly a Well before to refresh, but a wall behind to support him, and his boughs (may Heralds word it in their own language) grew over the wall. Partly foretelling the fruitfulness of Iosephs posterity, and partly pointing at the particular posision of his inheritance. For, as some think, Iordan was the wall on the east of the Land of Canaan properly so called; and the children of Ioseph having their root planted, and main body growing on the other side of the river, spread their branches over this wall, half Manasseh having his portion on the east side of Iordan. To conclude, though those Armes did generally belong to the whole house of Ioseph, yet custome hath appropriated them to Manasseh alone: other Ensigns being assigned to Ephraim, whereof God willing hereafter.