A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Body of book · Chapter 4
Here the Map of Naphtali is to be inserted.
THE TRIBE OF NAPHTALI. CHAP. 4.
§ 1. NAphtali Son of Iacob by Bildah his Concubine was multiplied during the aboad of his posterity in Egypt, to fifty and three thousand*Numb. 1. 43. & 2. 30. four hundred. All which dying in the desert, their Sons being fourty five thousand foure*Num. 26. 50. hundred entred the Land of Canaan. A Tribe acquitting it self considerable in relation to the rest, though we meet but with two, or rather but with one and a half Glories thereof. The former*Iudg. 4. 6. Barak the son of Abinoham, who (acted by Deborah) did act so valiantly against Sisera. The half-one Hiram (aa1 King. 7. 14. Naphtalite though his*See the description of Da…. 1. part. Father was a man of Tyre) that curious Artificer in Solomons Temple. Other eminent persons (though unknown) doubtless were of this Tribe, for in their martiall addresses to David in Hebron, none appeared in more excellent equipage for number and warlike accoutrements:b1 Chr. 12. 34. And of Naphtali a thousand Captains, and with them with shield and speare, thirty and seven thousand.
§ 2. This Tribe bordered (plainly intimated though not expressed in the bounding thereof) on mount Libanus on the north,cIosh. 19. 34. and reacheth (as is plainly expressed) to Zebulun on the south-side, and to Asher on the west-side, and to Iudah upon Iordan toward the Sun-rising. True this must needs be, for Truth hath said it; the last words present us with a seeming impossibility. For how long an arme must Naphtali make to reach to Iudah, over the Tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, Manasses, Ephraim, and Benjamin interposed, Naphtali being distanced about an hundred miles from Iudah? Here some Commentators being not able to quell, never raise this objection: a commendable discretion in them, if unconcerned to meddle therewith; but seeing they professe their calling to be a satisfaction of difficulties, it is in them an unexcusable lazinesse. But let us hear what the learned resolve in this case.
1dTremel. in loca praedict. Some fancy a small Lace of land (or rather a thread for the narrowness thereof) whereby (though invisible in Maps) Naphtali is tyed unto Iudah.
2eMas…n Iosh. 19. 34. Nic. Scra…. in …. Quaest nona. Others, that Naphtali reacheth to Iudah upon Iordan, not immediately in confines, but mediately by commerce; because the river Iordan runneth thence unto Iudah, and so they had the conveniency of Traffique into that Tribe.
3 Others more likely, that Naphtali reached tofM. Arthur Iackson. in locū. Iudah on Iordan; because Iudah as a Tribe in chief had the Royalty of the river Iordan, as fishing, fowling, and perchance the impost on all vessells, sailing from the fountain to the fall thereof.
4 Let me cast my Mite into this Treasury. What if this Iudah was but the name of a town or village, and therefore that addition, Iudah upon Iordan, given for distinction sake?
However Masius no less learned, then modest, pleaseth me with this resolution. In rebus tantâ vetustate obliteratis, & quae exploratè percipi nullâ jam ratione possunt, satius est non multa dicere, quàm incertissima pro veris absque ullâ dubitatione afferre. Such difficulties were not casually scattered, but purposely placed to improve our industry, and teach us humility. For the best answer mans wit can produce, is no salve to the Text, which of it self is whole and entire, but a plaister onelyonly to our own craized understandings.
§ 3. For the fruitfulnesse of this countrey, hear what Moses prophecyeth.gDeut. 33. 23. O Naphtali satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord. See also what was performed. For the land about Laish, which was in the confines of this Tribe is thus charactered,hIudg. 18. 10. A place where there is no want of any thing that is in the Earth. iIos. de bell. Iuda. li. 3. foreign.Iosephus being almost this Countryman, saith, foreign: One may call this Countrey the Ambition of nature. Strabo kLib. 16. in Syria. pa. 755.a Pagan giveth it the Epithets of foreign, A well natured land and bearing all commodities. But the best fruit it bare was our Saviour himself: by his corporall presence much conversant here; this Tribe being the Theatre whereon his most remarkeable Miracles were acted.
§ 4. From the foot of Libanus to the sea of Galilee may be allowed thirty five miles. Equall whereunto, by the favour of Iordan running crooked, (though northernly more narrow) is the breadth thereof, from east to west. In the time of our Saviour this Tribe was parcell of two Tetrarchies. The north-east part thereof, belonged to Iturea. The lVirgill.Poet takes notice of the plenty of Yew in this Province.
—Itureos taxi torquentur in arcus.
Yew which in Iturea growes
Is neately bended into Bowes.
Hence their inhabitants became excellent Archers: and pity it was, rhat their arrows were so often shot at a wrong mark, to kill and rob passengers in their journey. Strabo calls the Itureans generally foreign, and their Countrey in some sort may seem accessary to their felonies (the Receiver is bad as a thief) which, as the foresaid Author observes, in her caves, woods, and inaccessible mountains protected those Robbers from justice proceeding against them. Insomuch that the Romans were fain to keep Souldiers in Garison against them (but who kept any against the souldiers?) So that betwixt both, Iturea at that time may be conceived sufficiently miserable.
§ 5. The south-west of Naphtali was accounted part of Galilee the upper, otherwise called Galilee of the Gentiles, because, as some conceive, the people therein were commixed with heathens, and (being far from Ierusalem) were more drossie Iews then the rest. Which is a most erroneous opinion. For how improbable is it, that our Saviour, who sending his Disciples to preach gave them instructions,mMat. 10. 5. Goe not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter yee not, and himself never stayed in Samaria, save as he took it in his necessary passage in or from nJoh. 4. 4.Iudea; should choose Galilee, if so debased with the mixture of Gentiles, for the place of his principall and constant residence? Far more true is it that it was called Galilaea Gentium, that is, Galilee the populous, because of the multitudes of people, especially near the sea, wherein was Decapolis (a member of Galilee.) And there one city, for want of room, may seem to tread on another.
§ 6. Before we come to the particular description of this Tribe, we will first dispatch out of the way, nine limitary Towns (which accordingly are figured in the Map) and this will much facilitate our proceeding in the rest.
1 Heleph, *Iosh. 19. 33, 34.in the northern bounds of this Tribe, from which the eastern coasts thereof southwardly are described.
2 Allon, that is in English, oake (as Oakeham in Rutland) so named from plenty of those trees growing therein.
3 Zaanaim. Note that Tremellius maketh these two latter, but one entire place, reading it the Oake-wood of Zaanaim.
4 Adami. Which as Ruthland in Flint-shire, probably was so named from the redness of the earth.
5 Nekeb: this is a ditch, where we may conceive Iordan was let out for the more convenient watering of other ground. And have we not more then twenty Dittons or Ditch-tons on the same occasion in England?
6 Iabneel: different from one of the same name in the Tribe of Dan.
7 Lakum.
8 Aznoth-Tabor.
9 Hukkok.
We are not bound to beleeve all these nine to have been Cities of considerable strength, or greatness, as not so note-worthy in themselves as in their situation. Because (though perchance otherwise poor villages) they stood in the borders of this Tribe. Thus low shrubs growing on high hills, or crooked thorn-trees set by the high-way side, are more conspicuous in the eye, and frequent in the mouths of travellers, then streighter and fairer trees which are obscure in the midst of the wood.
§ 7. To come to the particular description thereof; Amongst the mountains of Libanus, we meet with one of eminent note, not onelyonly having a name peculiar to it self, but which from it hath also denominated the adjacent Countrey. This is mount Paneas, wherein there is a deep hole or cave. And though places of this kind commonly have more horrour then pleasure in them, this, besides its naturall beauty, was adorned with artificiall structures in, and about it. Herein also was an unsoundable spring of water, conceived by some to be the primitive fountain of Iordan. YetoIos. de bell. Iuda. li. 3. foreign. Iosephus tells us of Phiala, a spring above two hundred furlongs off (and therefore out of the bounds of this Tribe) into which Philip the Tetrarch cast cha…e to try the experiment, and it was rendred up again in the streame of Iordan. Whence he concluded, that this river entertained an underground intelligence with that fountain. But we are not to take notice where rivers are secretly conceived, but where they are visibly born: and therefore date the originall thereof from the apparent heads of Ior and Dan: which keeping themselves sole and single for a short time, are soon wedded together. And from the confluence of their names and streams, Iordan is begotten.
§ 8. To pass by Scripture commendations, it is called bypS…lin. Polyhist. cap. 35. …olinus, eximiae suavitatis amnis, a river of excellent sweetness. But as if Rivers, as well as Men, were too prone to be proud of their good properties, it is very subject to*Iosh. 3. 15. Ier. 12. 5. & 49. 19. &c. overswell the banks; in which notion perhaps, it is also called by the aforesaid Solinus, Ambitiosus amnis, an haughty and ambitious river. But what saith theqZach. 11. 3. Prophet? The pride of Iordan is spoiled: namely, in some extraordinary drought (and thence dearth) which he there foretelleth. To keep the golden mean; As Iordan sometimes must be acknowledged to mount too high, so Naaman depressed it too low in his valuation: whose ignorance and passion preferredr2 King. 5. 12. Abana and Pharphar, the rivers of Damascus, before it.
§ 9. At the aforesaid confluence stands the famous city of Laish, which at first it seems was a free State, living in subjection to none, and yet in slavery to their own intemperance. They weresIudg. 18. 28. far from the Zidonians, that is, astSir Walter Rawleigh Hist. World. one measureth it, about thirty miles: half that distance being too much to receive thence seasonable succour in their suddain surprize by the Danites. In taking which town, theuDeut. 33. 22. prophecy of Moses was fulfilled, Dan is a Lions whelp he shall leape from Bashan. It seems that the Danites came on the east-side of the City, and might for a time secretly repose themselves in Bashan. Whence, on a suddain, Lion-like (saliant in his Posture, when he seizeth on his prey) they leaped on the city, and were felt being on them before seen coming towards them. The City was afterwards called Dan, and the Danites possessed a tract or territory of ground, which otherwise seems to lie within the Tribe of Naphtali, but was not possessed by them.
§ 10. But as we must praise the prowesse and policy, so we detest the Idolatry of these Danites, who hither brought, and here erected, the graven Image stoln fromwIudg. 18. 30. Micah, worshiping it untill the day of the captivity of the land: that is, asxVid. ejus annot. in loc. praedict. Tremellius well expoundeth it, till the Ark was taken captive and restored, when there followed a generall reformation in the days of Samuel. This placeyIudg. 7. 4. then purged, was not long after defiled again with the same sin. For here Ieroboam set up one of his golden Calves,z1 King. 12. 29. & 13. 33. making Priests of the meanest of the people. And although where a Calfe is the God, a wispe of Hay is good enough to be the Priest, yet hainous was the offence, because done by Ieroboam in the disgrace of Religion. The erection of these Calves was pretended for the ease of the people of Israel, to spare their tedious travell thrice a year to Ierusalem; but in effect occasioned that they were sent a longer journey on a worse errant, even into irrecoverable captivity. Thus to spare a step in the path of piety, is to spend many in the ready road to misery.
§ 11. In the time of our Saviour, this Dan was called Cesarea-Philippi, built in honour of Tiberius Cesar by Philip the Tetrarch. Who in so nameing it, as wise to remember himself, was also mannerly to prefer the Emperour. This Philip being Tetrarch ofaLuk. 3. 1. Iturea, and Trachonitis, made this Cesarea (as conveniently seated betwixt both) the place of his principall residence. Neare thisbMar. 16. 13. & Ma…. 8. 27. place, Peter gave Christ that excellent testimony, of his being the Son of God. As for the two statues of melted brasse which here are said to be set up by that woman, whose Fluxe of bloud Christ cured, the one resembling our Saviour, the other her self, in humble posture touching the hem of his garment, I had rather the Reader receive it from thecEuseb. hist. eccles. lib. 7. cap. 14. & Niceph. hist. eccles. lib. 6. cap. 15. Authours themselves, then my relation. Chiefly because it seems improbable, that she, who so lately haddMar. 5. 26. & Luke 8. 43. sepent all her substance upon Physicians, should so quickly recrute her self, as to be able to goe to the cost of such a Monument.
§ 12. Leaving now the territory of Dan, we enter on Naphtali; and Iordan running hence, after some miles expatiateth it self into the waters of Merom or the Samoc…onite-lake. This was a Sea in winter, and in Sommer a thicket of reeds, affording shelter to Lions, and Wolves, and (which now a days are more dangerous to travellers, then either) wild Arabians. Behold (saith theeIer. 50. 44. Prophet) He shall come up like a Lion from the swelling of Iordan, that is, most fierce and furious; who having lodged there quietly all sommer in the shade, is vexed to be rouzed by the rising of the waters in winter: and, therefore is ready to revenge this wrong on the next object he meets. Near these waters, Ioshua gave that famous overthrow tofIosh. 11. 1. 4, 5 Iabin senior King of the Canaanites pursuing the chace as far as Zidon. On the west of this lake, where Daphnis a rivolet falleth into it, they place Riblah, accounted a terrestriall Paradise, for the sweet situation thereof. But grant it pleasant in it self, it was a sad place to Kingg2 King. 22. 6. Zed…kiah, who having first beheld the slaughter of his Sons, had here his own eyes bored out. Thus mans tyranny accomplisheth Gods justice, whilest Zedekiah had now leasure enough to bethink himself how he deserved this punishment, who indevored to put out the eyes of Israel, by persecuting the Prophets, andhIer. 38. 5, 6. imprisoning the Seers thereof. Afterwards, Iordan recovering it self out of the lake, and contented with a competent stream, is passable at the ford of Iacob, so called because tradition reports that Patriarch there to haveiGen. 32. 10. gone over this river with the company of God and his staffe. At this day there is a*Biddulph's T…av. beautifull bridge built over, retaining the name of Iacobs bridge, kept in excellent repaire (as being the high-way betwixt Damascus and Ierusalem.) And well may t…e Turkes afford it, seeing the unconscionable toll, which they extort of Christian passengers for Caphar or custome, will serve almost to build all the arches thereof with silver.
§ 13. Here let us hold a while, and desiring to please all palats, let us temper the harshness of old matters, with the mixture of a modern passage. If the Reader should ever travell this way from Damascus to Ierusalem and so into Egypt, he may repose himself for a night in the Cave east of this bridge, on the other side Iordan. A Cave is a publick building erected by some devout Turk in nature of an Inne, for the benefit of travellers, of more or less receipt & conveniency according to the bounty or fancy of the founder. But here the guest must be his own host to entertain himself, seeing generally nothing but a bare lodging and water, is provided for him. And though we pity the Readers bad lodging this night, where (if not bringing better accommodations with him) he and his Camell must be bedfellowes in straw; yet we promise him next day a pleasant way and handsome entertainment. For about seven miles off he shall pass by Cave Ioseph, where a Well will be shewed him full of kBiddulph's trav. p. 103.water, and adorned with marble Pillars, which common tradition avoucheth to be the pit wherein Ioseph was put, and a learnedl… elucidat. Te…. sanc. lib. 7. cap. 10. Frier very zealously stickleth for the truth thereof, though indeed the story is confuted both by the distance and nature of the place. For it is sixty miles from Dothan nearmGen. 37. 13. 17. Sechem, where Iosephs brethren kept their sheep. Besides, that pit had no moisture in it (save what fell from the eyes of Ioseph) whereas this is full of water, so that Iosephs dreams▪ had been but dreams if put therein. But it is as good as a bait to tired travellers (whose credulity is swifter then the Camels they ride on) to be refreshed in the way with such relations. Some twelve miles off, the reader may lodge in a convenient Cave called Minium by the Moors, but by the TurkesnB…ddu…ph. ut p…tus. Missia: and if early up next morning, may, going south-westward, before noon enter the Tribe of Zebulun. Where we may in due time overtake him, and hereafter give him larger direction for his travell.
§ 14. From Iacobs bridge the river Iordan sees nothing memorable besides rich meddows and pleasant pastures, untill he falleth into the sea of Cinnereth, so called (say some) because in form not unlike aoHen. Bunt…u. Trav. of C…hrist. pa. 446. Kinnor in Hebrew a harp. harp: as indeed an active fancy in point of resemblance will fashion any thing to any thing. How well the similitude suits, the Reader will best judge when hereafter he shall behold the entire proportion of this Sea in the Tribe of Zebul…, where he may feed his fill on the dimensions and severall names thereof; till which time to stay his stomach, we here present him with such a parcell of this sea-lake, as falls to the share of Naphtali. At the influxe of Iordan into this Sea, stood the once famous City of Capernaum, called Christs pMat. 9. 1. compared with Mar. 2. 1.own City. Note by the way, Christ had three Cities which may be called his own (if seven contended for Homer, well may three be allowed to Christ) Bethlehem where he was born, Nazareth where conceived and bred, and Capernaum whereqMat. 4. 13. he dwelt, more then probably in the house of Simon Peter though born in Bethlehem.
§ 15. This Capernaum was the Magazine of Christs Miracles. Here was healed the servant of that goodrMat. 8. 5. Centurion: who though a Gentile outfaithed Israel it self, concluding from his own authority over his Souldiers, that Christ by a more absolute power, as Lord high Marshall of all maladies, without his personall presence, could by his bare word of command, order any disease to march or retreat at his pleasure. Here Simon Peters wives mother was cured of asMat. 8. 14. Fever, andtMark. 2. 1. here such as brought the man sick of the Palsie, not finding a door on the floor, made one on the Roof (Love will creep, but Faith will climb where it cannot goe) let him down with cords, his bed bringing him in, which presently he carried out being perfectly cured.uMat. 9. 18. & Mark 5. 22. Here also Christ restored the daughter of Iairus to life, and in the way as he went (each Parenthesis of our Saviours motion is full of heavenly matter, and his obiter more to the purpose, then our iter) he cured the Woman of her fluxe of bloud, with the touch of his garment. But amongst all these and more wonders, the greatest was the ingratitude of the people of Capernaum, justly occasioning our Saviours sad prediction, AndwMat. 11. 23. thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Tyre and S…don, they would have repented long …goe in sackecloth and ashes. O sad strapado of the soul, to be hoised up so high, and then cast down suddenly so low, enough to disjoint all the powers thereof in peeces!*…. Hieron. de loc. Hebr. Capernaum at this day is a poor village scarce consisting of seven fishermens Cottages.
§ 16. Some furlongs west-ward from this City stood the Receipt of custome, whence Matthew was*Mat. 9. 9. & Mar. 2. 14. called from a Publican to be an Apostle. In Capernaum afterwards theyMat. 17. 24. Toll-gatherers did civilly demand of Peter, Doth not your Master pay tribute? It being questionable in point of law, whether Christ were legally liable to such payments. And l…t us inquire whence the doubt did arise.
Was it because he
1 Being a Physician, (such persons of publick imployment for generall good were often exempted from taxes) who gave his paines gratis to others, it was but equall he should be priviledged from such pecuniary burdens?
2 Being poor, was under value in the Excise-book? And where nothing is to be had the Emperour must lose his right. Yea generally Almes folk who live on the charity of others (such the condition of ourzLuke 8. 3. Saviour) are not to be rated.
3 Being an inmate or under-tenant in the house of Peter, the question was, whether Peter or Christ was to pay the taxation?
This last is most probable. For our Saviour taking order for the discharging of the debt, Give the money (saith he to St. Peter) unto themaMat. 17. 27. for me and thee. As rates in London are divided betwixt Land-lord and Tenant. Hence Peter was sent to sea, where a fish, which probably had plundered a peece of money out of the Pocket of some shipwracked fisherman, lost his life for the fact, and the felons goods found in him were justly forfeited to Christ, Lord Paramount both of sea and soil.
§ 17. Going forward along the shoare, some will be so positive as to point at the place where after his resurrection, Christ took his repast with his Disciples on bread and broiled fish; yet we finde no express mention of his drinking after he rose from the grave; and that, as some will have it, either in reference to his promise to his Disciples,*Mat. 26. 29. I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine untill that day, when I drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdome. Or because (though accepting of meat out of voluntary conformity) yet he refrained from moisture, to manifest himself, though no less then a true, yet much more then a meer man: but this we leave with the Authors.
§ 18. Some miles hence towards the north is a mountain of a moderate ascent and pleasant prospect, generally known by the name of Christs mountain. Here our Saviour made that excellent Sermon in the mount, which was the key of the Old Law. And here he chose his twelve Disciples, frequently repairing hither, when he affected retiredness. Here alsob…. ca. 63. Concordance. learned men on good likelyhood (Scripture being silent of the particular place) conceive the miracle of loaves multiplied wrought by our Saviour. And to avoid confusion, we must carefully observe that this was twice wrought.
| Place. | Guests. | Meate. | Fragments: | Gospels. |
| A desert nigh Tiberias | 5000 men. | 5 loaves, two fishes | 12 baskets ful | Mat. 14. 20 Mar. 6. 43. Lu. 9. 16. 10. 6. 23 |
| Christs mountai… | 4000 men | 7 loaves a few litle fishes | 7 baskets ful. | Mat. 17. 37. Mark 8. 1. |
Behold in the latter though the meat was the more, & the mouths fewer, yet fewer fragments did remain. And good reason that our Saviour in working of miracles, should observe no other proportion then his own pleasure.
§ 19. Following still the Sea shore and going westward, we light on the CitycIosh. 19. 35. Cinnereth, which some conceive gave the name to the lake adjoining, and also to the land thereabouts. For when Benhadad in favour to King Asa, to remove Baasha from besieging Ramah, inroded Israel, he smoted1 Kin. 15. 20. Iohn 12. 21. all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali. Some five miles westward we meet with Bethsaida of Galilee, in English a *…r sishing house rather, be…aus… on the lake; this word foreign will bear both.hunting house. Nor is it unlikely, that at first it was a Mansion meerly made for recreation, the neighbouring Desert (frequently visited by our Saviour when desiring privacy) affording the pleasure of the Game. From a house it grew to be a village, so called by Saint Marke, and thence proceeded to be a City so graced in othereLuke 9. 10. Ioh. 1. 44. Gospells. Nor need learned men so trouble themselves about the difference, seeing in a short time (Hague in Holland may be an instance) a great town with addition of walls, may at pleasure commence a small City. It was thefIohn 1. 44. native place of Peter, Andrew & Philip, and another staple City of Christs miracles, whose ingratitude forced our Saviours expression, Woe unto thee Chorazin, woe unto theegMat. 11. 21. Bethsaida &c.
§ 20. In the confines of Bethsaida Christ by the hand led forth a blind man out of the town, spat on his eyes, so restoring him to a confused and imperfect sight to see men walking ashMar. 8. 25. trees, (well might his spittle give half sight, whoseiGen. 2. 7. breath gave man whole life at the Creation) and then putting his hands upon his eyes compleatly cured him. But how came it to pass that he, who other whiles healed at distance by the Proxie of his word, Subveniens priùs quàm veniens, curing before coming to his Patients, should here be so long, not to say tedious, in working a miracle? Even so Saviour, because it pleased thee. Let us not raise cavills where we should rather return thanks, seeing Christ, that our dull meditations might keep pace with his actions, did not onelyonly goe slowly on set purpose, but even stayed in the mid way of a miracle, doing it first by halves, that our conceptions might the better overtake him.
§ 21. To clear this Corner before we goe hence: north-east of Bethsaida, on a tridented mountain standeth Saphetta, two parts whereof are inhabited by the Turks, and one by the Iews, and is at this day a very considerable Place. Here the Iews live in the greatest liberty (or rather in the least slavery) of any place under heaven: having some tolerable Priviledges allowed them by the Turk. So that they who get wealth enough elsewhere, here seem to have some shew of a common-wealth. Yea here there is akBiddulph trav. pa. 105. University of Iews. And though commonly that Nation count their children to have learning enough, if able to cheat Christians in their bargains, here they give them studious education: and the pure Hebrew tongue (as also at Thessalonica, now Salonichi in Greece) is here usually spoken, but industriously acquired, the Iews being neithe… born to foot of land nor word of language then what they purchase by their paines. What shall we say if this little place be left still to keep possession, as an earnest that God in due time upon their conversion may possibly restore the whole countrey unto them?
§ 22. Three Cities follow southwest, Naphtali, a city properly so called; Thisbe different from the native place of Eliah; and Naasson; all their credits depending on the two first verses of the book of Tobit. Now as Comoedians, though often they adorn their interludes with fancies and fictions; yet are very carefull always to lay their scene right, in a true place, which is eminently and notoriously known: so grant the book of Tobit guilty of improbabilities and untruths, surely the author thereof would be punctuall in describing the place, past possibility of confutation. Yet since the same book presents us with the pedegree of the Angell Raphael, withlTobit 5. 12. Ananias the great his Father, andmTobit 5. 13. Sammajas his grandfather, contrary to our Saviours character, that they neithernMat. 22. 30. marry, nor are given in marriage, and so by consequence can neither get, nor can be begotten; we may as justly suspect his Geography, as Genealogy, and conceive him false in the position of towns, who is fabulous in the extraction of Angels. And if Naphtali and Thisbe pass for reall places, yet not onelyonly doubtfull, but desperate is the case of the City Naasson, not being founded on the rock of the Greek text, where no such town appears, but on the quick-sand of the erroneous Vulgar Latine translation.
§ 23. Having thus surveyed the east and south parts of this Tribe, lest the other coasts thereof should justly complain of neglect, we return to mount Libanus to give an account of the remainder. In this Map, though not in this Tribe (no trespass I hope to look over the hedge) behold Heliopolis, in English, the City of the Sun. But how well it brooks the name, they can best tell,oSir Walter Rawleigh hist. World. lib. 2. 1 part. pa. 290. who of certain report, that the height of the mountains adjoining shadow it from the Sun the better half of the day. Was it therefore by the same figure, that the mountains are so called from moving, that Heliopolis got this name? Or because the Sun (as all other Blessings are valued) is most worshipped, where it is most wanted. Not far hence, the riverpCant. 4. 15. Fons hortorum Libani, or the fountain of the gardens of Libanus, (with which the banks thereof on either side are enamelled) fetcheth his originall; running thence by Hamah, afterwards called Epiphania, often mentioned in Scripture. Thus far came the twelveqNum. 13. 22. spies, sent to search the land; and this place passeth inrNum. 34. 8. & Iosh. 13. 5. & Iud. 3. 3. Scripture from the entring of Hamah for the northern Boundary of the land of Israel, not onelyonly before the expression of Dan came into request, but also long after thesEzek. 47. 20. mention thereof in holy Writ was disused. We shall in due place speake, as of Hamah the great, so named by thetAmos. 6. …. Prophet, (since called Antiochia in Coelosyria, and by vulgar unskilfulness often confounded with this Hamah in Naphtali) so also ofu2 Ki…g. 17. 30. Ashimah, the topicall or peculiar Idoll of this place.
§ 24. Hence that river runneth by Hazor, anciently thewIost. 11. 10. Metropolis of the Canaanites, where very many of their Kings met together against Ioshua, to his great advantage. Had he sought them in their severall Cities, to what expence of time and paines would it have amounted? Whereas now their malice did his work, all of them meeting together, having but one neck in effect, which here they tendred to the Axe of divine justice. Hazor by Ioshua was burnt, and more then an hundred years after was probably reedified by Iabin the Second, into whose hand God is said to have sold his people. Not far off this river of Gardens leaveth Naphtali, and vis…teth the Tribe of Asher.
§ 25. But before we leave the river, let this memorandum be entred, thatzAdricho. in theat. Ter. sanc. in Naphta. some hold this is the same with the Sabbatariam river mentioned in aNat. hist. lib. …. cap. 2.Pliny; which is said to run six days, and lie still the seventh, whence it gained the name. Were this true; as Solomon sent the sluggard to thebProv. 6. 6. Pismire to learn industry, well might profane persons be remitted to this river, thereby to be instructed in the Sabbaths due observation. But most listen to it, as to a fable, and the Hurlers in Cornwall (mencCamb. Brit. in Cornwall. metamorphosed into stones, as tradition reports, for playing on the Lords day) may fitly serve to build a bridge over this river. It much shakes the credit of this report, becausedIos. de b…ll. Iuda. …. 7. c. 24. in latine & ca. 13. in gre…k. Iosephus relates it clean contrary, namely that this river lies still sixe days, and onelyonly runs the seventh: adding how Titus the Emperour going from Iury to Antioch took a journey by the way to behold the same. But indeed learnedeEx…r…. 15. Diat…. 20. advers. Baronium. Casaubon not onelyonly observeth herein the Copies of Iosephus to be corrupted, but also giveth his advice for the amendment of the same. So that by right pointing his words, and some other small alteration, Iosephus and Pliny, may be made to agree. However modern travellers bring us no intelligence of such alternation or intermitting course of any river hereabouts, and some perchance will be ready to say, that since the Jewish Sabbath hath been swallowed up in the Christians Lords day, this river hath discontinued his former custome, lest what anciently was ceremonious, be now adays censured for superstitious.
§ 26. Let us now traverse this tribe southeast: where we c…not miss Abel a City, sometimes single, sometimes double represented unto us, namely
1t.f2 Sam. 20. 15. Abel of Bethmaacah; as if the former were but parcell of the latter.
2ly.g2 Sam. 20. 14 Abel and Bethmaacah; as if different, but bordering Cities.
3ly.h2 King. 15. 29. Abel-Bethmaacah; as if both made up one and the same place.
In this City, Sheba the rebell, pursued by Ioab and his own guiltiness, took covert, so that the storme of a furious assault was ready to fall upon it, when the breath of a wise woman blew it cleare away, who so ordered it, thati2 Sam. 20. 22 Sheba's head was cast over the wall See how his head, which thought to turn all Israel upside down, when whirled in the aire, was tossed and tumbled about. And pity it is any bullets should be shot into that city, which would cast such fireballs out of it. We know the wicked mans, not the wise womans name, and yet when his vertueless name shall rot, her nameless vertue shall remain. But Abel wanted such another wise woman to protect it, when furiouslyk1 King. 15. 20 taken by Be…hadad, and at last finally destroied byl2 King. 15. 29 Tiglath-Pilesar.
§ 27. But in the very midst of this Tribe the*Judg. 4. 11. oake-trees of Zahanaim fair and far spread themselves: For Tremellius reads it Quercetum Zahanaim, The oake-tree place of Zahanaim, where our translations render it the plain of Zahanaim. A difference not so great but that our age can accommodate, which being wastfull in woods hath expounded into plains, many places which formerly were dark with the thickest oake-trees. Here Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite dwelt in her tent, whither Sisera (who went forth with nine hundred charets, but was glad to come home on two legs) fled for security, having quitted his chariot. Not that he thought himself swifter, but safer without it; seeing his chariot which in fight was the strength to cover, in flight was the mark to discover him. And here Iael wth a hammer & nail dispatched him, for wch she was blessed by Deborah.
§ 28. The mention of her blessing minds us of the curse of Meroz, and consequently to inquire, where the same was seated. Well may we look for it in any Tribe, which we finde in no Tribe. Yea learned men doe so differ in their verdict, that some will have Meroz to be, 1 The Devill himself, asmIn his not…s on Iudg. 5. 23. Nicholas Lyra, whose opinion is rejected and refuted by all that mention it. 2 A potentnMagell. in textum. Person in these parts having many Tenants and Reteiners. 3 A Countrey full of populous inhabitants. 4 A oPet Martyr. S…rar. & major pars comment.City near the place where the battell against Sisera was fought Grant the last as most probable, new Quaere's are ingendred; whether a City of Caananites or Israelites; and where to be placed. For the exact position whereof we refer the reader to those our learned Divines, which in these unhappy dissensions have made thatpIudg. 5. 23. Text so often the subject of their Sermons. We have placed it in this tribe not far from Kedesh, whence Barak first went forth with his men, in the place where Mercators Maps have a city called Meroth (a rush-candle is better then no light) our onelyonly motive for the situation thereof. Mean time consider, that as the Disciples observed that the figtree cursed by ourqMat. 21. 20. Saviour, was in their return withered away; so this city after Deborah's execration so dwindled by degrees, that nothing is left of Meroz, but Meroz, nothing surviving of the thing but the name. Which name, let the reader behold in our Map as the mast of that ship, whose keel is swallowed up in the quicksands. A Sea-mark to all posterity to beware, and not to be negligent when they are called to be auxiliaries to Gods cause in distress.
§ 29. And now our hand is in about conjecturall places, we must not forget Madon once a roiall city,*Iosh. 12. 19. certainly hereabouts, because,*Iosh. 11. 1. Iobab the King thereof, was conquered by Ioshua at the waters of Merom, though all our industry cannot discover the particular position thereof. Happy our condition that in things concerning salvation we have Christs gracious promise,*Mat. 7. 7. Seek and ye shall finde, though in these meaner maters our search often wanteth success. We are bold to place it near Dan one of the fountains of Iordan, the rather because*1 I…n. …. 2. Brocard findes a place thereabouts called Medan by the Turks at this day. Where I pray let it stand till better information, for rather then with Adrichomius we should leave it out of our Maps, it is better to put it under any penthouse, then quite shut it out of doors. Let Dan-javan, *2 Sam. 24. 6.the third station where Ioab pitched his tent when he numbred the people, be joined unto it.
§ 30. To return to the place where Meroz is set, with far more certainty we place*Iudg. 4. 2. Harrosheth of the Gentiles, the native City of Sisera. But if the reader should chance to overlook the low situation thereof, he cannot oversee Kedesh Naphtali the habitation ofrIudg. 4. 6. Barak, and a city of refuge belonging to the Levites; for observable it is that all the cities of refuge on this side Iordan were advantaged on very high foundations. And theysIosh. 20. 7. appointed K… desh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Sechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron) in the mountain of Iudah. Whether because those towns were to typifie Christ himself, who like the brazen Serpent was to be listed up, or to comfort the flying and fainting offender, whose eyes were at his journeys end long before his feet, which could not but much revive his spirits. Say not, that it damped them again when his tyred legs after a long and tedious journey must at last …limb up a steep mountain to the city of refuge: For (as hath been observedtSee the description of Kedemoth in the Tribe of Reuben. before) if the offender got but within the verge of the suburbs on either side of the city, he was secured from the Avenger of bloud.
§ 31. Kedesh was attended on each side with two smaller cities, Bethshemesh on the west, Beth-anath on the southeast, both assigned to, yet neither possessed by the Naphtalites, because theuIudg. 1. 33. Canaanites though tributaries dwelt therein. Much is pretended in the excuse of the Israelites why generally they drove not these heathens out of their Countrey.
1 None can act above their strength, and they were not able to drive out the Canaanites.
2 Had they strength, it had been cruelty, not valour, in cold bloud to kill quiet enemies.
3 God gave them a kind of toleration being only to drive them out by degrees.
4 Much good accrued by this remnant of Canaanites being touchstones to prove the Iews faith to their God.
But these and many more palliations notwithstanding, unexcusable was the Iews connivence at them contrary to Gods flat command, and the foresaid pleas of no validity. For
1 The weakness of the Iews chiefly consisted in their want of industry, and uniting themselves against those heathen their common enemy.
2 It is onelyonly cruelty to a mans own soul to disobey Gods positive command.
3 What's to be done by degrees, is to be done. Whereas the Iews not only reprieved these Canaanites for a time according to Gods permissiō, but finally pardoned their lives contrary to his injunction.
4 The good accidentally accruing from the remains of the Canaanites, argues not the innocence of the Israelites, but the exceeding goodness of God, ordering their negligence to his own honour.
Yea the sad success shewed Gods displeasure with his people herein; these Canaanites eftsoons rouzing themselves from being couchant under tribute to be rampant in tyranny, and the mixture of their persons infected the Israelites with their Idolatrous practises. Nor know I any thing else considerable in this tribe exceptwIosh. 21. 32. Karthan orx1 Chr. 6. 76. Kiriathaim, a city of the Levites Gershonites, of whose posture we are not so wel assured as we could desire.
§ 32. Ahimaaz *1 King. 4. 15.was Solomons Purveyer in Naphtali, and had Basmah his daughter to wife. Say not it was poor preferment for the daughter of so mighty a Monarch to marry her Fathers subject. For Gods law forbad, heathen matches, and hereby she might keep a clear conscience and lead a comfortable life. Kings children too often wed where they neither affect nor are affected, to forain Princes (strangers as well in their lands as loves unto them) whilst here Solomons daughter, might have a softer Pillow, though not so sumptuous curtains in her home-marriage. By the way observe, we finde an army of Solomons wives and concubines, and but three scattered scouts of his children,*Rehoboam, Basmah and Tashah. 1 King. 4. 11. a son and two daughters. Multiplying wives in mans sin, children, Gods blessing, and Solomon laid too many foundations at once, to build much posterity upon them.
§ 33. The usuall Armes of Naphtali are Vert a Hinde trippant proper according toyGen. 49. 21. Iacobs prediction: Naphtali is a Hinde let loose; he giveth goodly words. But how this character conformes to the Tribe, learned men much disagree;zIn his comments on the place. Luther findes the analogy in Deborah, where in deed both her feminine sex is proper, as also because she was an excellentaIudg. 5. 1. spokeswoman; all the error is, she was rather extracted frombSee our description of Ephraim. Paragraph the second. Ephraim then Naphtali.
§ 34. Others reade the resemblance in Barak, because Hindelike he was so fearful to come out to war. But surely these blessings were givē by prophetical Iacob to his children as future badges of their honour, not brands of their infamy, and therefore the similitude is to be sought not in the disgracefull but commendable qualities of a Hinde, and more probably to be fetch'd not from their fear but fleetness in severall performances. Besides some conceive it too restrictive an interpretation of Iacobs blessing to confine it to any particular (though eminent) person, which speakes rather the generall disposition of the whole Tribe, and may thus more largely be expounded Naphtali is a Hinde. No ravenous or beast of prey (cruell like the Benjamites, churlish like the Ephraimites) but a quiet creature: intimating the Naphtalites nature disposed to peacefulness. Let loose. Not pent within the pales of a Park, but having room enough to range in: implying the large and spacious possessions of this Tribe. He giveth goodly words. They were men of fair speech and loving discourse, not querulous, nor captious, but preferring friendly compliance before brawles & contentions. The Standard of Naphtali in the Israelites pitching about the Tabernacle, was the last in the Reare on the northside thereof.