A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 3 · Body of book · Chapter 5
Here the Map of Asher is to be inserted.
THE TRIBE OF ASHER. CHAP. 5.
§ 1. ASher youngest Son of Iacob by Zilpah his Concubine, carrieth blessedness in his name, and was so prospered in his posterity, thataNumb. 1. 41. forty one thousand and five hundred were reckoned of this Tribe in the generall rendezvous at mount Sinah. All which punished in the wilderness with death, for provoking God with their disobedience, their sons beingbNum. 26. 47. fifty three thousand four hundred entred the land of promise. Many no doubt were the eminent Grandees extracted from Asher, though we mee… with none of them in Scripture, save one, and that a woman in the new Testament,cLuke 2. 36. Anna the Prophetess, that property of the Temple, as constant therein as the pillars thereof, she departed not thence but served God with fasting and prayer night and day.
§ 2. Asher had mount Libanus on the north, Naphtali on the east, Zebulun on the south and southeast, the sea on the west containing welnigh forty miles in length, the breadth not exceeding sixteen. A fruitfull countrey, dGen. 49. 10.Ashers bread shall be fat (so hearty as if it were bread and flesh too) and he shall yeeld royall dainties. Moses foretold that he should be wetshooed in oile, he should dip hiseDeut. …3. 24. foot therein. Adding moreover that his shooes should be iron and brasse. Not that the ground in this Tribe parched by drought proved impenetrable, and rebellious to the commands of the plough, (as elsewhere God threatens the disobedient Iews,fDeut. 28. 23. the earth that is under thee shall be iron) but that this land should afford plenty of those metalls, according to the testimony of Eumaeus ingOdyss…o. 425. Homer,
foreign
In Sidon I …oast to be born where's brasse in aboundance.
Besides the great commodities of the sea, with the convenient havens thereof, Debora complains that when Zebulun and Naphtali (most concerned as nearest danger) ingaged themselves against Sisera,hIudg. 5. 17. Asher continued on the Seashore, and abode in his breaches. And no wonder if being Merchants they preferred profit before perill, especially being in a safe place where the iron chariots of Iabin King of Canaan could not approach them.
§ 3. The worst mischief in this Tribe was, that after the death of Ioshua, the Canaanites quartered so hard on the men of Asher, that they detained no fewer then seveniIudg. 1. 31. great cities from them. Yea perchance something may be pickt out of the expression of the holy Spirit, for whereas the Canaanites are said to dwell amongst those ofkIudg. 1. 30. Zebulun, the Asherites (the phrase being altered) in the following verse are said to dwell among the Canaanites, as if those pagans were the principall Land-lords (ingrossing all memorable places in this Tribe to themselves) whilest the Asherites lived amongst them as Tenants at will by the others leave. Nor was this fully remedied untill the victorious reigns of David and Solomon.
§ 4. In the north-west part of this Tribe neer the sea side,Salt and glasse made in Asher. we first meet withlIosh. 11. 8. Misrepothmaim, that is, the boyling of waters, though uncertain whether done artificially by fire, or naturally by the Sun. Here great plenty of salt was made in brine-pits, a necessary, and gainfull commoditie. However, Tremellius rendreth Misrepothmaim fornaces vitrarias, Glass-furnaces; and we know, store of themPlin. …. 36. Nat. hist. ca. 2…. best sort of that brickle ware was made hereabouts. Ioshua having foiled the Kings of Canaan at the waters of Merom, pursued them thus far to the shore of the Mediterranean, where his foes had the free choise, whether they would be killed with the sword, or drowned in the sea. Hard by is Mearah, which signifieth a cave, (and so some translations render it, though others retain the Hebrew word) being thenIosh. 13. 4. northern boundary of the land of Canaan, and an impregnable underground fortification of the Zidonians. Yea many hundred years after in the Holy War, when the Christians possessed Palestine, they manfully defended it untill the garison thereinoTyr. li. 19 Bel. Sacr. ca. 11. corrupted with money, basely betrayed it unto the Saracens.
§ 5. Observe by the way,Vast caves in the land of Canaan. that the hills in Palestine generally had in their sides plenty of caves, and those of such laxity and receit, that ours in England are but conny-boroughs if compared to the palaces which those hollow places afforded. Neither wonder that the cave of Makkedah could contain fivepIosh. 10. 23. Kings together, or that Obadiah could hide an hundred Prophets by fifty & fifty in aq1 King. 18. 13. cave, or that about four hundred men abode with David in the cave ofr1 Sam. 22. 2. Adullam, or that six hundred Benjamites lurk't, for four moneths, in the rock ofsIudg. 20. 49. Rimmon, whentG…og li. …6. Strabo hath reported, that towards Iturea, (which beginneth not far off) there be sharp mountains, having deep de…s in them, whereof one is able to receive four thousand Men. These caves (being only a cellar by nature) were by Art contrived into severall rooms, and by industry fortified even unto admiration. So well man'd, they could not be stormed, well victualled, they could not be starved, and (not having any combustible matter about them) fire-free they could not be burned, so thick, they could not be battered, so high, they could not be scaled, and so low, they could not be undermined. But these Inns gave entertainment to any guests, and as sometimes they gave shelter to pious people in persecution, so often they afforded harbour to theeves and vagabonds. The Psalmist glanceth on such places, in that his expression, Thou art of more honour anduPsal. 76. 4. might then the hills of the robbers; and our Saviour directly pointeth at them, when he complaineth, that they had turned the house of God into awMat. 21. 13. den of theeves.
§ 6. To proceed,The city Enoch wrong placed. hereabouts we can quickly discover an ancient City, wrongfully placed by the presumption of Authors, namely Enoch, built by Cain in the land of Nod, whichxIo. Viterbien. apud Naucler. Vid. Adricho. in Asher. num. 39. one tells us was at the foot of mount Libanus, and that vast foundations thereof are at this day to be seen. Surely Cains wandring humour (bloudy hands are always attended with roving feet) seems to have possessed these Authors brains, stragling in the position of this place so far from the truth, and the text, which describeth it east ofyGen. 417. Eden. But we may seek the City Enoch with more probability to finde it amongst the Henochii, a people seated byzNat. hist. li. 2. cap. 16. Pliny neer the Bactrians in the east country.
§ 7. But before we goe farther, we will alter our former method, (hoping such variety will prove the more pleasant) and because most memorable Places in Asher, are mentioned in Ioshua, where the Possessions of this Tribe were first allotted him; we will briefly comment on those verses, wherein the Bounds of his Inheritance are described.
Ioshua 19. 24. And the fifth lot came out for the Tribe of the Children of Asher according to their Families.
To prevent all Quarrels, the Land on this side Iordan was divided by lot, betwixt the nine Tribes and an half, much of providence being couched under the seeming casualty thereof; for although their Portions fell not to them in such seniority as they sate down at Pharaoh'saGen. 43. 33. Table, the first-born according to his Birth-right, and the youngest according to his youth, yet an excellent method was observed therein: For,
The firstbIosh. 15. 1. Lot fell to Iudah the Tribe Royall, of whom thec1 Chron. 5. 2. Chief Rulers and Christ himself was to descend.
ThedIosh. 16. 1. second, to the sons of Ioseph, Ephraim and Manasses, to whom (on Reubens forfeiting thereof) the Birth-right belonged.e1 Chron. 5. 2.
The third tofIosh. 18. 11. Benjamin, Iacobs youngest, but next best beloved son, by Rachel his dearest wife.
The fourth, fifth and sixth for SimeongIosh. 19. 1. 10. & 17. Zebulun and Issachar, his sons by Leah, so that all Iacobs children by his wives were provided for first, before those he had by his Concubines received any Possessions.
The seventh for AsherhIosh. 19. 24. Iacobs son byiGen. 30. 13. Zilpah handmaid to Leah his first wife, and therefore her child in seniority preferred, Gad his elder brother being already provided for on the other side Iordan.
The eight and ninth for Naphtali andkIosh. 19. 32. 40. Dan born of Bilhah handmaid to Rachel, the younger sister, and Iacobs second wife.
We know who said in another case,lCant. 5. 2. I sleep, but my heart awaketh. So see here, though drowzie Chance in the Lot is commonly challenged to have slept out her eyes, and to become stark blind, yet is there a concealed vigilancy therein, ordered by divine Providence.
Verse 25. And their border was Helkah, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph.
In expounding these words for the maine we follow learned Masius, though loth to erre with any, willing to venture sooner on his then any other Authors judgement herein. May the Reader find out Helkah in our Mappe (in the South-east part thereof, not farre from the Sea) thence let his eies start, and with good successe (following the names in the Text, and the pricks in our Mappe for his direction) surround the Borders of this Tribe. Helkah was afterwards given to the Levites Gershonites, to be one of theirmIosh. 21. 31. & 1 Chr. 6. 75. where it is called Hukok. foure Cities in this Tribe, had Achshaph and formerly been a Royall City of the Canaanites whose King had been conquered by Ioshua nIosh. 12. 20..
Verse 26. And Alamelech, and Amad, and Mishael, and reacheth to Carmel Westward, and Shihor Libnah.
Mishael oro1 Chr. 6. 74. Mashal was another City of the Levites. By this the Border of Asher ran Southwestward to Carmell; understand thereby not the mountain so called (lying more South in Zebulun) but the Plain lying under the same, more towards the North. Shihor Libnah, that is, the white *Or white Nilus.River. Now for streames to take their names from their colours, is no news to them that have heard of Albis in Germany, Melas in Thracia, and two Rivers called Blackwater, the one in the South, the other in the North of Ireland. But whether this River in Asher took the whitenesse from the foaming water therein, or Chalk-banks (like our Albion) on both sides, or from the materials of glasse or crystall growing there, let others dispute, whilst we onelyonly observe that Album Promontorium or the white Promontory, is bypNat. hist. lib. 5. cap. 19. Pliny placed hereabouts.
Verse 27. And turneth toward the Sun rising to Beth Dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the Valley of Iiphthabel toward the Northside of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand.
The Map will make all these flexures plain. Beth Dagon, that is, the Temple of Dagon; but how came thisq1 Sam. 5. 2. Idol of the Philistims to travell thus farre almost to Phoenicia? Surely it never came hither on its own legges, as therPsal. 115. 7. Psalmist observes, Feet have they, but they walk not, but was brought by the Superstition of the Canaanites, which borrowed this Idol from their neighbours. Concerning Cabul, quaere whether it were the name of a particular place, or the same with the Land of Cabul, which I conceive lay more Northward, whichs1 King. 9. 13. Solomon afterward bestowed on Hiram King of Tyre.
Verse 28. And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon.
Hebron differing from a greater City of the same name in the Tribe of Iudah. Rehob, that is, large or spacious, this name speaking it a City of great receipt. Unto thistNumb. 13. 21. place came the twelve Spies sent to discover the Land, and this City was afterwards bestowed upon theuIosh. 21. 31. Levites. This Kanah the great is conceived by some the birth place of Simon thewMat. 10. 4. Canaanite, the disciple of Christ. Great Zidon was given to, never gained by this Tribe, whose Borders reached to Zidon exclusively, so that Ashers lips might touch the cup, but not taste the liquor of so sweet a City.
Verse 29. And then the Coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong City Tyre, aud the Coast turneth to Hosah, and the outgoings thereof are at the Sea from the coast to Achzib.
Turneth, namely towards the South; Rama…, that is, an high place, as the name importeth, therefore seated by us on a Mountain; Such Maps as place Ramah in a valley are guilty of as great a Solecisme in Geography, as he in gesture, who speaking, O Heavens, pointed to the Earth. Wonder not that in Palestine we meet with so many Ramahs (Towns seated on a rising or advantage of ground) seeing it was so mountainous a Countrey: Equivalent whereunto we have the frequent name of Upton in England, whereof I have told, (Smile good Reader, but doe not jeer at my curiosity herein) no fewer then three and thirty in the Alphabeticall names of Speeds descriptions. Tyre like Zidon was never possest by the Asherites, neither was Achzib neer to Helkah where we first began our preambulation about this Tribe, and now redit labor actus in orbem, we have walked the Round, and encompassed the Bounds thereof.
Verse 30. Ummah also and Aphek, and Rehob, twenty and two Cities with their Villages. This is the inheritance of the Tribe of the children of Asher, according to their families, these Cities with their Villages.
All the former were limitary places in the Tribe of Asher, these three last were more Inland Cities in the heart of the Countrey. To avoid tautology, …ehob here, must be allowed a distinct City from that mentioned before.
§ 8. But of all these Cities, Aphek was most remarkable, whose King xIosh. 12. 18.was killed by Ioshua, and neer whereunto Benhadad (lately beaten by Ahab on the Mountains of Samaria) with his new model'd Army in a new place hoped for new successe. For in stead of the thirty twoy1 King. 20. 1. Kings, of more pomp then puissance to his Army, he placed so many Captaines, seeing it is not the shining of the hilt, but the sharpnesse of the edge of the sword must do the the deed. And resolved to fight in the Plain, conceiving the Gods of the Israelites (though by Benhadads swelling words & loftyz1 King. 20. 10 language one might rather have collected the Syrian Gods to have been) the Gods of the Moūtains. Then appeared he with a mighty Host, against whom the Israelites marched forth like two little flocks of a1 King 20. 27Kids. Behold here a wonder, the Kids kill the Wolves, and a hundred thousand Syrian footmen were kill'd in one day. From the field they flie into the City of Aphek. What, was it to try whether the God of Israel (concluded now God of the Countrey, be it hilly or plain) were God of the City also? They found it so by sad experience, when the wall of the City fell on twenty and sevenb1 King. 20 30. thousand of them that were left, which wall if cruell to kill, was charitable to bury them.
§ 9. Yet Ahab afterwards lost the advantage of this victory, when contrary to Gods flat command, on Benhadads feigned submission he indulged life unto him, which caused his own death*1 King. 22. 31. and destruction not long after. Thus foolish pity, in stead of breaking, whets the knife for it's own throat: and they who onelyonly take out the teeth and sting of such serpents which they should kill outright, shall finde the very stumps and tail remaining enough to bite and sting them to death.
§ 10. Baanah the sonne of Hushai was Solomons purveyor in Asher and inc1 King. 4. 16. Aloth; What this Aloth should be, a deep silence is in all Comments. I conceive it a hilly Countrey, appendent to Asher, ascending with mountains, according to the notation of the Hebrew word. Herein our guesse is seconded by plenty ofdSe… Ni… ▪ Full…r Misce l. lib. 4. cap. 6. Gradati montes, Staired mountains, which goe up by degrees, found in these parts, and one most eminent, whereofeBel. Iud. lib. 2. cap. 9. Iosephus takes especiall notice, being an hundred furlongs north of Ptolemais, called scala Tyriorum, or the Tyrians Ladder. How neer our conjecture is bowled to the mark I know not, but hope the Reader before he knocks this away will lay a better in the room thereof. So much of Asher, whose countrey was much straitned by the Phoenicians, their mortall enemies (lying within his bounds, though never subdued) which we now come to describe.
§ 11. Phoenicia is often mentioned*Act. 11. 19. 15. 3. in Scripture, and is so called as some will have it foreign, from plenty of palm trees growing therein; as others foreign from the many slaughters formerly made in that warlike Nation. To omit other antiquated deductions thereof, prettiest (because newest) is that of a modernaBoch…. Geog. Sanc. parte 2d•. lib. …. cap. 1. pag. 362. Author from foreign bhene-Anak, Pheanak, Phoenik, the sons of Anak, as the fathers and founders of the people of this Country. A long slender Country it is, having the bounds thereof by severall Authors variously assigned; but generally extended from the Sea to Mount Libanus in breadth, and in length from Carmel to the River Canis in the north; a tract of an hundred miles and upwards.
§ 12. The inhabitants hereof were transcendently ingenious; whose wits (like the gold wire they so much dealt with) were ductile and pliable to all inventions. From a pin to a pillar, nothing was so small but their skill could work, nothing so great but their industry could atchieve. Whatsoever was pretty for children to play with, or neat for women to weare, or necessary for man to use, in any one of these the Phoenicians were so expert, nature might seem to design them for that alone, and so dextrous in all of them, it were hard to say wherein they excelled. They could weave clothes with the smallest thred, dresse them with the finest work, dye them with the freshest colours, embroider them with the richest cost, and then either sell them to others to their great profit, or weare them with as much pride themselves. They were excellent Architects; Solomon himself (who well knew the most cunning workmen in every craft) confessing to Hiram,b1 King. 5. 6. 18. There is not amongst us any that can skill to he… timber like the Sidonians. They are also conceived the first founders of Letters, Arithmetick, Astronomy, with the working in glasse, and severall other rare devices.
§ 13. Tyre was the chiefest city in Phoenicia,cEzek. 27. 3. situate at the entrance of the Sea. Elegantly thedIsa. 23. 3. Prophet termeth the harvest of the river her revenue: an harvest lasting all the yeare long, every day sowing at the setting forth, and reaping at the return of her Ships. Tyre said of her self,eEzek. 2…. 3. I am of perfect beauty, which coming out of her own mouth was rather proudly then falsly spoken. If it be accounted one of the stateliest sights in the world, to see a stout Ship under saile, how beautifull was it to behold the Tyrian Gallies with all their accoutrements; Planks ofsEzek. 27. 5. the Fir-trees of Senir, Masts of the Cedars of Lebanon, Oares of the Oaks of Bashan, Hatches of the ivory of Chittim, Sailes with broidered work (oh vanity top and top gallant!) out of Egypt, blue and purple Carpets for covering from the Iles of Elisha, with Giblites for Calkers, Arvadites for Mariners, Persians &c. for Souldiers, and Tyrians, her own Townsmen for Pilots, so keeping the honour, and haply seeking to preserve the mysteries of their harbour to themselves?
§ 14. Passe we from their Ships to their Shops, which we finde fraught with commodities of all kindes. WhosegIsa. 23. 8. Merchants are Princes, saith the Prophet; and it seems that Tyramus a good word for a good King (till customary using thereof in the worst sense infected it) had its originall from the Pride and Magnificence of the Tyrian Merchants. This city is termedhIsa. 23. 3. a Mart of Nations, both because all Nations were there to sell, and there to be sold:iEzek. 27. 13. Ioel 3. 46. they traded the persons of men, and not onelyonly armes but armies, were here to be bought, andkEz…k. 27. 14. horsemen as well as horses were chaffered in their markets.
§ 15. Now as Tyre was dispersed all over the world in the severall Colonies planted by her in forein parts; so the World was contracted into Tyre, whither Merchants from all countries did repair. Compare Ezek. 27. with Gen. 10. and it will appear, that most of those nations which departed from Babel in a confusion, met in Tyre in such a method as now inabled through industry, observation, and entercourse, they could understand the languages and traffique one with another. We intend a little to insist both upon the commodities and countries of such as hither resorted. For though I dare not goe out of the bounds of Canaan to give these Nations a visit at their own homes, yet finding them here within my Precincts, it were incivility in me not to take some acquaintance of them. In setting down of their severall places, I have wholly followed (let my candle goe out in a stink, when I refuse to confess from whom I have lighted it) Bochartus in his holy Geography. Their severall trades we rank according to the twelve great Companies in London. Let not the comparison as ominous offend any, Tyre since being reduced to a ruinous heap; seeing the Parallel is onelyonly intended to shew the like latitude of commerce betwixt them. However, it is neither unseasonable on this occasion, nor improper for my profession (every Minister in this respect being the Cities Remembrancer) to minde Londonl1 Tim 6. 17. not to trust in uncertain riches; seeing pride and unthankfulness may quickly levell the highest bank of wealth, yea strongest mountain of outward greatness.
1 Merchant-Mercers.
Such as traded in Silkes (Byssus in latine, though rendred fine-linnen in our translation) blue and purple, beingmEzek. 27. 7. Egyptians, nEzek. 27. 16.Syrians, and from the IslesoEzek. 27. 7. of Elisha. By Elisha pGen. 10. 4.understand Peloponnesus, wherein an ancient & ample countrey called Elis, and part thereof termed Alisium by Homer, where the adjacent Islands Co, Carpathus, Cythera, Rhodes, Gyarus &c. are eminent for plenty of purple. Here some wil object it was a real tautology to bring purples to Tyre, seeing by generall confession the best of the world were made in that place. In answer whereunto, know that these Elishian purples being of a different die and dress from those of Tyre, were a distinct commodity. It is so far from being needless pains, that it may bring considerable Profit, to carry Char-coals to New-castle. And these courser purples, though not for the Tyrians own wearing, might be for their barter with other Nations. Not to say, but that the peevish principle might possess the people of Tyre, to slight homebred, and prize forein wares, so that the Tyrians Ladies might prefer those purples best for their own use, which were fetched the farthest off.
2 Merchant-Grocers.
Such as traffiquedqEzek. 27. 22. Gen. 10. 7. Psal. 72. 10. with the chief of all spices being those of Sheba, and Raamah, both being places in Arabia the happy. Great no doubt was the fragrancy of these spices brought over land to Tyre, whereas such as are conveyed into England by ship from India, have the less vigour of that land where they grow, and the more moisture of the sea through which they are brought. The men also of Dan and Iavan (of whom hereafter) furnished Tyre withrEzek. 27. 19. Cassia and Calamus, drugges of high worth and value.
3 Merchant-Drapers.
Such as broughtsEzek. 27. 20. precious clothes for (or with) chariots being the men of Dedan, which is an eminent countrey in Idumea.
4 Merchant-Fishmongers.
Many of these must be presumed in Tyre, where fish was a staple commodity, which they transported into other countreys, and vented for their own gain without any other respect of time or place. This caused Nehemiah's complaint that in Ierusalem there dwelt men of Tyre which broughttN…h. 13. 16. fish and all manner of ware, and sold them on the Sabbath.
5 Merchant-Gold-smiths.
Such as occupied in her FairsuEz…k. 27. 22. with all precious stones out of the Countrey of Sheba and Raamah aforesaid. BesideswEzek. 27. 16. Emeralds, Corals and Agate brought out of Syria, Silver from Tarshish. i. e. Spaine (as ourxBochar. Geog Sanc. l…b. 3. c. 7. Authour irrefragably proves plenty of that metall therein) andyEzek. 27. 22 gold from Arabia. Yea, as some observe that though the body of the Sun ariseth in the East, yet his shining by reflexion is first discovered in thezIust. l. 18. p. 196. west, so granting gold originally to grow in lands east from Tyre, yet in this City most gorgeous and glittering was the lustre thereof, beaten and drawn out in most artificiall embroideries and embosments.
6 Merchant-Skinners.
Although no mention of their trade in this City, where the heat of the climate made furs not onelyonly useless but burdensome, yet we may be confident there wanted not those therein which traded in such skins which were in valuation in these parts.
7 Merchant-Taylours.
Such as dealt inaEzek. 27. 24. all sorts of things, in blew clothes and broidered work, and in Chests of rich apparell bound with cords and made of Cedar. Those that traffiqued in these commodities werebEzek. ut. pri. of Haran and Canneh and Eden and Sheba, Ashur and Chilmad, all near one another (as appeares by their bundling up together) about the confluence of Tygris and Euphrates.
8 Merchant-Haberdashers.
Great their number who by whole…sale sold …he fine manufactures wrought here, of Gold, Silver,cEzek. 27. 15. Ivory and Ebony, brought from Dedan (different from the former countrey of the same name in Idumea) at this day called Daden, situate on the Persian gulf. But oh the infinite varieties of precious toyes made thereof! Well diddIliad. 23. 743. & 6. 289. Odys. 15. 114. & 4. 54. Homer give the Sidonians the Epithet of foreign, or very much ingenious. Their fingers might seem all of bone, so strong and hardy to endure any labour; and yet all of flesh, so flexible and limber to any imployment. Those mysteries in manufactures which English men in our age gaze on as rare discoveries, the Phenicians of Tyre would but smile at as rude recoveries of what by them was most perfectly performed.
9 Merchant-Salters.
Store of these may be concluded therein, not onelyonly because salt is so needfull a commodity, but also because atcIosh. 11. 8. Misrepothmaim or the boyling of waters, hard by Sidon, great store of salt was made.
10 Merchant-Iron-mongers.
Such as barteredfEzek. 27. 12. in Iron, Tin, or Lead Brought from Spaine or Tarshish, as also ing13. vessels of brass from Iavan, Tuball and Mesech, that is, Ionia, Pontus and Moscovia, as ourhBrochart. Geog. Sanc. Authour will have it, though we are not at leasure severally to examine his judgment therein.
11 Merchant-Vintners.
Such as traded iniEzek. 27. 18. Wine of Helbon (no doubt most delicious to the Palate) brought hither by the Merchants of Damascus. Helbon we conceive the same with Calybon a City in Syria whereof mention in Ptolemy, and from which the Countrey about it is denominated Calybonidis.
12 Merchant-Clothworkers.
Such as from the Whitewooll brought from Damascus transmitted the same from the Spinsters wheel, to the Weavers loom, to the Fullers sheares, to the Dyers vat, and so to be worn by the greatest Princes in the world, who were beholding to Tyre the center of rich clothing, for all their holy-day apparell. Thus was their City fraught with commodities of all kinds, to say nothing of their Smithfield full ofkEzek. 27. 14. horses, horsemen and mules from Togarma, or Cappadocia; their East-cheap full of the flesh oflEzek. 27. 21. Rams, Lambs, Goats, &c. from Arabia: their Leaden-hall where a market was kept with the wheat ofmEzek. 27. 17. Minnith, and Pannag out of Iudea, so that all things save piety, humility, and thankfulness to God, were to be had in this City.
§ 16. Thus sate Tyre on her throne in a Princely posture, no less envious then proud: witness her rejoycing at the destruction of Ierusalem (the breaking of one Merchant is the making of another) when she said to her self,aEzek. 26. 2. Ierusalem is turned unto me, I shall be replenished now she is made waste; meaning that all trading divided before, should now be engrossed to her self alone. But God marred her markets, threatning by Isaiah tobIsa. 23. 9. stain the pride of her glory, alluding to Tyres master-piece which was to fixe faire and fresh colours, which God would soil and blur, notwithstanding all her curiosity in that kinde. Ezekiel useth two maritime expressions as most proper for a Port; first that her enemies should come up against her as the Sea causeth hiscEzek. 26. 3. waves to come up, and then that an east winde should break her, meaning Nebuchadnezzar (living north-east from this place) who afterwards besieged and sacked the City.
§ 17. It seems the taking thereof, called elswhere the strong City Tyre *Iosh. 19. 29.did not quit cost for the taking thereof, the profit received by it not countervailing the pains expended upon it; God himself confesseth that Nebuchadnezzar served a great service against Tyre and yet haddEzek. 30. 18. no wages. eSir Walter Rawlegh. 2 book 76. pag. 285.One tells us that the Tyrians after thirteen years siege, despoiled of all hope of relief, abandoned their City, and in their ships transported their wives, children, and portable wealth to Carthage, Cyprus, and other Colonies, leaving Nebuchadnezzar their empty nest, when all the birds worth pluming, were flown away. However God afterwards gave him the spoile of thefEzek 29. 19. 20 land of Egypt for wages for his army. Thus, not onelyonly those who doe Gods will in a direct line, but also such, who collaterally (not to say casually) work his pleasure shall finde a reward, seeing in sacking of Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar went in the path and pace of his own pride and covetousness, though haply in his own way he met with Gods will, not onelyonly besides his intention, but without the knowledge thereof.
§ 18. As the ruines, so thegEsay 23. 15. restauration of Tyre was foretold by the Prophet; not the same numericall Tyre in place and position (for Paletyrus or old Tyre ever after remained desolate according to the prediction, hEzek. 26. 14.thou shalt be built no more) but the same in name, countrey, convenience of site, wealth, and wickedness. Yea, she exchanged and improved her place for commodity and strength, removing from the entrance to the midst of the Sea, from the continent to almost an Island. Here to use the Prophets expression,iEsay 23. 15. after seventy years (the end of the Babylonish kingdome) Tyre began to sing as an harlot; Siren songs to allure Merchants to be her lovers, as before; counting trade and profit t… be her richest pleasure. And so she did flourish againe as much or more then ever, during the Persian Monarchy, about two hundred six years; till Alexander the great made her change her tune, alter her notes, and turn her merry love songs into mournfull Elegies on her selfe. For being denied by the Tyrians in their City to sacrifice to Hercules the Tutelar God of that place, Alexander not so superstitious as ambitious, with vast pains and expence (as one whom no perill could affright, nor labour weary) sacked the City, putting such to the sword as resisted, and causing two thousand moe to be hung up in rank on the sea shore. At which time he built a Castle of his own name (now corruptly called Sandalium) two miles south of the City.
§ 19. Yet Tyre afterwards recovered it self to considerable greatness, like a cunning Broaker, though often proving quite bankrupt, she set up again, though having nothing to give her credit but the conveniency of her situation: as indeed an harlot needs no other wares then her self to set up her trading. Insomuch that the Poets fiction of the Phoenix springing again out of his own ashes, being disclaimed by naturall History for a falshood, may mythologically finde a truth in, and probably fetch its ground from this Phoenix or Phoenician City of Tyre, always arising fresh and fair out of his own ruines. In our Saviours time it was a stately place, and yet though with Dives it waskLuke …6. 19. clothed in purple; Tyre could not with him fare deliciously every day, unless beholding to Herods land of Galilee to afford it constant provision, because its countrey waslActs 12. 20. nourished by the Kings Countrey. Sensible hereof when Herod was highly displeased with these of Tyre and Sidon, they politickly compounded the breach (knowing that to fight with him who fed them, was the ready way to be famished) and opening the breast of Blastus the Kings Chamberlain with a golden key, through that passage they made their access to pacifie King Herod.
§ 20.m1 King. 16. 31. Tyre at this day is reduced almost to nothing. Here it is seasonably remembred that Ethbaal Father of Iezebel was the King, as Tyre was the chief City of the Sidonians, and I finde a great conformity betwixt the fortunes of his daughter and this place:
In their
1 Outward happiness. She a crowned Queen, and Tyre anEsay 23. 8. Crowning City, whose Merchants were Princes.
2 Inward wickedness; both of them styledoEsay 23. 15. Revel. 2. 21. Harlots in Scripture.
3 Finall wofulness; she eaten up by the dogs to the short reversion of herp2 King. 9. 35. skull, feet and palmes; and Tyre qSands Trav. li. 3. p. 216.so consumed by all-devouring time, that now no other then an heap of Ruines, yet have they a reverent respect, and doe instruct the pensive beholders with their exemplary frailty.
Enough of Tyre, if not too much: fearing that long since the Reader hath sadly sympathized with the sufferings of Nebuchadnezzar and Alexander, guessing their pains to be great in the long siege of this place by the proportion of their own patience in reading our tedious description thereof. All I will adde is this, that though Tyre was a sink of sin, yet is thisrMat. 11. 21. recorded in excuse of her profaneness, and mitigation of her punishment, that if the miracles done in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have long since repented in sackcloth and ashes.
§ 21. Two bowes shoot from the east gate of Tyre the place is showen, where the woman made that spirituall-carnall exclamation, sLuke. 11. 27, 28.Blessed is the wombe that bare thee, and the paps that gave thee suck; when Christ not disproving her words diverted his Auditours from this, and directed them to a more necessary trut…, Yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it. A little mile south of old Tyre aretBradenback de Te…. Sanc. & Sand. Trav. pag. 217. four fair pits, the least twenty five cubits square, commonly called Solomons Cisterns. Surely the water of them is more clear then is the place alledged out of the uCant. 4. 15.Canticles, to prove Solomon the Authour thereof, where but obscure and oblite mention is made of those water-works. More probable some King of Tyre made these and the neighbouring Aqueducts, for the use of the City.
§ 22. Seventeen miles north of Tyre lay the City of Sidon, so named from the eldestwGen. 10. 15. son of Canaan. A city of great antiquity, seeing Tyre is termed by thexEsay 23. 12. Prophet, the daughter of Sidon. Sure here the Hebrew proverb held true,yEzek. 16 44. As is the mother, so is the daughter, both of these Cities being of great wealth and wickedness. Insomuch that to live carelesse, quiet, and secure, is in Scripture phrasezIudg. 18. 7. to live after the manner of the Zidonians.
§ 23. It was also a place of very great extent, therefore termed in aIosh. 11. 8. & 19. 28.holy writ, Zidon Rabbah, or great Zidon. Not that there was ever a lesser Zidon, (though there be one grand Cairo, it followeth not there is also a pety Cairo) but it is emphatically so named in comparison of other Cities. YeabLib. 16. Diodorus Siculus andcLib. 1. …. 12. Pomponius Mela make Sidon the greatest city of all Phenicia; understand then anciently, whilest as yet she suckled Tyre, her little infant, which afterwards outgrew her mother in greatness. This haply is the reason why Homer so often making honorable mention of Sidon, is so silent of Tyre, because reputing this latter a parcell of the former.
§ 24. Many and great were the fortifications of Sidon: but in vain was the arme of flesh with it, when God himself saith,dEzek. 28. 22. Behold I am against thee O Zidon; whereupon in generall it felt the same destruction with Tyre, which here we forbear to repeate. OnelyOnly we will adde, that as bad a place as Sidon was; after Christs resurection a Church was quickly converted therein; and Saint Paul sailing to Rome touched here, and was courteously refreshed by hiseAct. 27. 3. friends.
§ 25. Near the east-gate of Sidon they shew the place, where the Syrophenician woman begged so importunately for the cure of her daughter, not disheartned though likened to afMat 15. 21. dog, by our Saviour. In deed she shewed one of the best qualities of a dog in keeping her hold where once she had well fastened, not giving over or letting goe, untill she had gotten what she desired.
§ 26. So much for the City of Sidon. The Countrey of Sidon was larger, adequate almost to Phenicia, and full of many fair harbours. Amongst these*Obad. ver. 20. Zarephah or Zarepta, styled both in theg1 King. 17. 9, old andhLuke 9. 26. new Testament, a City of Sidon. The land round about it was fruitfull of the best Wine, as we haveiLib. 1. cap. 4. formerly observed. During the three years drought in Israel here dwelt that widow, whose thrift had so evenly ordered her bread and oile, that a little of both were left, till she got a spring in her cruse by entertaining the Prophet Elijah. As for her sonkKing. 17. 20 restored to life by Elijah, that he was Ionah that eminent Prophet, it may be ranked with the making of Dinah Iacobs daughter to be Iobs wife, and with Ruth her being daughter to Eglon King of Moab; all which three traditions are equally improbable in themselves, altogether ungrounded on Scripture, and yet peremptorily affirmed of the Jewish Doctors. Nor have I ought else to observe of this City, save that the Hebrew name of Zarephah, signifieth a conflatory or melting place, where metals, (whereof plenty in this Province) were made fu…il by the fire in their furnaces.
§ 27.lJudg. 1. 3…. Accho remains to be observed in the south part of this Tribe, and confines of Zebulun. A learnedmStephanus foreign. vid. Nic. Full. lib. 4. Misce. cap. writer conceiveth it called Ace by Grecians from affording medicine (foreign in Greek) to Hercules, when hurt in his conflict with the Lernaean Serpent. Whereas indeed Ace is plainly derived from Accho the Scriputre name of this City. Thus those who take aime from the Greek tongue to shoot at the Etymologies of Hebrew places, come wide of the mark. This city was afterwards called Ptolemais from one of the Kings of Egypt. Here I forbear to recite how Ionathan, through the perfidiousness of Tryphon and his own over credulity, wasn1 Mac. 12. 4. trained into this city, taken and murdered. Saint Paul sailing from Tyre touched here,*Act. 21. 7. saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. As for Achzib a city of Asher whence they could not expell the Canaanites, it was seated nine miles north of Ptolemais, being a tolerable harbour, and called Ecdippa afterwards.
§ 28. Many were the rivolets in this Tribe, but those no sooner delivered out of the wombe of their fountains, but devoured in the grave of the Ocean; onelyonly Belus hath got a name (though not in Scripture) running through the Cendevian Lake, famous for itsoPlin. l. 5. c. 19. inexhausted sands, turning all things it toucheth into glass. As for the sepulcher of Memnon, whom the Poets feign the son of the Morning, andpL. 2. Bel. Iud. cap. 9. Iosephus erects his monument near the river Belus; we take no notice thereof, being hereafter to finde his tombe,qPsal. 110. 3. the dew of whose birth is as the wombe of the morning, in a far distant place.
§ 29. The Armes usually assigned to Asher are azure,The Armes of Asher. a standing cup covered Or, relating to Iacobs blessing,rGen. 49. 20. he shall yeeld royall dainties. A cup being taken here by a Synedochicall metonymie for all plentifull Provisions, Asher otherwise affording dishes as well as cups, and esculents as well as variety of beverage. But should the shield of this Tribe be as full of charge as the land thereof was fruitfull of commodities, what was the credit of the countrey would be the disgrace of the Coate of Asher.