The Court of the Gentiles, Discourse · Part 1 · Book 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The Correſpondence betwixt the Jews and Phenicians.
The mutual Agreement betwixt the Jews and Phenicians. The Jews ſtiled Phenicians, and Syrians. The Phenician Language, and Letters from the Jews. Grecian Learning from the Phenicians and Jews; which would have been more evident by thoſe Ancient Phenician Monuments of Learning, written by Sanchoniathon and Mochus, which are loſt. That which made the Phenicians ſo famous for communicating Jewiſh Traditions, was their Navigation, which at firſt Neceſſity taught them, being furniſhed with Conveniences. This Art of Navigation improved their Deſire of Gain, Ambition, and Curioſity. Whence their firſt Undertakers in Navigation Saturne, Aſtarte, and Hercules were reputed Gods. The Grecians learnt Navigation, and Geographie from the Phenicians. The Ark, the original Idea of Ships.
§. 1. The Correſpondence betwixt the Jews and Phenicians.HAving diſcourſed at large of the Original of the Phenicians, and their Identity with the Cananites: we now proceed to treat of their Cognation, Correſpondence, and agreement with the Jews; which will not a little conduce to the confirmation of our firſt Poſition.
What advantage Abraham had for the propagating the Knowledge and Worſhip of God amongſt the Cananites.The Cananites had no ſmall Advantage to acquaint themſelves with the Hebrew Religion, and Worſhip, even from Abraham his long abode amongſt them; who built Altars, and places for the publick worſhip of God; and, as we may preſume, did what he could to propagate, and promulgate the knowledge, and worſhip of the great God among his Neighbours, and Kindred the Cananites. And that which gave him a conſiderable Advantage to promote ſuch a glorious deſigne, was his Potence, prevalence and Intereſt amongſt the Cananites; which he obtained partly by his kindneſses towards them, but eſpecially by the Conqueſt he made over the Kings of the Eaſt Gen. 14. Thus Brentius on Eſa. 41.2. gave the Nations before him &c. God, ſaith he, gave to Abraham this favor, that whereſoever he came he was formidable to the Nations. This ſprang hence that Abraham erected unto the Lord Altars in the Land of Canaan, and publiſhed, without control, amongſt the Nations, the true Doctrine of Religion. Gen. 12. &c. Thus he. That Abraham was in great veneration amongſt the Cananites, and in following Ages worſhipt under the name of Saturne and Iſrael, is evident from the account which Sanchoniathon and Porphyry give of Saturne: of which ſee what follows Book 2. chap. 1. §. 3. of Saturnes parallel with Abraham.
As for the Correſpondence 'twixt the Cananites and Jews after their returne to Canaan; 'tis true, there was at firſt as well by Divine Conſtitution, as their differing Inclinations, Intereſts, and Rites, a vaſt diſtance and feud betwixt the Jews, and Cananites, or Phenicians. But in proceſſe of time, the Iſraelites affecting an imitation of their neighbours the Phenicians, eſpecially in point of Religious Rites, and Idols, the Phenicians alſo began to incline unto a Correſpondence with them, and an Affectation of their Myſterious Doctrine, Rites, and Ceremonies. Thus they, by frequent Commerce, and Correſpondences, barter, and exchange commodities each with other. The Jews, they aſſume the Name, Cuſtomes, and Idolatrous Worſhip of the Phenicians: and theſe, the Myſteries, Rites, Laws, and Traditions of the Jews. This Correſpondence betwixt the Jews, and the Phenicians began early, even in the time of the Judges, as it is evident by Scripture, as alſo by the Storie of Sanchoniathon, who is ſuppoſed to have lived about the time of Gideon, & to have had conference with the Prieſt of the God of Iſrael, from whom he received the foundation of his Mythologie, which gave Being and Motion to the Grecian Fables. But yet this familiar commerce 'twixt theſe neighbours, came not to its perfection till Solomon's time; who entred into a near League with the Phenicians, and ſo gave them, & their Idolatrous Cuſtomes free Admiſſion.
§. 2. The Jews ſtiled Phenicians.That the Jews agreed with the Phenicians in Names, has been already hinted, and is farther evident, by the Stories of Herodotus, Trogus, and Diodorus Siculus; who derive the Original of the Phenicians from the Red Sea, which relates to the coming up of the Iſraelites out of Egypt, and paſſing through the Red Sea. And Herodotus elſe where under the name of the Phenicians, treats of the Jews, whence Joſephus (contra Apion. lib. 1.) rightly collects, that Herodotus writing of certain Phenicians in Paleſtine, who were circumciſed, means thereby the Jews. For its certain that circumciſion was not uſed by any Inhabitants of Paleſtine beſides the Jews Gen. 34.14. if we may credit Learned Bochart. Phal. l. 4. c. 34. The Jews called Syrians.Hence alſo were the Jews called Syrians. So Preſton on Gods Attributes Serm. 3. tells us: that when Cyrus did reſtore the Kingdom of the Jews, Xenophon reports this, that when he came into Babylon he gave commandment that no Syrian ſhould be hurt. Now Syria lies upon Judea as one Shire doth upon another; ſo that they were all called Syrians. Thus their vicinity, and mutual entercourſes, made the Jews paſſe, under their neighbours names, for Phenicians, and Syrians &c. So Diodorus l. 5. tells us; that the Syrians firſt found out Letters; meaning the Jews: as hereafter.
§. 3. The Phenician Language and Letters from the Jewiſh.Hence it is apparent, that the Phenicians received their Language and Letters from the Hebrews. That the Phenician Language was but a Dialect of the Hebrew is aſſerted and proved by the moſt learned of this age. So G. Voſsius de Histor. Graec. lib. 3. cap. 16. Bochart. Phaleg. lib. 1. cap. 15. and in his Canaan lib. 2. cap. 1. unto the 6. And it is evident by the Punick Language, which was the ſame with the Phenician, as well as with the Hebrew; as it appears by many Fragments of the Punick Tongue, found in Plautus, Auguſtin &c. of which in its place. And, as the Phenicians Language, ſo their Letters alſo owe their original to the Hebrew; as it will appear hereafter, chap. 11. §. 2. Which, at preſent, we only mention, to ſhew the great Affinity, and Correſpondence 'twixt theſe two Nations: whence it came to paſſe, that moſt of the Grecians Learning, and Letters, which they acknowledge to have been derived to them by the Phenicians, ſprang originally from the Jews: as chap. 11. §. 3.
§. 4. Grecian Learning from the Phenicians.As the Phenicians were very emulous of Affinity with the Jews, thereby the better to informe themſelves touching their myſterious Doctrines, Rites, and Cuſtomes; ſo were they not leſſe Artificial and Induſtrious, in the improving and propagating the ſame. And indeed, had we but thoſe ancient Phenician Monuments written by the Mythologiſt Sanchoniathon, Mochus the Phyſiologiſt, and others, it is moſt likely, that we might therein find the Original of the Grecian Philologie and Philoſophie, as well as many footſteps of Jewiſh Traditions, and Antiquity. Learned Bochart in his Preface to his Canaan, ſaies: That if thoſe antient Monuments of the Phenicians were yet extant, we ſhould thence receive a great light, both as to ſacred, and prophane Hiſtorie; and that great hiatus or gap betwixt Moſes and the Grecians, would be filled up: and we ſhould learne much touching the ancient Inhabitants of the Earth, and their Peregrinations &c. I think it will be ſufficiently evident, by what follows, that Pythagoras, Plato, Zeno, and the reſt of the Grecian Philoſophers owe their choiceſt Notions touching God, the Human Soul, the Creation &c. unto the skill and induſtry of the Phenicians, and Hebrew Traditions by them, if not immediately to the Jews.
§. 5. The Phenicians the firſt Inventors of Navigation. Why, and how?That which made the Phenicians moſt famous, and gave them the greateſt advantage for the tranſporting and communicating their Jewiſh Traditions and Learning unto other Nations, was their Navigation and Tranſplantation of Colonies into other parts. That which at firſt put them upon this undertaking was their own Neceſsity. For the Iſraelites, under the Conduct of Joſhua, being poſſeſſed of almoſt the whole of Canaan; the whole body of the Cananites expelled thence, were crouded up in that narrow skirt of Phenicia, which being too ſtrait for ſo numerous a people, they were fain to commit themſelves to the Sea, and ſeek out for ſome larger habitations. And for ſuch a deſigne, they had all the advantages that might be. For they had the Midland Sea open to them, with convenient Ports to ſet out from & put into. As for Materials for ſhipping, they might eaſily furniſh themſelves from Libanus: neither wanted they men, skilful, induſtrious and couragious; or any thing elſe requiſite for ſuch an undertaking. Hence, if we may give credit to Tibullus.
Prima ratem ventis credere docta Tyrus.
That the Phenicians were the firſt, that found out Navigation, and by reaſon of their skill, and ſtrength at Sea, for a long time kept a ſovereign Dominion over the Midland Sea, is, not without probability: aſſerted, and proved by the Learned Bochart: Can. l. 1. c. 2. Thence Lucian in Toxari, aſſerts, that there were none foreign more divine Merchants than the Phenicians: in as much as they did yearly ſail, almoſt, into all parts of the Midland Sea, as elſe where, returning at ſpring. See more Bochart. Can. l. 1. c. 2. Where he largely proves this out of Curtius Saluſt &c. Eſa. 23.8.Thus Eſa. 23.8. Tyre (the chief City of Phenicia) is ſtiled the Crowning Citie, whoſe Merchants are Princes whoſe traffiquers are the honorable of the Earth.
§. 6. What moved the Phenicians to improve themſelues in this Art of Navigation.As Neceſsity was the Phenicians firſt Maſter in their Art of Navigation; ſo in after times, Curioſity, Gain, Ambition, and Deſire of Empire, with other motives, did greatly provoke them to continue induſtrious in this their Art, and Trade; which gave them continued opportunities for the propagating their Jewiſh Myſteries and Traditions. Indeed this deſire of Navigation found a kind of natural implantation in theſe Phenicians, even from their firſt ſettlement; which was much greatned by thoſe inconveniences, they found in their own Country; their unſatiable deſire of riches; their itch of vain glory; their inquiſitive humor, and curioſity, to acquaint themſelves with the Cuſtomes and Affairs of other Nations. Theſe, and ſuch like conſiderations, made them ſo famous for Navigation. In ſo much, that thoſe who firſt were bold to venture in ſuch Sea voiages, got ſo far the Admiration of their Poſterity, as that they obtained, for this their daring exploit, the reputation of Gods. In this number were Saturne, and Aſtarte, whom Sanchoniathon deſcribes as ſuch who compaſſed the world (by Saturne, if we conſider him hiſtorically, we may underſtand Noah, who by Gods appointment made the Ark, and ſailed therein, which gave the original Idea to all Navigaiton) alſo Hercules, who having overcome Antaeus, in the utmoſt part of Africa, is ſuppoſed to have dyed at Gades, whence the ſtory of Hercules's Pillars Neither was this inclination of Navigation quenched in Jeroms time, who writing of theſe Phenicians on Ezech. 27. ſaies, that even unto this very day there remains in the Syrians an ingenite ardor of Negotiation; who for gain traverſe the whole world. From theſe Phenicians it was that the Grecians got their skill in Navigation, as alſo in Geographie. For 'tis manifeſt that the Phenicians had viſited the chiefeſt parts bordering on the Midland Sea, long before the Grecians durſt look abroad to view forreign Countries; Bochart Can. Praef.as learned Bochart obſerves in his Canaan. The full demonſtration whereof will reſult from the following chapter.