Moses and Aaron: Civil and Ecclesiastical Rites, Used by the Ancient Hebrews. Goodwin Thomas Aiken

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СКАЧАТЬ to Jacobs prophecy: The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Law-giver from between his feet, untill Shiloh, that is, the[8] Messias come, Gen. 49. 10.

[4] Vide Funcii Chronol.

[5] Maimon. in Iad. lib. vit. tract. Sanedr. in c. 4. sect. 13.

[6] Seder Olam minus.

[7] Carion chron. lib. 2. p. 144.

[8] Targum Uziel. eadem pæne verba habet Targum Jerosolym.

      For the right understanding of this Prophecy, We must note two things; 1. The time when the Scepter was given to Judah: 2. When taken from him. But first we must observe how these two words, Judah, and the Scepter, are distinguished.

      Some take Judah,

1. For the particular Tribe of Judah[9]: but this seemeth flat contrary to Scripture, for many of the Judges were of other Tribes, and all the Maccabees of the Tribe of Levi.

2. For the Two Tribes[10] which cleaved to Rehoboam; because in that division of the People, these Two Tribes alone were called Jews, and that from Judah, and that never before this division.

3. For all the whole body of Israel[11], consisting of Twelve Tribes; all which (in the judgment of these men) were afterwards by the singular providence of God, called Jews from Judah.

[9] Origen. hom. 17. in Genes. Epiphan. contra Ebionæos, &c. maxima Hebræorum pars.

[10] Cunæus de rep. Hebr. lib. 1. cap. 5. p. 81.

[11] Euseb. demon. lib. 8. cap. 1. Montacut. in Analect. p. 72. Casaub. contra Baron. pag. 16.

      Some take Scepter,

1. For legal power[12], and soveraign authority, residing in one man principally.

2. For the form of government[13], and face of a Common-wealth, governed and ruled by its own laws, customes, and rites: signifying as well the rule and authority of inferiour Magistrates, yea of Priests also, as of Kings and Princes.

[12] Patres plerique omnes.

[13] Casaubon advers. Baron. p. 19. It. p. 23. Justinus Mart. in Dialog. cum Tryphone. Cunæus lib. 1. de rep. Heb. c. 9. p. 82.

      From these different acceptions of these two words, flow four different acceptions of Jacobs Prophecy.

Some are of opinion[14], that the Scepter taken in the second acception, began to be given to Judah, that is, to the Two Tribes cleaving to Rehoboam, at the time of that division of the People: and that their Scepter was not taken from them until the destruction of Jerusalem; because, that after Herods time until then, their Laws remained in force, their Priesthood continued, and their Common-wealth, though it were much defaced, yet not quite overthrown.

[14] Cunæus lib. 1. de rep. Heb. cap. 11. pag. 96.

Some are of opinion[15], that the Scepter taken in the second acception, began to be given to Judah, that is, to the Twelve Tribes, from the time of Moses; and that this Scepter was not taken from them until the Destruction of Jerusalem: not in Herod, because he was a Jew (in that he was a Proselyte) for a Jew is a name, say they, of Profession, not of Countrey or Nation.

[15] Joseph. Scal. ex quo Casaub. advers. Baron. p. 19. It. p. 39.

Some are of opinion[16], that the Scepter taken in the second acception, began to be given to Judah, that is to the Twelve Tribes, from the time of Moses, and that it was taken from them in Herods time: yet so, that in Herods time, this was but begun, and inchoate, and at the destruction of Jerusalem it was fulfilled and consummate.

[16] Montacut. in Analect. p. 74.

Some are of opinion[17], that the Scepter taken in the first acceptation, began to be given to Judah, that is to the Twelve Tribes, from the time of Moses, and that it was taken from them fully in Herods time. The former opinions make the coming of the Messias to be a fore-runner of the departure of the Scepter: this, makes the departure of the Scepter to be a fore-runner or token of the Messiah his coming, which I take to be the principal thing aimed at in the prophecy. This opinion, as it is more generally received than the others, so upon juster grounds. Now the Scepter was departed and given to a Proselyte, never so before,[18] yea now also the Law-giver was departed from between Judahs feet, and now the Messiah born.

[17] Augustin. contra Manich. lib. 12. cap. 47. Euseb. demonst. l. 8 Carion. Chron. pag. 143.

[18] P. Galatin. l. 4. cap. 6. p. 203. ex. Talmud. Jerusol.

CHAP. II.

       Of the Publicans.

       Table of Contents

Wee having seen the most remarkable changes in the Common-wealth of the Hebrews; we will note the chief Observations concerning the persons there inhabiting: and first concerning the Publicans, who were, in the latter times, an heterogeneous Member of that Common-wealth. After that the Jews became Tributary to Rome, (which[19] was effected by Pompey threescore years before the Birth of our Saviour) certain Offices were appointed by the Senate of Rome, unto whom it belonged, as well СКАЧАТЬ