[54] Æschines contra Ctesiphont.
[55] Herodian, p. 45.
There were[56] another sort of holy persons termed אנשי מעמד Ansche Magnamad, Viri stationarii; the Law requiring, that whosoever offered either gift or sacrifice, he should present it unto the Lord with his own hands, and stand by during the time of his oblation. Now, because all Israel could not stand by, for the narrowness of the Place, hence when an offering was made for all the people, certain selected Persons, chosen for that purpose, supplied the stead of all the People. They were divided, as the Priests and Levites, into twenty four ranks and orders, weekly to minister in the Temple, but the choice was not restrained to the Tribe of Levi, but was indifferently made out of the people. Every rank had one fore-man, chief above the rest, termed[57] Stationum Princeps, the Fore-man of the Station. The Nethinims office was to be hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the house of God, they were not Levites, no nor Israelites, but Gibeonites, whom because of their fraudulent dealing, Joshua made in this manner tributary, Josh. 9. 23. They were afterward called Nethinims, Ezra 2. 43. from נתן Nathan, which signifieth to give, because they were given to the service of the Temple. Their Office was vile and base, as appeareth by that proverbial speech; From the hewer of thy wood, unto the drawer of thy water. Deut. 29. 11.
[56] Moses Kotsen. fol. 211. col. 4.
[57] ראש מעמד
CHAP. VI.
Of the Prophets.
There are divers names given unto the Expositors of the Law; and although the Particular year or time when each name began, be not clearly evidenced by Monuments of Antiquity, yet in general we may conceive three distinct periods of time; in which the names altered. First from Adam until Moses; Secondly, from Moses, till the peoples return from Babylon. Thirdly, from their return, until the dayes of Christ, and after. In the first period, as Adam was Prophet and Priest in his family, so afterward every first-born supplyed these two offices together with the princely office in their several families. That they ruled their families as Kings and instructed them as Prophets, is clear to any acquainted with Scripture; the greatest doubt is, what sufficient proof there is for their Priest-hood, Adams Priest-hood, is gathered hence,[58] because that Gen 4. 3. and 4. Abel and Cain are said to have brought their sacrifices: to have brought them, namely, unto Adam, who offered them unto God in their name. The Priest-hood of the first-born is gatherable hence, because the Levites were appointed to the service of the Altar, instead of the first-born, and as the λύτρον or price of redemption, Num. 3. 41. In the second period, though a private Catechetical exposition of the Law belonged to the Masters of Families, yet the publick Ministerial exposition thereof was appropriated to Priests and Prophets. In the third period, when Prophecy ceased, then the office of expounding Scripture was more common, and instead of Prophets came in a multitude of other Expositors; In general we may call them teachers of Israel, Joh. 3. 10. We may distinguish them into three several sorts. 1. Wisemen. 2. Scribes. 3. Disputers. The Apostle compriseth them all, 1 Cor. 1. 20. Where is the Wise? Where is the Scribe? Where is the Disputer? Unto any of these, or whatsoever other Doctor eminently gifted above others, the title Rabbi was prefixed. First, of their Prophets. Secondly, their Wisemen. Thirdly, their Scribes. Fourthly, their Disputers. Fifthly, their Rabbies.
[58] Bertram. Polit. Jud. c. 2. p. 17.
To prophesie, or to be a Prophet, hath divers acceptions in Scripture. First, it is taken for the books and writings of the Prophets. They have Moses and the Prophets, Luk. 16. 29. Secondly, for the whole Word of God: no Prophesie in the Scripture is of any private motion, 2 Pet. 1. 20. Thirdly, those unto whom God vouchsafed familiarly to reveal himself, they are called Prophets: Abraham was a Prophet, Gen. 20. 7. and Miriam a Prophetess, Exod. 50. 20. Fourthly, ordinary Interpreters of the Word are called Prophets. He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, Mat. 10. 14. Lastly, it is taken for those, who are enabled by Divine Revelation, to lay open hidden secrets, transcending all possibility of humane search. Hence it is that Prophets in old time were called Seers, 1 Sam. 9. 9. And their Prophecy was termed a vision, Esay. 1. 1. because God extroardinarily enlightned their minds with the knowledge of these secrets.
There are three observable names applied to prophecy in Scripture. 1. Verbum Domini: 2. Visio: 3. Onus, The Word of the Lord: Vision: A Burthen. The first importeth the Lord speaking, or revealing his secrets; the second implyeth the Prophets attending, or beholding them; the third being applyed onely to Judgements, signifieth the burthensomness of them on that people against whom they came forth.
For the propagation of Learning, Colledges and Schools were in divers places erected for the Prophets; their Scholars were termed[59] Filii prophetarum, children of the Prophets, 2 Kin. 6. 1. unto which phrase there is allusion, Matt. 11. 19. Wisdom is justified of her children: by reason of this Relation the Prophet sometimes is called a Father; Elisha cryed out, My Father, my Father, 2 King. 2. 12. The Targum[60] expoundeth that place, Rabbi, Rabbi; as much as to say, my Master, my Master: And in truth the Rabbies grew very ambitious of the name Father, which was the reason of our Saviours speech, Matth. 23. 6. Call no man Father upon earth.
[59] Eodem sensu Græci appellant artis medica candidatos ἰατρῶν παῖδας Eras. Ep. dedicatoria Hilario præfix.
[60] Targum. 2 Reg. 2. 12.
The Scripture[61] sometimes joyneth to the name of the Prophet, the name of his Father, as Hosea the son of Beeri, Hos. 1. 1. And such a one the Hebrews confess to be both a Prophet, and the son of a Prophet. Sometimes it mentioneth the Prophets name, but not the Fathers; such a one they confess to be a Prophet, but not the son of a Prophet: Sometimes it mentioneth with the Prophet, the name of the City where he prophesied, and then it followeth, that he was a Prophet