Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

§ 14 And this will yet farther appear, if we consider the account they give concerning the Original and first building of Rome its self. Mention is made of it, in the Talmud, Tract. Saned. and more largely declared in Midrash Rabba Canti•. Canti•o cap. 1. v. 6. as it is from thence reported by Buxtorfe in his Lexicon Talmud. Rad. [Greek or Hebrew]. And their words are to this purpose. Rabbi Levi said, that on the day that Solomon was married unto the Daughter of Pharaoh, Michael the great Prince descended from Heaven, and fixed a reed in the Sea, so as that mud and dirt might on all sides be gathered unto it. And this place afterwards becoming a wood, was that place where Rome was afterwards built. For at the time that Jeroboam the Son of N•bat made the two Golden Calves, there were two small Houses built at Rome, which presently fell down; and being again set up, immediately they fell down again. But there was then present an old man whose name was [Greek or Hebrew] Abba Kolon, who said unto them, that unless you bring water hither out of the River of Euphrates, and mix it with this clay and build the houses therewith, they will never stand. They said therefore unto him, and who shall bring it unto us; He answered that he would. He went therefore and took on him the habit of one that carries Wine to sell, and so went from one City unto another, from one Country unto another, until he came at length unto Euphrates. When he came thither, he took water out of the River; which when he had brought unto them they mixed it with their Clay, and therewith built up the houses, which stood firm and stable. From that time it was a Proverb amongst men; Every City or Provin•e where there is not Abba Kolon deserves not the name of a City or Province, or a Metropolitical City; and they called that place Rome, Babylon; and the Gloss adds, this is the place where Rome that afflicteth Israel was •uilt. Cartwright in his ⟨p. 131⟩Mellificium Hebraicum lib. 1. cap. 9. reporting this story out of Buxtorf, adds; h•nd dubi•andum vi•etur, eos sub isto verborum involucro Romam tanquam alteram Babylon•m perstringere voluisse, quod nimirum quae prius a Babyloniis, eadem atqu etiam grviora postea a Romanis passi fuerint. Quin & Romanam Idololatriam in eo perstringi arbitror, quod edm die quo Jeroboamus filius Nebat vitulos aureos constituit, Romae (1.