Exercitations on the Epistle to the Hebrews

The latter Masters of the Jews to avoid the force of this Testimony, have coined § 27 a new signification for these words: Shebet, they say is only a rod of Correction, and Mechokek any Scribe or Teacher which they would refer to the Rabbins, they have had in every Generation. Some of them by Shebet understand a staff of supportment, which they were to enjoy in the middest of their troubles; so I remember Manasse Ben Israel not long since made it one of his reasons for their admission into England, that therein this Prophecy might receive somewhat of accomplishment, by this countenance and encouragement in this Land. But the most of them adhere to the former sense of the words. So they call the story of their calamities and sufferings, [Greek or Hebrew]; the rod of Judah. But this evasion is plainly and fully obviated in the former opening of the words, and confirmation of their genuine importance: For, (1.) It is openly contrary to the whole Context and Scope of the Place. (2.) To the meaning and constant use of the words themselves, especially as conjoined. (3.) To the Targums, and all old Translations. (4.) To the Talmud, and all their own Ancient masters. (5.) To the truth of the Story; Judah having been long in a most flourishing and prosperous condition, without any such signal calamity as that, which▪ they would intimate to be intended in the words; namely such as for sixteen hundred years they have now undergone. (6.) The supportment they have had, hath not been National, nor afforded to Judah as a Tribe, or People, but hath consisted merely in the greatness and wealth of a few individual persons scattered up and down the world, neither themselves, nor any else, knowing unto what Tribe they did belong. And (7.) This hath been in things no way relating to the Worship of God, or their Church-state, or their spiritual good. (8.) Their Scribes were not formerly of the Tribe of Judah, and their latter Rabbins wholly of an uncertain extraction; so that this pretence proves nothing, but the misery of their present State and condition, wherein they seek a refuge for their infidelity, in vanity and falsehood.

The latter Masters of the Jews to avoid the force of this Testimony, have coined § 27 a new signification for these words: Shebet, they say is only a rod of Correction, and Mechokek any Scribe or Teacher which they would refer to the Rabbins, they have had in every Generation. Some of them by Shebet understand a staff of supportment, which they were to enjoy in the middest of their troubles; so I remember Manasse Ben Israel not long since made it one of his reasons for their admission into England, that therein this Prophesie might receive somewhat of accomplishment, by this countenance and encouragement in this Land. But the most of them adhere to the former sense of the words. So they call the story of their calamities and sufferings, ; the rod of Judah. But this evasion is plainly and fully obviated in the former opening of the words, and confirmation of their genuine importance: For, (1.) It is openly contrary to the whole Context and Scope of the Place. (2.) To the meaning and constant use of the words themselves, especially as conjoined. (3.) To the Targums, and all old Translations. (4.) To the Talmud, and all their own Antient masters. (5.) To the truth of the Story; Judah having been long in a most flourishing and prosperous condition, without any such signal calamity as that, which they would intimate to be intended in the words; namely such as for sixteen hundred years they have now undergone. (6.) The supportment they have had, hath not been National, nor afforded to Judah as a Tribe, or People, but hath consisted meerly in the greatness and wealth of a few individual persons scattered up and down the world, neither themselves, nor any else, knowing unto what Tribe they did belong. And (7.) This hath been in things no way relating to the Worship of God, or their Church-state, or their spiritual good. (8.) Their Scribes were not formerly of the Tribe of Judah, and their latter Rabbins wholly of an uncertain extraction; so that this pretence proves nothing, but the misery of their present State and condition, wherein they seek a refuge for their infidelity, in vanity and falshood.