THE THIRD BOOK TREATETH OF DAIES and TIMES. (continued 2)

CHAP. X. Of their Jubilee.

This is the last Festival which God commanded the Jews, it was celebrated every fiftieth year. It is commanded, Lev. 25. 8. Thou shalt number seven Sabbaths of years unto thee, &c. The English word Jubilee is derived from the Hebrew ‎‏יובל‏‎ Jobel, signifying a Ram; it signifieth a Rams horn. Seven Priests shall bear before the Ark seven Trumpets of Rams horns, Josh. 6. 4. Where the word Jobelim is used, and is expounded by the Chaldee Paraphrast, Rams-horns. Marbachius is of opinion, that this year was called their Jubilee, from Jubal,[378] the first inventer of musical instruments, of whom we read, Gen. 4. 21. Jubal was the Father of all such as handle the Harp and Organ. Other Authors deliver other reasons of the name, but it is most probable that this year was termed the year of Jubilee from Jobelim, the Rams-horns then sounded. There were five main uses of this Feast.

First, for the general release of Servants. Secondly, for the restoring of Lands and Tenements unto their first Owners, who formerly sold them. Thirdly, hereby a true distinction of their Tribes was preserved, because Lands returned unto their Owners in their proper Tribe, and Servants to their own Families. Fourthly, some are of opinion,[379] that as the Grecians did compute their times by the number of Olympiads, the Romans by their Lustra, the Christians by their Indictions: So the Jews by their Jubilees. Lastly, it did mystically shadow forth that spiritual Jubilee, which Christians enjoy under Christ, by whose blood we have not only a re-entry into the Kingdom of Heaven, which we had formerly forfeited by our sins (and this was haply signified by the Israelites re-entry upon their Lands formerly sold) but also the sound of the Gospel, which was in this Feast typed out unto us by the noise of the Trumpets, is gone thorowout the world. And thus the Lord God hath blown the Trumpet, as Zacharies phrase is, Zach. 9. 14. But neither this release of servants, nor restoring of Lands, was until the tenth day of the first month Tisri,[380] at which time it was proclaimed by the sound of Trumpets, or Rams horns; the nine first daies of this month the Servants feasted and made merry, and wore Garlands, in token of their liberty approaching.

CHAP. XI. The Feast of Purim, and the Feast of Consecration or Dedication.

Pur is a Persian word, and signifieth a Lot, whence this Feast of Lots is called Purim, i.e. κληρωτήρια, A Lottery: It began on the fourteenth of Adar, and continued till the end of the fifteenth, Esth. 9. 21. It was instituted by Mordecai, in remembrance of the Jews delivery from Haman, before whom lots were cast day by day, and month by month, for the destruction of them. In these two daies they read the History of Hester in their Synagogues; and as often as they hear mention of Haman, they do with their fists and hammers beat upon the benches and boards, as if they did knock upon Hamans head.[381]

The Feast of Dedication, termed in the New Testament, Ἐγκαίνια[382] a Feast wherein something is renewed; because those things only are reputed consecrated, which are separated from their common use, and dedicated to some new and holy use. We shall read of many things consecrated in the Old Testament; the Tabernacles, the Temple, Priests, Altars, Vessels and Garments: but there was no anniversary or yearly solemnity appointed to be observed in remembrance of their Consecration. The Consecration therefore which we now speak of, being a yearly Festival, was the Consecration of the altar appointed by Judas Maccabæus to be observed from year to year, for the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth of the month Cisleu, which answereth in part to our December, 1 Macchab. 4. 59. Of this Saint John speaketh; and as he mentioneth our Saviours presence there, so he intimateth the time to be about December. It was at Jerusalem the feast of the Dedication, and it was winter, John 10. 22. &c.

The reason of this Feast was in remembrance of that great mercy which God shewed unto his people, in delivering them from the tyranny of Antiochus, and the Idolatry which he had forced upon them, setting up the Idol of Jupiter in the Temple of God, and abolishing the true worship of God.

These two Feasts are of humane institution, and others might be added unto them; but little is to be added, or nothing at all, to that which is delivered concerning them, in the places of Scripture where they are mentioned.