Part 10
The ten Tribes being conquered at severall times, we must thinke they were carried into severall places. As we beleeve they went to the _West-Indies_ by the strait of _Anian_, so we thinke that out of _Tartary_ they went to _China_, by that famous wall in the confines of both. Our argument to prove it, is taken from the authority of two Jesuites, who erected their Colledges in those Countries. _Nicholaus Trigantius_ a Dutch-man in his discourse of the Christian expedition under-taken by the Jesuites to _Sina_, saith, We finde that in former time the _Jewes_ came into these Kingdomes. And when that society had for some yeares seated it selfe in the Court of the _Pequinenses_, a certaine _Jew_ came to _P. Matthæus Riccius_; he was borne in _Chamfamfu_ the metropolis of the Province _Honan_, and was surnamed _Ogay_; and now being licensed to the degree of a Doctor, he went to _Pequin_. But when he read in a certaine Booke writ by a Doctor of _China_, concerning the _European_ affaires, That our fathers are not _Sarazens_, and know no God but the Lord of Heaven and Earth; and would perswade himselfe that ours did professe the Law of _Moses_, he went into the Church with _P. Matthæas Riccius_. On an Altar there was the effigies of the Virgin _Mary_, and the childe Jesus, whom St. _John_ his fore-runner worshipped with bended knees; now that day was the Holy-day of _John_ the Baptist. The _Jew_ thinking it was the effigies of _Rebecca_, and her two Sons, _Jacob_ and _Esau_, he bowed also to the Image, but with this Apology, that he worshipped no Images, but that he could not but honour these who were the Parents of our Nation. And he asking if the foure Evangelists on both sides of the Altar, were not foure of the twelve sons of _Jacob_; the Jesuite answered, Yes, thinking he had asked of the twelve Apostles. But afterward the _Jew_ acknowledged to the Jesuite that he was an _Israelite_; and he found the Kings Bible, and acknowledged the _Hebrew_ Letters, though he could not read them. By this occasion our people learnt, that ten or twelve families of _Israelites_ were there, and had built a very neat Synagogue which cost ten thousand Crownes, in which they have kept the five Bookes of _Moses_ with great veneration for six hundred yeares. He also affirmed, that in _Hamcheu_ the Metropolis of the Province _Chequiona_, there are farre more Families, with a Synagogue; and else-where that many Families live without a Synagogue, because that by little and little they are extinguished. He relating many things out of the Old Testament, he differed but little in pronouncing those names. He said, that some among them were not ignorant of the _Hebrew_ Tongue, but that himselfe had neglected it, having studied the _China_ Tongue from a Childe. For which cause he was counted almost unworthy of their society, by the Ruler of the Synagogue. But he chiefly looked after this, that he might get to be Doctor. Three yeares after _P. Matthæus Riccius_ sent one of our brethren to that Metropolis, who found all those things true. He compared the beginnings, and endings of the Bookes which the _Jewes_ keep in their Synagogue, with our Pentateuch, and saw no difference, this only, that those had no pricks. The other Jesuite is _Alfonsus Cimedro_, who likewise saith, that there is a great number of _Jewes_ in the Province of _Oroensis_, on the West part of _China_, who know nothing of the comming, and suffering of Jesus. And he from thence gathers, that they are of the ten Tribes, (which opinion I also am of) because those _Chineses_ observe many _Jewish_ Rites, which you may see in a manuscript, which the noble _Jaochimus Wicofortius_ hath. And why might not some of them saile from _China_ to _New-Spaine_, through the streight between _China_, and _Anian_, and _Quivira_, which doe border upon _New-Spaine_; and from thence they went to the Isles of _Panama_, _Peru_, and those thereabouts. These in my judgement are those _Chineses_ of whom _Isaiah_ speakes, Chap. 49. vers. 12. (treating about _Israels_ returne to his Country.) _Behold, these shall come from afarre, and these from the North, and from the West, and these from the Land of Sinim._ And so _Ptolomy_ in _lib._ 7. _c._ 3. _tab._ 11. cals it The country of _Sinim_, or _Sina_; and this is the true sense of the words; _Aben Ezra_ therefore is mistaken, who derives it of Sene, a bush or wood, which he placeth in _Ægypt_.
_SECT. 17._
I Could easily beleeve, that the ten Tribes as they increased in number, so they spread into more Provinces before-mentioned, and into _Tartary_. For _Abraham Ortelius_ in his Geography of the World, and Map of _Tartary_, he notes the place of the _Danites_ which he cals the Hord, which is the same which the Hebrew _Jerida_, signifying _A descent_. And lower, he mentions the Hord of _Naphtali_, possessed by _Peroza_ in the yeare 476. _Schikhardus_ in his Tarich or series of the Kings of _Persia_, amplifies the History of this War, where _ex lib. 4. of Agathias_, he thus saith, _A little after, when they were eased of that Plague_, (_sc._ 7. yeares drought) _in the time of the Emperour_ Zeno, Firuz _made a double warre with_ Naphtali, _in which at last he was destroyed. For first of all he was brought to the streights of places unknowne; who then sought for peace upon this condition (and obtained it) that he should sweare that he would never after provoke them; and that he should doe reverence to this Conquerour in token of subjection: which afterward by the counsell of the Magicians he performed craftily, for he bowed towards the Eastern Sun, that his owne people might thinke that he bowed rather to the Sun (after his Country custom) then to honour his Enemy. But he did not truly performe that first agreement, though confirmed by Letters Patents; who because he could not digest the disgrace of bowing to his Enemy, he prepared a new Army and went against them; but a second time he being entrapped by the badnesse of the Country, he lost his life; and many with him, in a Gulf which the_ Naphthalites _had prepared for him, having dressed it over with reeds, and some earth throwne a top; they having left in the middle some high grounds, and trees where their Scouts were, that their stratagem might not be found, and that the_ Persians _might more confidently attempt the ditch. Thus a rash King paid for his perfidy, he excelling more in daring, then in counsell, as_ Agathias _saith. The patent by which peace had been agreed, was hung upon a speare, and might be seene of him at distance, that he might remember his Oath, repent, and desist from his enterprise; but he cared little for that. But when by his unexpected fall he saw he should dye, it is said that he pulled off from his right eare a pearle of huge bignesse, and whitenesse, and least any after him should finde it (more likely that his corps should not be knowne) he threw it a great way off._ The same Author askes, who those _Naphthalites_ were, and by many arguments he proves that they are the relicks of the _Jewes_; saith he, _I doe wholly thinke that they are the relicks of the_ Jewes _of the Tribe of_ Naphtali, _whom_ Triglath Pilesser _the_ Assyrian _carried into those places, in_ 2 King. 15.29. _For_ 1. _The name, in the best copies of_ Agathias, _which_ Lewenclavius _hath mended, is the same fully; in other Bookes it wants nothing but an (h) now it is scarce possible that in a word of many syllables that should fall out by chance_. 2. _Their countenance discovers it, for as Procopious_ I. C. _saith, they are not blacke, or foule in their countenance, as the_ Auns _are among whom they live, but the only white men of that Country; that it may evidently appeare that they came from some other place thither_. 3. _Their manners agree, for the same Author saith, that they are not_ Nomades, _as the_ Huns _who are unconstant in their dwelling, and eate up one place after another; but they inhabite one certaine place. Besides, they observe Law and equity, as the_ Romans; _and have pollicy, being well governed by their Prince: both which is rare among their neighbour Nations. Also they doe not lay abroad their dead, as the_ Barbarians _doe, but they decently cover them with earth. Lastly, their jornalls doe testifie that many_ Jewes _live there, especially in the mountaines, who have searched to the mid-land countries of East_-Asia, R. Benjamin, _f._ 23. _From thence_ (_the coast of_ Persia) _is 28. dayes journey to the mountaines_ Nisebor, _which are neare the river_ Gozan. _The Israelites which come from thence into_ Persia, _say, that there in the Cities of_ Nisebor, _are four Tribes_ (_sc._ Dan, Zebulon, Asor, Naphtali,) _of the first captivity, which_ Shalmaneser _the_ Assyrian _carried thither, as in_ 2 King. 17.6. _he brought them to_ Habor, _and_ Halah, _the river_ Gozan _and the Mountaines of_ Media. _The compasse of that Country is twenty dayes journey; and they possesse Cities, and Castles upon the Mountaines, by one side of which, runs the river_ Gozan; _neither are they subject to the Nations, but have a Governour over them, by name_ R. Joseph Amarkela _a Levite, and there are among them some who study wisdome. They sow, and reap; yea they wage war to the Country of_ Cuth. _In_ the same place _Ortelius_ adds, in the Country _Tabor_, or _Tibur_ (which _Solinus_ commends, in _c._ 49.) they dwell a people, who though they have lost the holy writings, they obey one King, who came into _France_, in Ann. 1530. and spoke with _Francis_ the first, was burnt at _Mantua_ by the command of the Emperour _Charles_ the fifth, because that he did privately teach Judaism to Christian Princes, and to the Emperour himselfe. _Boterus_ saith the same in his relations of the farthest part of _Tartary_. But both these were deceived; for _Rabbinus Josephus Cohon_, a man worthy to be beleeved, relates this more truly in his Chronology, saying, that the _Jew_ who came out of that Country, was the brother of the King of the _Israelites_, was called _David_ the _Reubenite_; and having seene _India_ in his passage, he came to _Portugal_, where he converted the Kings Secretary to Judaism, who fled from thence with him, taking the name of _Selomoh Molho_; he in short time was so well versed in the Law, yea in the _Cabala_ it selfe, that he made all _Italy_ admire him. The Secretary together with the _Reubenite_, endevoured to draw the Pope, _Charles_ the fifth, and _Francis_ the first to Judaism. _Selomoh Molho_ was taken at _Mantua_, and burnt alive, in the yeare 1540. He yet was offered his life, if he would turne Christian. The _Reubenite_ was by _Charles_ the fifth carried prisoner into _Spaine_, where he shortly after dyed. _Abraham Frisol Orchotolam_ remembers the _Reubenite_, saying, Forty five years agone _David Reubenita_, a Prince of the _Israelites_, came from _Tabor_, a Province of _Tartary_, into _Europe_, who said that two Tribes are there; and other Tribes a little farther, under their Kings, and Princes, and also an unspeakable number of people. Perhaps the Province _Tabor_ is the same that _Habor_; which is mentioned in 2 King. 17.6. that the ten Tribes were brought by _Salmaneser_ to _Habor_, and _Halah_; now the Hebrew letters (_h_) and (_t_) are neere in fashion. _Eldad Danita_ of the Tribe of _Dan_, came out of those Countries five hundred yeares agone (a letter from whom, which we call _Sephar Eldad Danita_, is kept to this day) and being examined by the Rabbins, was found an approved man. The learned Rabbi _David Kimhi_, who lived 450. yeares since, in _etymol. suo_ in the word _Segiah_, he saith, _Rabbi Jonah_ writes of the name of _Rabbi Juda Aben Karis_, that he heard _Eldad Danita_ say, &c. And so what I said is true, as appeares by the testimonies produced.
_SECT. 18._
Part of the ten Tribes also live in _Ethiopia_, in the _Habyssin_ Kingdome; as divers _Habyssins_ reported at _Rome_. _Boterus_ in his relations speakes the same thing, that two potent Nations doe live neare _Nilus_, and that one of them is that of the _Israelites_, who are governed by a mighty King. A Cosmographer who hath added notes to _Ptolomyes_ tables, saith thus in his table of _New Africa_; that part of _New Africk_ was unknowne of old, the head of _Nilus_ not being knowne, which is in the Mountaines of the Moone, as the Ancients call them; where there dwels a great number of _Israelites_, paying tribute to _Prester John_. _Rabbi Abraham Frisol_ in the Book already quoted, saith, that in his time some who had been in those Countries, reported the same to _Hercules_ the Duke of _Ferraria_. And without question from hence the _Habyssins_ learned Circumcision, the observation of the Sabbath, and many more _Jewish_ rites. Of these _Isaiah_ seemes to speake, in _Isa._ 18.1, 2. _Woe to the Land which under the shadow of sails doth saile beyond the rivers of_ Ethiopia, _by whom_ (the Prophet saith) _are sent Ambassadors in ships of Bulrushes_, (such as the _Æthiopians_ use, commonly called _Almadiæ_.) _Bring back a people driven out of their Country, and torn, and more miserable then any among us. Gifts shal be brought to the Lord of Sebaoth, in the place where the name of the Lord of Sebaoth is worshipped, in the mount Sion._ The Prophet _Zephany_ saith the same, in _Zeph._ 3.9, 10. _Then will I give to the people that they speaking a pure language, may all call upon the name of God, whom they shall serve with reverence; from beyond the rivers of_ Ethiopia _they shall bring to me for a gift, Hatray_ the daughter of my dispersed ones, (that is, the Nations of _Æthiopia_.) Which agrees with that of _Isa._ _And your Brethren_, (which are the ten Tribes) _shall bring gifts to the Lord_.
_SECT. 19._
And without doubt they also dwell in _Media_; from thence they passed _Euphrates_, whither they were first brought, as in _2 King._ 17.24 and in the book of _Tobit_. _Josephus_ also speakes of them in the Preface of his Book of the War of the _Jewes_, that the _Jewes_ did think that their brethren, who dwelt beyond _Euphrates_, and farther, would rebell against the Romans. _Agrippa_ in his Oration to the people of _Jerusalem_, that they would not rebell against the _Romans_, speakes thus; _What associates doe ye expect to joyne with you in your rebellion, and war? doth not all the knowne world pay tribute to the_ Romans? _Perhaps some of ye hope to have help from them beyond_ Euphrates. And in _lib._ 2. _Antiquit._ _c._ 5. speaking of those who in the time of _Ezra_ returned from _Babylon_ to _Jerusalem_, he saith, _All Israel dwelt in_ Media; _for two Tribes only dwelt in_ Asia, _and_ Europe, _and lived subject to the_ Romans; _as the other ten on the other side_ Euphrates, _where they are so many, that they cannot be counted_. It is not therefore to be doubted, the people encreasing after their first transportation, they sought out new places, which we have formerly mentioned.
_SECT. 20._
Lastly, all thinke, that part of the ten Tribes dwell beyond the river _Sabbathian_, or sabbaticall. _Rabbi Johanan_ the Author of the _Jerusalem Talmud_, who lived 160. yeares after the destruction of the second Temple, saith in his treatise of the _Sanhedrim_, _cap._ 17. That the ten Tribes were carryed into three places, _sc._ to the Sabbaticall river, to _Daphne_ the suburbs of _Antioch_, and thither where a cloud comes downe and covers them: And that they shall be redeemed from those three places; for so he opens that place of _Isa._ Cha. 49.9. _That they may say to the Captives, Goe forth_, (_sc._ to them who are at the Sabbaticall river) _to them that are in darknesse, shew your selves_, (_sc._ to them who are compassed with the cloud) _and to all, they shall be refreshed in the wayes_, (_sc._ to them who live in _Daphne_ of _Antioch_ which is in _Syria_.) Whence you may observe, that the learned man _l’ Empereur_ translated it ill, _at the sides of Antioch_, whereas _Daphne_ is the proper name of a pleasant Grove near _Antioch_. _Sedar olam_ makes mention of that cloud, and calls them _mountaines of obscurity_, And in _Talmud tractat. Sanhedr._ _c._ 11. _R. Jonathan ben Uziel_, who lived a hundred yeares before the destruction of the second Temple, in _Exod._ 34.10. where the Lord saith, _I will doe wonders before all thy people, such as was never done in the whole earth, or in any Nation_, &c. and he refers all those things to the transportation of the people. _He shall draw them to the rivers of Babylon: and shall carry them to the Sabbaticall river, and shall teach them, that those miracles were never performed to any Nation of the known world._
Our ancient Rabins in _Beresit Rabba_ (no mean book) in _Perasach_, do say that _Tornunsus_ asking how it should appeare that the day which we keep, is the seventh day, on which God rested after the creation of the world; _Rabbi Aquebah_ (who lived 52 yeares after the destruction of the second Temple) answered by an argument taken from the stones of the Sabbatical River, which in the six dayes are tossed up and down with a continuall motion, but do rest on the Sabbath day and move not. The same is said in the _Babylonian Talmud, tractat. Sanhed. c._ 7. _& in Tanuh Perasach. c._ 9. _In eodem Beresit Raba, in Perasach_ 37. _Rabbi Simon_ saith, _The ten Tribes were carried to the Sabbaticall river but Juda and Benjamin are dispersed into all Countrys_. In _Asirim Raba_, the last verse of the Song, its said, _Our bed is flourishing_; that it is meant the ten Tribes, which were carryed to the Sabbaticall river; and that river running all the week, doth cause the ten Tribes there remaining to be shut up; for though on the seventh day the river doth rest, yet it is forbidden by our Law to take a journey then; and for that reason they remained there miraculously, as lost, and concealed from us. So that of _Isa._ 49. _That they say to the prisoners, go forth_, is interpreted of them in _Jalcut_. _R. Aquebah_ after the same manner explains that of _Levit._ 36.38. _And ye shal perish among the heathen._ And that of _Isa._ 27. _ult._ _And they shall come, who were ready to perish in Assyria._ Because they are remote from the rest, therefore another Rabbi in Bamibar _Raba Parasa_ 16. applyes to them that of _Isaiah_ 49.12. _Behold them who come from farre_: that so all those Authors mention that River.
The testimony of _Josephus_ is famous, _lib._ 7. _de Bel. Jud. cap._ 24. saying, _The Emperour Titus passing between Arca, and Raphanea, Cities of King Agrippa, he saw the wonderfull river, which though it be swift, yet it is dry on every seventh day; and that day being past, it resumes its ordinary course, as if it had no change; and it always observes this order. It is called Sabbaticall; from the solemne feast of the Jews, because it imitates their rest every seventh day._ I know some do otherwise expound those words of _Josephus_, but they hit not his meaning, as appears by this, that he calls the River, Sabbathio, or sabbaticall: which word cannot be derived but from Sabbath; and who doth not see that it ceaseth to flow, or move, on the Sabbath day; and so _Josephus_ must be understood according to my sense. _Pliny_ also confirms this opinion, _lib._ 1. _Nat. hist. c._ 2. he saith, _In Judea a River lies dry every Sabbath_; yet I think _Pliny_ is deceived and ill informed, when he saith it is a River in Judea; neither is to be found in Judea, but in another place, where many Jewes live. _R. Selomoh Jarchi_ who lived 540. years since mentions that River in _Comment. Talm._ saying, The stones, and sand of that River do continually move all the six dayes of the week, until the seventh. _R. Mardochus Japhe_ in his learned book _Jephe Thoar_ saith, The _Arabians_ derive Sabbathion from the Sabbath, who use to adde the particle (ion) to adjectives. The same saith, that it was told him of an hour-glasse filled with the sand of Sabbathion, which ranne all the weeke till the Sabbath. And I heard the same from my father; which testimony I account as good, as if I saw it my selfe; (for fathers do not use to impose upon their sons.) He told me that there was an Arabian at _Lisborn_, who had such an hour-glasse; and that every Friday at evening he would walk in the street called the new street, and shew this glasse to Jewes who counterfeited Christianity, and say, _Ye Jewes, shut up your shops, for now the Sabbath comes_. Another worthy of credit, told me of another hour-glasse, which he had some years before, before the Port _Mysketa_. The Cadi, or Judge of that place, saw him by chance passing that way, and asked him, what it was? he commanded it to be taken away; rebuking the Mahomitans, that by this, they did confirme the Jewish Sabbath. I should not speak of these glasses, if the authority of such a man whom I have alledged, did not move me; though I beleeve that God did not only work that miracle, that he might keep part of the ten Tribes there, but other also, as you may see in _Esdras_. _R. Moses Gerundensis_ a learned Cabalist, and Interpreter of the Law in _Parasa Aazinu_, thinks the River Sabbathion to be the same with Gozan, of Guz, which signifies to snatch away, because except the seventh day, on all the other, it carryes with it, by its swiftnesse, the very stones. Of this there is mention in 2 _King._ whither the King of _Assyria_ led his captives; and so relates _Benjamin Tudelensis_ in his journall, that part of the ten Tribes dwelt at the bank of that River. But I know not where the River Gozan is. In the year 5394, that is, 15 years agon in the City _Lubin_, two _Polonians_ after they had travelled long, they wrot in Dutch a book of the originiall of the Sabbaticall River, but the Senate commanded it to be burnt at the Mart of Breslaw, by the perswasion of the Jesuites. _Abraham Frisal_ in his Orchot Olam. _c._ 26. will have this river to be in _India_, he saith, _The head of the Sabbaticall river is in the country of Upper India, among the rivers of Ganges_. And a little after, _The Sabbaticall river hath its originall from the other side of Kalikout_ (which lyes far above the bound of _Lamik_, which he placeth beyond the _sinus Barbaricus_) _and it parts the Indians from the Kingdome of the Jewes, which river you may certainly find there_, Though he takes _Gozan_ for _Ganges_, for some nearnesse of writing; yet its not to be doubted that in that place there are many Jewes, witnesse _Johannes de Bairos_ in his Decads. _Eldad Danita_ speaking of the four Tribes: which he placeth at _Gozan_ saith, _The Sabbaticall river is among them_. _Josephus_ saith, that _Titus_ saw the Sabbathion between _Arca_ and _Raphanea_. Which testimony seems the truer, because its not to be thought that _Josephus_ would tel a lie of him, by whom he might be rebuked. I think that ye must look for it not far from the Caspian Sea: and I am not alone in this opinion. What ever it be it appeares that this river is somewhere, and that part of the ten Tribes are hid there; and I may say with _Moses_ in _Deut._ 29.28, 29. _And the Lord cast them out of their Land in anger, and in wrath; Secret things belong to the Lord our God._ For it is not known when they shall return to their Countrey; neither can it perfectly be shewed where they are, God suffering it, as its said in _Deut._ 32.26. _I determined to cast them forth unto the ends of the earth, and to make their remembrance cease from among men._ As if he should say, I wil cast them unto the furthest places of the world that none may remember them; and therefore they are truly in Scripture called _imprisoned_, and _lost_.
_SECT._ 21.