fairs, yet it was only a temporary Defignation. A SNAP

xxi. 7.

So likewise concerning the Temple, it is recorded that the LORD faid, to David, 2 Kings and to Solomon his Son In this houfe, and in Jerufalem, which I have chofen out of all the tribes of Ifrael, will I put my Name for ever. It being the Tribe of Judah, out of which the Meffiah was to arife, and not that of Ephraim; God might probably, out of Regard to Joshua, who was of the Tribe of Ephraim, permit him to fix the Tabernacle in Shiloh, which was within that Tribe, for a while, and till the Inhabitants of Jerufalem were utterly fubdued; when it was to be tranflated thither, and remain for the Time to come, in the Tribe of Judah; to which David belong'd.

Pfal.

Ixxvi. I.

To this the Pfalmift, whoever he was, alludes, when he fings with a triumphant Exultation; In Judah is God known, bis Name is great in Ifrael; In Salem alfo is his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Sion, And in another Place, where, with a Rapture of Gratitude, he expreffes himself thus; He refus'd the tabernacle of Jofeph, Pfal. and lxxviii,

F 3

679

Pfal.

and chofe not the tribe of Ephraim; but chofe the tribe of Judah, the Mount Sion which he loved. And he built his fanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. He chofe David alfo his fervant, and took him from the sheepfolds.

And, to prove that this Alteration was made in David's Time, and confequently by him, in another Pfalm it is faid, Jerucxxi 3. falem is built as a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the teftimony of Ifrael, to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD. For there are fet thrones of judgment; the thrones of the house of David.

However, the Tabernacle having been once fet up in Shiloh, help'd, among other falfe Arguments, to confirm the erroneous Samaritans in their Fretenfions to be of the true Stock of Abraham, and that the right Place of Worship and Judicature was with them; for Shiloh was in Samaria; as was alfo Shechem or Sychar, upon Mount Ephraim; which was appointed for one of the Cities of Refuge; and where the Bones of Joseph were buried. And upon this

Ground

20.

Ground it is, that the Samaritan Woman argues the Point with our LORD. Our fa- John iv. thers (fays the) worship'd in this mountain ; and ye fay, that in Jerufalem is the place where men ought to worship.

From this Claim therefore, equally urg'd on both fides, arofe and continued a mortal Averfion to each other, between the two Countries; infomuch that the Jews would have no dealing with the Samaritans. And two of our LORD's Difciples, educated in the fame Leaven of Uncharitableness, wanted to be calling for fire from bea- Luke ix. ven to confume a whole Village of them, be- 54. cause they were fhy of admitting their Master and them, being Jews, into their Houfes.

The Samaritans, on the other fide, as we may believe, were not wanting in Returns of the fame Courtefy. They rejected all other Scripture befides the Five Books of Mofes; because it moftly refers to Jerufalem as the Place of Worship.

The great Charity and Moderation of our blessed LORD, is therefore highly worthy of Observation, upon this Occafion: For tho' he justly condemns the Er

F 4

ror

22.

ror of the Samaritans, whofe Religion had a Mixture of Heathenish Superstition in John iv. it, by faying, Ye worship ye know not what : We know what we worship; for falvation is of the Jews; Yet he rebukes his Difci ples for their intemperate Zeal and irreli gious Propofal, in Terms fomewhat fevere;s Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; for the Son of Man is not come to deftroy mens lives, but to fave them. And, fo faying, departed quietly to another Village. But, to return from this Digreffion.

Jerufalem, in early times, was call'd Salem; of which Melchizedek was King, in Gen. xiv. the Days of Abraham; the Inhabitants whereof were, even then, call'd Jebufites:

18.j

Josh. xv.

63.

whom the two Tribes of Judah and Benjamin (for to them it was allotted) had never been able to drive out, till the time of David.

The City therefore belong'd to both thefe Tribes. As for the Jebufites, the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out, fay the facred Records; which shews their Right to this City, if they could have obtain❜d it. And

Ben

xxxiii.12.

Benjamin's Claim is, by the generality of Interpreters, juftified from the celebrated Prediction of Mofes concerning this Tribe, before his Death. And of Benjamin be Deut. faid, The beloved of the LORD fhall dwell in Safety by him; and the LORD shall coIver him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his fhoulders. Befides which, it is exprefly faid, The children of Benjamin did Judges i. not drive out the Jebufites that inhabited 21. Jerufalem; but the Jebufites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerufalem unto this day. Whence we may conclude, that the City of Jerufalem came to be affign'd to both these Tribes, because of the Bigness of it; and which has led some to think that part of the Temple itself stood upon the Portion of the Tribe of Benjamin.

Be that as it will, these two Tribes fo border'd upon each other, and remain'd fo clofely attach'd in Fealty to Rehoboam, when the other ten went off from him, that thenceforward they were look'd upon as united by a kind of Coalition; and were both of them call'd and known by the Name of Judah.

But