[282] _In ritibus Paganorum cœna pura appellabatur; cœna illis apponi solita, qui in casto erant quod Græci dicunt ἁγνεύειν, vel προαγνεύειν. Isaac Casaubon, Exercit. 16, p. 662._
[283] _Casaubon. Exercit. 16. p. 479. ex Michlol. Kimchi._
The best and wealthiest of them,[284] even those that had many servants, did with their own hands further the _preparation_; so that sometimes the Masters themselves would chop herbs, sweep the house, cleave wood, kindle the fire, and such like.
[284] _Buxtorf. Synagog. Jud. cap. 10. ex Talmud._
In old time[285] they proclamed the _Preparation_ with noise of Trumpets, or Horns; but now the modern _Jews_ proclaim it by the _Sexton_, or some under Officer of the Church, whom they call שליח צבור _Scheliach tsibbur_, The _Messenger of the Congregation_.
Concerning the sanctification of the _Sabbath_ day it self, in corrupter times some things the _Jews_ added over and above that which God commanded. In other things they took liberty where _God_ granted none. In the first they were _superstitious_, in the second _sacrilegious_.
They took liberty: There were two thousand Cubits between the _Ark_ and the _Camp_, when they marched; _Josh. 3. 4._ and in probability the same proportion was observed when they rested: this distance of ground some interpret to be one mile, some two; some measuring it according to a lesser, others according to a longer Cubit, which they term a _Geometrical Cubit_: But all agree in this, that these two thousand cubits was a _Sabbath_ days journey, though none, as I know, have observed the reason why it was so called, which I take to be this: On the _Sabbath_ day they were all to repair to the place of _God_’s publike worship, which was two thousand cubits distant from those who camped nearest: Hence follow four Propositions. First, That two thousand Cubits any where, by proportion, might be called a _Sabbath dayes journy_. Secondly, That to those who dwelt in the Camps more remote from the _Ark_, a _Sabbath daies journy_ was more than two thousand Cubits. Thirdly, That it is now lawful on the _Sabbath day_, to joyn with the Congregation in the place of _God_’s publick worship, though remote. Fourthly, That it was unlawful for the _Jews_ hereupon to take liberty to walk idlely whither they would, if it were not more then two thousand Cubits, pretending it to be but a _Sabbath daies journey_.