CHAP. II.
Of their Excommunication.
They had three Degrees of Excommunication. The first was called in the N. T. a casting out of the Synagogue, John 9. 22. by the Jews[519] Niddui i. a separation or putting away. It signified[520] a separation from all commerce or society either with man or woman for the distance of four Cubits; also from eating or drinking with any; from the use of the marriage-bed, from shaving, washing, or the like, according to the pleasure of the Judge, and the quality of the offence. It was of force 30 days, yet so that they might be shortened upon repentance. He that was thus excommunicated, had power to be present at divine service, to teach others, and learn of others; he hired servants, and was hired himself, but always on condition of the aforesaid separation. If he remained impenitent, according to the pleasure of the Judge, his punishment was increased, either to the doubling or the tripling of the time, or to the extending of it to their lives end; his male-children were not circumcised; if he died without repentance, then, by the sentence of the Judge, a stone was cast upon his Coffin or Bier, to shew that he was worthy to be stoned. They mourned not for such a one with solemn lamentation, they followed him not unto the grave, nor buried him with common burial.
[519] נודי Significat hæc vox Separationem, Elongationem; deducitur à verbo נדה Separavit. Hinc etiam Proscriptus, profligatus, aut separatus quispiam dicitur מיודה
[520] Buxtorf. ex Rabbinis Epist. Heb. pag. 55.
The second was called in the N. T. a giving one over to Satan, 1 Cor. 5. 5. By the Jews חרם Cherem. For the better understanding of this word, we must know that it is not used in this sense in the Old Testament; there we shall find it applied to persons, or to things; if to persons, then it signifieth a devotion of them to God by their death, Levit. 27. 29. If to things, then it signifieth a devotion of them unto God, by separating them from ordinary use. Hence it is that Achan is punisht for stealing the devoted thing, Josh. 7. Persons thus devoted, were termed by the Greeks ἀναθέματα; and devoted things, ἀναθήματα.[521] Notwithstanding, in the Apostles time, both Cherem and ἀνάθεμα, signified a second degree of Excommunication, differing from the former. First because it was not done in a private Court, but published in the audience of the whole Church: Secondly, maledictions and curses were added out of the Law of Moses, At the publishing hereof Candles were kindled; and when the curses were ended, they put out the candles, in token that the excommunicate person was deprived of the light of heaven. This kind of excommunication was exercised against the incestuous person, and against Hymenæus,[522] and Alexander.[523]
[521] Budæus ἀναθέματα dici tradit, homines sacros, (i.) quorum capita inferis dicata sunt & devota; ἀναθήματα vero donaria diis consecrata.
[522] 1 Cor. 5. 5.
[523] Tim. 20. 1.
The third was called in the New Test. by the Syriack name Maranatha, 1 Cor. 16. that is, the Lord cometh; Maran signifieth the Lord, and Atha cometh and this they say was instituted by Enoch, Judg. 11. The Jews called it Schammatha, the Etymology of which word I find to be twofold. Some say[524] it soundeth as much as Maran Atha the Lord cometh. Schem signifieth the Lord, and Atha cometh: others say[525] it soundeth there is death, Schem signifying there and Mitha death. Hence we may render it an excommunication to death. And this is thought[526] to be the reason of that phrase, 1 John 5. 16. There is a sin unto death, i. which deserveth excommunication to death. R. Gersom[527] forbade the breaking open of letters, under the penalty of all three sorts of excommunication. And this was termed Excommunicatio in secreto nominis tetragrammati: see the form thereof in the Chapter of the Sadduces.
[524] שם Dominus אתא venit.