Judg. iv. 7.AKIBA, a famous Rabbin, who lived about the year of J C. 130. and was as it were the Prophet and Fore-runner of the celebrated Impostor Barchochebas. The Jews, who very much extol his merit,1 inform us, that Akiba was descended from Sisera the General of Jabin the King of Canaan’s army. He spent forty years in the country, employed in keeping the flocks belonging to one Calba Cuva, a rich citizen of Jerusalem. His Master’s Daughter made an offer of marrying him, if he would quit the business of a Shepherd, and apply himself to study. Akiba promised he would, whereupon they were clandestinely married, and he went to the University, where he spent twelve years with so much reputation that he came from thence with twelve thousand scholars. His Wife advised him to return thither; he continued therefore twelve years longer there; and his reputation still perpetually increasing, he brought from thence four and twenty thousand Disciples. It may be easily perceived that this prodigious number of Scholars is a Rabbinical Hyperbole. Mechilta.that all these Scholars died between Easter and Whitsuntide, for not behaving themselves with a suitable respect to one another. They were all buried at the foot of a hill near Tiberias.
Akiba continued teaching, and composed two works, one called Mechilta, or Mechiltin, the other Jetzira, very different from another work with the same title attributed ספר .יצירה Sepher Jezira.to the Patriarch Abraham, and printed by Rittangelius. The Jews say Akiba was a Man of so much learning that he could give a reason for the minutest letter of the law; and that what God had concealed from Moses, he revealed to him. There are a thousand opinions in the Mishna whereof he is thought to be the Author, and which are esteemed as so many maxims and decisions.
He was in the height of his reputation, and Prince of the Sanhedrin, when Barcochebas, or the Son of Cochebas, appeared. They say2 the name of this Impostor was Cozeb, or Bar-Cozebas, the Lyar, or the Son of a Lyar; and that Akiba having observed it, said with a sort of exclamation, Behold the Star which is to come out of Jacob! alluding to these words in the book of Numb. xxiv. 17.Numbers, A Star shall come out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, &c. It is certain Akiba was attached to Barcochebas, and served him as an Usher or Fore-runner, in the same quality almost as S. John Baptist served our Saviour. But these two Men were governed by quite a different Spirit from that which animated our Saviour and S. John. They kindled a war in Judea, inspired the Jews with the spirit of rebellion, committed infinite disorders in Judea and Syria, killed thousands of Christians and Romans, and caused the entire destruction of their Country. See the articles ADRIAN and BARCOCHEBAS.
After the taking of Bether, a fortress wherein Barcochebas shut himself up, together with his best troops, Akiba was made a prisoner, and continued some time in fetters, expressing so great a fondness for the ceremonies of his forefathers, that he chose rather to go without drinking, and make use of the water which was given him, in washing himself, than omit this practice. The Emperor Adrian severely punished his imposture, and ordered his skin to be tore off with an iron comb. And with him, say the Rabbins3, vanished the honour of the Law. They add that Judas the Holy, another celebrated that is to say, in the year 135. for Bether was taken on the 10th of August this year.
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