SAMEAS, or Sameias, or Shammai, a famous Rabbin, of whom the Jews say many things. They tell us, he was Head of their Schools, and Master of a great Number of Learned Men; among others, of the famous Hillel, who afterwards separated from his Master, and was Head of another School or College, which taught Principles very different from those of Shammai. Hieron. in Isai. viii.Some think this Division of Hillel and Sameas produced the Sect of the Pharisees: But this Opinion can by no means be supported; because the Pharisees were a numerous and powerful Sect a long time before Sameas, who lived but under Herod the Great.
Jos. Antiq. l. 15. c. 1.Josephus says, that Sameas was the Disciple of Pollio the Pharisee. I have often thought, that this Pollio might be Hillel: For Josephus never mentions Hillel, yet speaks of Pollio more than once. But the Rabbins make Hillel the Disciple of Sameas, and Josephus makes Pollio his Master. It is certain there were two Hillels, and both of ‘em very famous Men; one of ‘em lived before Christ, and the other afterwards: The last of ‘em was Prince of the Captivity in the West, and lived, according to the Jews, about the Hieron. in Isai. viii.Year 240. St. Jerom says, that a little time before the Birth of Jesus Christ, two famous Rabbins, Sameas and Hillel, Heads of two celebrated Schools, made two Parties among the Jews, and became Masters, one of the Scribes, and the other of the Pharisees. The Jews, in the Time of this holy Father, ascribed their Misna and their Deuteroses to Shammai and Hillel, or, as he says elsewhere, to Simeon and Helles1.
This is what Josephus2 tells us of Sameas: “ Herod being yet but Governor of “ Galilea, was summoned before the Grand “ Council of Hyrcanus Prince of the Jews, “ for having committed several Violences “ in the Province of which he had the “ Government. Herod made his Appearance, but not as a Suppliant; he was “ cloathed in Purple; his Hair comb’d and “ perfum’d, and accompany’d by a Troop “ of armed Men. All that were there assembled to decide his Cause, were so “ astonish’d at his Presence, that none of “ ‘em durst open his Mouth against him. “ There was only Sameas, who spoke with “ a great deal of Freedom, and who foretold to the Judges, that this young Man, “ whom they durst not condemn, should “ one Day be their King, and should put “ them all to Death, and Hyrcanus himself, who then, as Prince of the Jews, “ presided in the Assembly.”
The Event did but too-much verify these Predictions: For when Herod came to the Kingdom, he put to Death all these Judges, except Sameas himself, for whom he always testify’d a great Esteem. When Herod was declared King by the Romans, and came with Socius to besiege Jerusalem,3 Sameas was always of Opinion, that the Gates should be set open to him, and that he should be received into the City; for he said, their Sins were such, that they could no longer hope God would preserve them from his Government. For this Reason, Herod always favoured Sameas, and those of his Party. The Rabbins say, by way of Proverb, Be humble as Hillel, and stedfast as Sameas.
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