Sephet

SEPHET. Tobit was of the City of Tob. i. 1. Vulgat.Naphthali, situate in the Upper Galilee, having on its Left-hand the City of Sephet. This is the only Place in the Vulgate where we find any mention of Sephet; but we read in the Septuagint of Sephaat, or Zephaat, or Horma. But Sephet of Galilee was at a great Distance from Sephaat, which was to the South of Judah, or of Simeon. Some Moderns have pretended, that Sephet of Galilee was Bethulia, but without any Proof. They say it is between Ptolemais to the West, and Naashon to the East, twelve Miles from Carmel, and six from Cana of Galilee. Others place it nine Miles from Bethsaida, in the Upper Galilee. I cannot reconcile this with Tobit, who places Sephet on the Left-hand, or to the North of the City of Naphthali, which apparently is Cedes. However this be, Sephet or Sapheta is built upon a Mountain with three Eminencies, and very difficult of Access. The Jews live there in great Numbers, and have a famous Academy there, where Youth is sent to study the Hebrew Tongue, and the Law of Moses. And for some Ages the Academy of Sapheta is for the Jews, what Tiberias was heretofore, whose Place it has taken. ‘Tis likely this Academy was not erected so soon as the Time of Benjamin of Tudela, at the End of the twelfth Century, since he makes no mention of it; but it must be soon after.

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