And when they were come to a place called
Golgotha
The true pronunciation is "Golgoltha", and so it is read in
Munster's Hebrew Gospel. It is a Syriac word, in which language
letters are often left out: in the Syriac version of this place,
the first "l" is left out, and the latter retained, and it is
read "Gogoltha": and so, in the Persic, "Gagulta"; and in the
Arabic, "Gagalut". The Ethiopic version reads it, "Golgotha"; and
so, Dr. Lightfoot observes, it is read by the Samaritan
interpreter of the first chapter of Numbers:
that is to say, a place of a skull:
some say Adam's skull was found here, and from thence the place
had its name; this is an ancient tradition, but without
foundation F13: it seems to be so called, because
it was the place where malefactors were executed, and afterwards
buried; whose bones and skulls in process of time might be dug
up, and some of them might lie scattered about in this place:
for, one that was executed as a malefactor F14,
``they did not bury him in the sepulchres of his ancestors; but there were two places of burial appointed by the sanhedrim; one for those that were stoned, and for those that were burnt; and another for those that were killed with the sword, and for those that were strangled; and when their flesh was consumed, they gathered the bones, and buried them in their place;''i.e. in the sepulchres of their ancestors. This place was as infamous as our Tyburn, and to be crucified at "Golgotha", was as ignominious as to be hanged at Tyburn; which shows what shame and disgrace our Lord was brought, and what he condescended to bear on our account.
F13 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 6. sect. 4. 5.
F14 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 43. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Sauhedrin, c. 13. sect. 2, 3.