diff options
Diffstat (limited to '40671-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 40671-0.txt | 4541 |
1 files changed, 4541 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/40671-0.txt b/40671-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a2db846 --- /dev/null +++ b/40671-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4541 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40671 *** + +Note: Images of the original pages are available through + the the Google Books Library Project. See + http://books.google.com/books?vid=cwsRAAAAIAAJ&id + + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | + | been preserved. | + | | + | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For | + | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + +A SYNOPSIS OF JEWISH HISTORY + +From the Return of the Jews from the Babylonish Captivity, +to the Days of Herod The Great; + +Giving an account of the different Sects of those days; the +introduction and use of Synagogues and Schools; the origin and +introduction of Prayer among the Jews; the Ureem and Thumeem; +the Mishna or Oral Law; the Gemara-Completion, usually styled +the Talmud. + +by + +REV. H. A. HENRY, + +Rabbi Preacher of Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco; +Author of Class Book for Jewish youth; of Discourses on the +principles of the belief of Israel, &c., &c. + + + + + + + +San Francisco: +Towne & Bacon, Publishers and Printers, +No. 125 Clay Street, corner Sansome. +1859. + +Entered according to Act of Congress in the year of the World +5619,--1859, by Towne & Bacon, +for the Author, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of +the United States, for the Northern District of California. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The design and purpose of this little production will, at a cursory +glance, be self-evident, so that a formal preface seems scarcely +necessary. We have endeavored to furnish a synopsis of useful +information, selected from the history and teachings of the chosen +people of God, in such a manner as to suit the capacity of all +readers, since it is free from all sectarian bias, and therefore may +prove useful to all denominations. + +This work consists of two parts. The first part contains a synopsis of +Jewish history, commencing with the return of the Jews from the +Babylonish captivity, down to the days of Herod the Great. The second +division of the work contains an account of the several sects which +sprang up among the Jews before and after the days of the Maccabees. +We have also given a succinct description of the origin and +introduction of Prayer, of the synagogues and schools, of the Ureem +and Thumeem, of the Mishna or Oral Law, of the Gemara or Completion, +usually styled the Talmud, together with some additional remarks in +the last two chapters under the head of appendix. + +Should this unassuming little composition lead the reader to seek a +more extended information on the subjects treated, we shall feel +ourselves happy in having been the means of thus exciting the +curiosity of those who desire to peep a little further into the vast +field of sacred literature, and deem our compensation to be fully +realized. + +We have compiled in some instances from the writings of others. In +many cases we have also thought for ourselves; but at the same time, +we have embraced the advantages afforded by the writings of others, so +far as we thought them suitable for the undertaking. + +In conclusion, we send this work out to the world, such as it is, +aware of its many deficiencies; trusting, at the same time, that +whatever errors may have crept therein will be pointed out by kind +friends, in order to a rectification of the same. + +SAN FRANCISCO, February, 1859--5619. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + PAGE. + + Of the return of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon, + and the rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem and the Holy + Temple 9 + + CHAPTER II. + + Of the state of the Jews in the days of Ezra the Scribe 15 + + CHAPTER III. + + Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation during the days of + Nehemiah 23 + + CHAPTER IV. + + Of the state of the Jewish Nation under the Persian and + the Grecian Monarchies 37 + + CHAPTER V. + + Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation under Ptolemy Soter, + Ptolemy Philadelphus and Ptolemy Philopater, Kings of Egypt 43 + + CHAPTER VI. + + Of the Jewish affairs under Antiochus the Greek, Seleucus, + and Antiochus Epiphanes, Kings of Syria 48 + + CHAPTER VII. + + Of the state of the Jewish Nation in the days of Mattathias + the Priest, the father of the valiant Maccabees 55 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + The Government of the Jewish Nation under the Maccabees, or + as they were otherwise called, the Asmoneans, this being + the family name 62 + + CHAPTER IX. + + Of the Jewish affairs under the conduct of the posterity + and successors of Simon the Maccabee 79 + + CHAPTER X. + + Of the Government of Herod the Great and his posterity + over Israel 96 + + + PART SECOND. + + CHAPTER I. + + The Assideans 111 + + CHAPTER II. + + The Pharisees 113 + + CHAPTER III. + + The Sadducees 117 + + CHAPTER IV. + + The Samaritans 120 + + CHAPTER V. + + The Essenes 123 + + CHAPTER VI. + + The Herodians 125 + + CHAPTER VII. + + The Galileans or Gaulonites 127 + + CHAPTER VIII. + + The Karayeem or Karaites 129 + + CHAPTER IX. + + Of the Synagogues among the Jews 133 + + CHAPTER X. + + Of the origin and introduction of Prayer among the Jews 138 + + CHAPTER XI. + + Of the Ureem and Thumeem 147 + + CHAPTER XII. + + Of the Mishna or Oral Law 152 + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Of the Gemara-Completion, usually styled the Talmud 169 + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Appendix 172 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + Of the Return of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon, + and the Rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem and the Holy + Temple. + + +In fulfilment of the prophecies of Jeremiah and the other prophets, +Israel and Judah were carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king +of Babylon, in the days of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah; and as +predicted by the prophets of the Lord, the bondage continued during +seventy years. + +This banishment was inflicted as a just punishment on the people for +their repeated misconduct and impiety towards the Gracious God, and +for their direct opposition to the constant exhortations and unceasing +warnings of the Almighty, through the medium of his inspired and holy +prophets. + +The seventy years of captivity being ended, God put it into the mind +of Cyrus, king of Persia, again to restore Israel to their own land +and possessions, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, which was +pronounced by him above one hundred years previously. Accordingly +Cyrus permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the +temple. He also restored to them the golden and silver vessels which +were used for divine service in the former temple built by king +Solomon. + +Many of the people of the several tribes availed themselves of this +opportunity to return to the land of their fathers--but so far as +history informs us, it appears that the majority of those who returned +to Jerusalem, consisted chiefly of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, +together with a number of Priests and Levites. And now it was for the +first time, that they were all united under the title or name of Jews. + +The people were led forth under the direction of Zerubbabel, the +grandson of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, who became the governor of the +land by a commission granted at the hands of king Cyrus; and Jeshua, +the grandson of Seraiah, who was slain by Nebuchadnezzar, was +installed high priest. + +The people having returned to their own land, the first thing which +occupied their attention was the rebuilding of the temple, for which +purpose they set about making collections, both of money and +materials, and gathering themselves together at Jerusalem, they set up +the altar, and offered sacrifices thereon in gratitude to God for his +goodness in thus restoring them to their own country and possessions. + +When the foundation of the new temple was laid, great rejoicings took +place among the people. Yet, many of those who had grown old in the +captivity, and who still had the recollection of the glory and +magnificence of the first temple, mourned and grieved for its loss, +and very much despaired of the second temple ever approaching the +first, in beauty, splendor, or holiness. + +The building of the second temple was very much interrupted by the +neighboring people, who manifested great enmity toward the Jews, and +evinced much jealous feeling, when they saw them restored to their own +country, and thus likely to recover their long lost national position +in the world. + +Yet, notwithstanding all the difficulties which presented themselves, +and in spite of all the representations made by their enemies, the +Jews were favored with great assistance from the court of Persia, in +order to complete their noble undertaking. And then it was, that after +a period of twenty years interrupted labor, the second temple rose on +the very same spot on which the first noble fabric had adorned the +happy days of the royal Solomon, the son of king David. + +In the days of Darius Hystaspes, complaints were made by the enemies +of the Jews, in order to prevent them from continuing the building of +the temple. This prince, considering the interruption to be the result +of the malicious insinuations of the Samaritans and their followers, +instituted an inquiry, and it being found on record at Babylon that +permission had been granted to the Jews by Cyrus to rebuild the temple +at Jerusalem, Darius immediately gave orders that the work should be +continued undisturbed. And in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, +the second temple was completed, and dedicated for divine worship. +Sacrifices were resumed, and offered upon the altar of the Lord as in +former days. Great rejoicings prevailed, and the festival of Passover +was in that year solemnized in great splendor, and with grateful +feelings toward the God of their fathers. + +Happy, however, as the people appeared to be in again beholding the +house of God reared and dedicated to his holy worship, they still felt +and saw the deficiency in the one, when compared with the other; for +it must be observed, that in the second temple but few of the glories +remained which had adorned the first temple, so renowned in history +for its beauty, magnificence, and architectural delicacy and elegance. + +The temple erected by king Solomon at Jerusalem, was built after the +model of the tabernacle erected in the wilderness. This superb edifice +was completed in about seven years. Its grandeur and magnificence +excited the envy and the curiosity of all the surrounding nations. + +The glory of this temple, however, did not consist in the magnitude of +its dimensions alone. The main grandeur and excellency were in its +ornaments, the workmanship being everywhere curiously and exquisitely +wrought by the most expert workmen of the day. But still more +admirable in this majestic building, were those extraordinary works of +divine favor with which it was honored. These, indeed, were +excellencies and beauties derived from a divine source only, +distinguishing and exalting this sacred structure above all others of +mortal invention. + +The deficiencies thus complained of and regretted, were five in +number, which formed the principal and most essential ornaments of the +sacred edifice. + +FIRST.--The ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat upon it; the +cherubim of gold, and the two tables of stone, on which the decalogue +was inscribed by the finger of God. These were all in their proper +places in the first temple built by king Solomon. It is the generally +received opinion among the learned men of the Jewish nation, that +there was such an ark made, and that the copy of the five books of +Moses, called the Pentateuch--as corrected and revised by the scribe +Ezra--was deposited therein. Hence, it is in imitation of this, that +in the present day, the Jews have in their synagogues throughout all +the habitable globe wherever dispersed, the holy ark in which the +scroll of the law called in Hebrew "Sepher Torah," book of the law, is +deposited. + +SECOND.--The Shechinah, divine presence manifested by a visible cloud +of glory hovering over the mercy seat. + +THIRD.--The Ureem and Thumeem. These were two sacred signs placed in +the breast-plate of judgment worn by the high priest, who made use of +these signs to consult the will of God, and to ask counsel of him on +such momentous occasions touching the public interest of the nation at +large. The first of these words signifies in the Hebrew, light; the +second, perfection. Of these we shall have to speak more fully in the +course of the work. + +FOURTH.--The sacred fire which descended from on high upon the altar, +to consume the daily sacrifices and burnt offerings brought in honor +of the Lord God of hosts. + +FIFTH.--The spirit of prophecy; for though the three last prophets, +Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi, lived during the time of the second +temple, yet, after their death, the prophetic spirit ceased to exist +any longer among the Jewish nation. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Of the state of the Jews in the days of Ezra the Scribe. + + +Henceforward we are not to look on the Jews, free, rich and glorious, +under the direction of Prophets and warlike Monarchs; they had been +sold as slaves by their conquerors, and dispersed throughout all their +vast and mighty Empires. Some few of the favored, eminent and worthy +characters obtained posts of honor, who distinguished themselves in +the discharge of those duties imposed on them in their several +appointments. Of the great number of the people who had been carried +into captivity, scarcely more than fifty thousand returned to +Jerusalem, and those were principally of the poorer classes, who, it +must be noticed, are in all ages the most religious. The richer +portion of the nation remained behind--and, as proverbial with the +Jews for their charity and fellow feeling, they raised among +themselves a subscription sufficient to enable their brethren to +proceed on their holy pilgrimage. + +The proposal made to the Jews was, that they should be governed by +their own laws; but as they became subject to Persia, and +subsequently to Syria and Rome, their privileges, and even the +exercise of their religion, greatly depended on the caprice of their +several conquerors. Immediately on the publication of the edict, the +Chief of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Babylon, with +the Priests and Levites; and as many who retained a love for their +country and a zeal for the honor of their God, were disposed to return +to that once happy land, and now came and signified their intention of +returning. The wealthy portion, and many who formed connections with +them, and were engaged in traffic, or had acquired places and +employments, chose rather to stay and content themselves with raising +a large contribution to supply their brethren with what they could +spare of gold, silver, and other valuables for the Temple. + +The book of Ezra informs us of the three great and pious men whom God +raised up to assist the poor Jews, and gives us some particulars of +their return to Jerusalem. Zerubbabel, who built the Temple and the +Altar; Ezra, who reformed and re-established the sacred religion to +its former standard, which, during the captivity had undergone many +changes and innovations; as the people were not in a position at that +time fully to observe it, as it was practised in the palmy days of +their Fathers; and Nehemiah, who built the walls of the City, and ably +assisted Ezra in his good work in introducing and ultimately effecting +a great and solid improvement among the people. This book embraces a +period of about one hundred and forty-six years, and the acts thereof +were accomplished during the reigns of six successive Persian +Monarchs, viz: Cyrus, Darius, Ahasuerus, Artaxerxes, Darius the +second, and a second Artaxerxes. About eighty years after their +establishment, Ezra obtained a full commission from Artaxerxes to +succeed Zerubbabel, the present Viceroy, and return to Jerusalem, with +as many of the nation as were willing to go with him; and there to +regulate and reform all matters of State, and restore the worship of +the true God among his people in the city of Jerusalem. + +The high reputation of Ezra in the Court of Persia, may be imagined by +the nature of the commission granted to him by the King, who addressed +him as the Priest of the Law of the God of Heaven; and declared to him +as his decree, that whosoever felt desirous to go up to Jerusalem were +permitted to do so freely and safely; and furthermore, that they +should take with them presents direct from the King himself, as a +proof of his sanction and approbation. In the middle of March, about +the year of the World 3540, Ezra set out on his journey, and pitched +his tents on the banks of the river Ahavah, where he waited till his +companions had assembled together, from whom he selected a number of +Priests and Levites to assist him on the journey. + +As soon as Ezra had collected about him a large body of people, he +issued a proclamation for a general fast and days of thanksgiving, to +implore the blessing and protection of God. He then proceeded on his +journey, and arrived safely with all his company at Jerusalem in the +middle of the month of July, being about four months after he had set +out for Jerusalem. + +Having arrived at Jerusalem, Ezra convened all the Elders of the +people, before whom he laid open his Commission and had it publicly +read to all the people. He then delivered up to the Treasury and the +Priests, all the presents which had been made by the Persian Monarch +and his Nobility; also the presents of those Jews who preferred to +remain at Babylon. + +Ezra then appointed Judges and Magistrates, and gave each of them +their Commission, empowering them to enforce the Laws as laid down for +the general government of the people. + +Ezra maintained the supreme authority under his Commission from the +Persian Court, during thirteen years, occupying himself with the +faithful discharge of every part of his sacred duty, with unfeigned +and pious zeal and assiduity. And still it seems that Ezra had not +power or influence enough fully to accomplish by himself, his noble +and praiseworthy enterprise. + +About this time it was that Nehemiah, of whom we shall speak in the +following Chapter, succeeded Ezra as Governor or Viceroy, and he +brought with him a new Commission, with fresh power and authority from +the Persian Court. + +Ezra, now with a graceful and pious condescension, assumed a +subordinate station. He acted as President to the Sanhedrin, the +Grand Council of the Elders, and employed the whole of his time in +reforming the Temple service, which had been sadly abused during the +long captivity, and succeeded in restoring all its former rites and +discipline. He carefully examined all the sacred Books, revised and +corrected them. He then divided and fixed the number of Books to +twenty-four, such as are now in use among the Hebrew Nation, called +the Old Testament. Ezra was learned and well versed in them all; his +high station and authority enabled him to collect the best copies from +which to take the standard. In addition to all this, Ezra being +himself inspired, and zealous in the sacred cause, and favored as he +was with the valuable assistance of the three later Prophets, Haggai, +Zachariah and Malachi, no doubt exists in the hearts of the Jewish +Nation that the Bible now in their possession, is the same which +existed in the days of the great Patriot for his God and his Religion, +the inspired Ezra. + +One of the strongest proofs that the Jews are correct in this respect +is, that recent travelers have stated in all their journals, that +wherever they met with Jews and their Synagogues they found a +uniformity in the Scroll of the Law as read in the Jewish Church; +besides, if we take into our consideration that Moses either wrote +himself, or had written, thirteen copies of the Pentateuch, one of +which he gave to each of the twelve Tribes, and the other he deposited +in the Ark to remain there, in obedience to God's command in +Deuteronomy, Chap, xxxi: 26, it is not at all surprising that the +Jews have the original law in their possession, as handed down from +Moses, the Divine Legislator. + +When Nehemiah was established in his new Government, Ezra being +relieved from the public duties and affairs of the State, now employed +himself in expounding the Scriptures to the people, from morn till +noon; and that he might be properly heard and understood, he had a +platform fixed in one of the widest streets in the City. Ezra, +himself, was raised upon the middle of the platform, and on each side +of him stood the Priests, who were assistants and interpreters; and as +Ezra read the Law in the Hebrew, the Priests explained it to the +people in the Chaldee language, which had become familiar to them in +consequence of their long sojourn in the great City of Babylon. In +this way it was, that all the people of the Holy City, as well as +those who came from very distant parts, especially on the Festivals +and Holy days, could thus have the Bible and the Law explained to +them, and their duty fully recommended to them every day, or at least +regularly every Sabbath. + +It must here be noticed, that all those Jews who had settled +themselves in Alexandria and all the Grecian Provinces, had the Bible +interpreted to them in the Greek language, after that the Bible had +been translated into that language. From this circumstance it arose +that those of the people who used the Greek language in the +Synagogues, were called Hellenists, to distinguish them from those +who continued the use of the Chaldee language. + +The last work which Ezra performed, was, the restoring to the people +the sacred service of the Temple, according to the original and usual +form before the captivity. He revised and amended the Jewish Liturgy, +adding many new prayers and forms of Thanksgiving composed since the +return from Babylon, on the blessings of Liberty and freedom from +bondage. This pious and truly religious man composed also the service +used at the dedication of the new Temple; and he carefully arranged +all the Psalms and Hymns chanted on that occasion by the Priests and +the Levites, in the house of God. Many of the prayers above noticed, +are still extant among the Jewish Nation, of which we shall have to +speak in a future Chapter. + +Ezra as a Priest, a Preacher of righteousness, and a skilful Scribe of +the Law of God, unweariedly continued the reformation he had begun. He +spent almost the whole of his time in preparing correct editions of +the Holy Scripture--as during the captivity at Babylon, many copies +had been lost, and many of them had been destroyed by the enemy--those +which remained were chiefly in the hands of private individuals. Ezra, +therefore, carefully examined these copies, and corrected those errors +which may have been made, probably through the carelessness of the +various transcribers. + +It is stated, that in the Church of Saint Dominic, in Bononia, or +Bologna, in Italy, there is a copy of the Law, kept with great care, +said to be written by Ezra himself, upon leather made up into a roll +according to the ancient manner, and in the same form as used now +among the Israelites of the present day. This very eminent, pious and +good man, may truly be said to be a second founder of the Jewish +Church and State--a character highly esteemed, honored and +beloved--zealous for his God, and anxious only for the happiness and +welfare of his people. + +Ezra had now been some years succeeded by his friend and coadjutor +Nehemiah, whom Ezra had originally introduced at the Court of Persia; +and to whom he had rendered every assistance in his power to enable +him to discharge his mission with credit to himself, and satisfaction +to the Government by whom he was engaged. + +Ezra continued to employ the remainder of his life in the religious +affairs of his Nation. There is some doubt entertained as to the place +where he died--some suppose that he died and was buried in +Jerusalem--others again assert that in his old age Ezra returned to +the Court of Persia, and died there at the advanced age of one hundred +and twenty years. Ezra brings down the history of his Nation to the +twentieth year of Ahasuerus, the then reigning King of Persia. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation during the days of + Nehemiah. + + +This great and good man stands a noble example and instance of a +zealous and disinterested patriot in the cause of religion and its +Divine author. + +Nehemiah was the son of Hechaliah, who was one of the captive Jews +carried in early life to Shushan, the metropolis of Persia. He had +been fortunate in obtaining an appointment in the Persian Court, and +he chose rather to continue in his office at Court, than to return +with his countrymen to Jerusalem. + +Nehemiah was born at Shushan. He was a man of public spirit, learning +and piety. He was appointed Cup-bearer to the King of Persia. In this +office he obtained the royal favor, which made him much beloved at +Court; and he thus became a man of great influence, and in the +possession of considerable wealth. Nehemiah had never seen Jerusalem, +although his ancestors had lived and died there; he, however, had at +all times expressed himself kindly disposed towards his brethren, +though strangers to him, and he anxiously wished for an opportunity +to exercise the influence of his high position for their benefit. + +Nehemiah was taking a walk one evening near Shushan, and seeing some +travelers who appeared to be strangers going toward the city gates, +curiosity led him to listen to their conversation, which was held in +Hebrew. He saluted the strangers, and enquired of them from what +country they came? Jerusalem, was the reply. Anxious to know something +of his people, he entered deeply into conversation with the strangers, +and earnestly sought all the information respecting his brethren in +Jerusalem. He learned from the travelers that the walls of the City +were broken down, and that the people were constantly being annoyed +and plundered by the riotous banditti who infested the neighborhood; +that there was no possibility of preventing these outrages, and that +every morning the roads were strewed with the dying and the dead. + +Nehemiah was so affected at the account of this deplorable situation +of his brethren, that he burst forth into tears, and prayed fervently +to God in their behalf. While thus engaged and agitated in mind, +orders came from the Palace informing Nehemiah that the King demanded +his presence. The King observing sorrow depicted in the countenance of +his favorite Nehemiah, enquired the cause, in which enquiry, the Queen +who was present, also joined, and seemed solicitous to know the reason +of his apparent grief. The King kindly asked Nehemiah what was the +cause for sorrow and tears? Nehemiah, encouraged by this favorable +opportunity, explained to the King the cause of his grief, and related +to him that which he had previously heard from the passing travelers. +He then stated to the King that Jerusalem was the City of his +ancestry; that the walls and gates were broken down by its enemies, +and that all its inhabitants were being murdered by the robbers who +infested the place. Nehemiah closed his sorrowful tale by presenting a +petition to the King, praying that he might be commissioned to go to +Jerusalem, and be empowered to repair the walls of the City. + +The King in reply, said to Nehemiah, "Dry up your tears and be +cheerful; your petition shall be granted, and an order shall be given +to assist you in your noble and praiseworthy undertaking." The King +then issued out immediate orders to Sanballat, and other officers of +his Court, to furnish Nehemiah with money from the Royal Treasury, and +every necessary material to carry out the proposed object. Nehemiah +overflowing with joy and gratitude, fell down on his face and poured +out his soul in thanks and praises to his Monarch for his inimitable +goodness towards himself and his people. The King then granted to +Nehemiah leave of absence from the Court, to fulfil the mission he had +thus undertaken. + +Nehemiah set out immediately for Babylon, and took with him a +sufficient number of men to accompany him on his journey, together +with a troop of guards which the King had given him as an escort. +Thus equipped, Nehemiah and all his company arrived safely at the Holy +City, Jerusalem. He here shut himself up three whole days in religious +devotion and pious meditation. The three days being ended, Nehemiah +went forth towards evening to examine the City and its walls. The +report he had received from the travelers whom he saw at Shushan, +proved to be quite true. + +The next day Nehemiah assembled all the Elders and heads of the +people, and made known to them his commission, and likewise his object +in coming to Jerusalem. He then requested their co-operation, in order +to fulfil the task he had imposed upon himself. The people readily +assented to all which the good man proposed to them, and thus enabled +him to complete the work in repairing and fortifying the walls. He +engaged a numerous body of mechanics and their families, and +diligently presided daily over the work himself, until the whole was +completed. + +The work being ended, and all in good order, Nehemiah with true piety +and religious zeal, caused a Dedication to be solemnized by the +Priests and the Levites, in gratitude to Almighty God, by whose mighty +power and parental care alone, the people had thus far gained a +victory over their unrelenting persecutors. + +In the execution of this work, Nehemiah exhibited great courage, and +exposed himself to many dangers and insults. He kept a body guard +about him to protect him from the attacks of the enemy, and +personally superintended the building of the walls. He made the +laborers work in armour; both the mason and his man carried swords, +with shields lying at their side, while trumpeters were placed at +certain distances, to sound the alarm at the approach of the enemy. +Nehemiah was once told of a conspiracy formed against him, by +assassins who had determined to kill him, and his friends advised him +to take refuge in the Temple, but Nehemiah nobly replied: "Should such +a man as I flee? Who is there, being as I am, would go into the Temple +to save his life? I will not go in!" + +The walls of the City having been finished, which was the extent of +the Commission granted to Nehemiah, he went back to Shushan to obtain +further orders; and during his temporary absence, he entrusted the +care of his Government and the City, to two of his brothers. + +On the return of Nehemiah to Jerusalem, he set about fortifying the +City, and beautifying the Temple. It was at this time that Ezra the +Scribe delivered his public Lectures, as related in the history of +that great man. + +Nehemiah zealously and diligently corrected all the abuses and +disorders in the State, as far as his influence and authority enabled +him. He now called upon all the people for contributions to beautify +and adorn the Temple, and for the support of its service; and in order +to set a good example, he very liberally gave from his own purse a +thousand drachms of gold, fifty dishes, and two hundred and fifty-two +dresses for the Priests. He further arranged that the Priests and the +Levites should be near the Temple, so that they should at all times be +regular in their attendance at Divine Worship; for which purpose, +Nehemiah had houses built in the immediate neighborhood of the Temple. + +Nehemiah kept a princely table, a splendid equipage, and a train of +servants, altogether at his own expense--exacting no tribute whatever +from any one, but giving himself liberally, wherever it was required. +Thus with the highest honor, credit and generosity, he completed the +period of his Commission. + +Nehemiah had now presided as Governor during twelve years; and +therefore, according to his promise, he returned to the Court of +Persia. After five years residence at Shushan, Nehemiah obtained +permission to return to Jerusalem, and resume his office as Governor. +On his return he found great depravity and corruption among the +people, both in the Church and the State. The people had sadly +neglected the service in the Temple--they had profaned the Sabbath by +making it a day of traffic, and following their usual avocations as on +the other days of the week. + +Nehemiah immediately assembled all the Magistrates and other officers +of the State, and severely rebuked them for suffering the people to +commit such outrages against their Holy Religion. He then ordered that +the gates should be closed on every Friday, from sun set, until +Saturday evening after dark--by which means all traffic was +suspended--was, that the people were again brought into the practice +of keeping the Sabbath Holy, and abstaining from all worldly matters +during that sacred day. + +Nehemiah strenuously persisted in his good work, by enforcing the +observance of the Mosaic Law throughout the length and breadth of the +land; he had Lectures delivered daily in Jerusalem, in the hearing of +all the people, and the Pentateuch expounded in a language familiar to +all the people. This practice was first carried out in the open +streets, (as already noticed in the former Chapter,) or in the public +market places, as found most convenient, until such time when +arrangements could be made for the establishment of Schools and +Synagogues suitable for such purposes. These Schools were, however, +not built nor in full action until some time after the death of this +venerable and pious man. + +Nehemiah is supposed to be the last Governor of the Jews sent from the +Court of Persia. The Government of Judea was afterwards conducted by +the High Priests, till the days when Alexander the Great had totally +ruined the Persian Empire. Nehemiah lived till he became very far +advanced in years, happy in the love of his people, and in the success +of his honest and disinterested labors. He recorded his own history, +in which his name is transmitted to posterity with delight to all who +read of his zeal, and his religious devotion to the welfare and +improvement of his poor suffering brethren in Jerusalem. + +This truly pious and zealous patriot had his recompense in this world, +by the satisfaction he had, in seeing his good work carried out +according to his ardent wishes and anxious desires. He, together with +his cotemporary, the good Ezra, of whom we have already spoken, were +devoted to the cause of true religion; they were not actuated by any +worldly selfishness, or literary fame, for they only endeavored to +restore the people to the original pure worship of the Temple, such as +was commanded and practised by Moses and the Elders, and the +subsequent generations, without any attempt on their part to introduce +new laws for the government of the Synagogue or Temple worship; and +hence they succeeded in their noble and pious undertaking. A bright +example to all those whom God Almighty in his wisdom may be disposed +to select as Priests or Chiefs over the people, to see that naught but +the true spirit of religion be preached and practised among the +people, to the honor and glory of Him who so graciously condescended +to give his people a code of laws for their guidance and instruction, +in every stage of existence. Nehemiah has transmitted a name and +reputation to all generations, more honorable and durable than the +Grecian Pillar, or the Roman Statue. His liberality, disinterestedness, +courage and industry--his affectionate feelings and love for his +country--will live in the hearts of his people forever and ever. + +Before we close this Chapter, we must briefly notice some events of +deep interest and importance to the Jews, which took place in Persia, +during the days of Nehemiah. In the third year of the reign of +Ahasuerus, King of Persia, the whole Nation of the Jews were in great +danger of being destroyed through the wicked misrepresentations of a +haughty and imperious Minister of the Persian Court; this was Haman, a +descendant of Amalek, who was at all times a dire enemy of the Jewish +race. The malicious designs of this crafty Amalekite, were frustrated +by the inscrutable ways of an all-wise Providence, who never forsakes +the good and the just, in the hour of distress. The King of Persia +made a great Feast for his Captains and nobles, after which, he made +another Feast for all the people who were found in the Metropolis of +Shushan. On the seventh day of this banquet, the King commanded his +Queen Vashti to appear in the grand chamber before all the company who +were then assembled. It being contrary to the laws of Persia for +ladies to be seen in public assemblies, the Queen refused to do the +King's bidding. This refusal of the Queen greatly incensed the King; +and having consulted his Council as to the mode necessary to be +adopted on this occasion, the King at their advice, removed Vashti +from the Court, and deprived her of all her regal glory. When the King +began to reflect on his hasty decree, he became disconsolate, and +sorely regretted the loss of his favored Vashti. His friends and +counsellors seeing this change in the King's manners, divined the +cause, and endeavored to divert him therefrom, by advising and +recommending him to select for himself another Queen, in the place of +Vashti. The King, on reflection, approved the advice, and accordingly +issued a Commission, throughout all his dominions, to select the most +celebrated beauties that could be found, and present them at court, +from whom the King might select one as his future Queen. + +Among the many ladies thus presented to the Persian Monarch, was a +beautiful Jewess, named Esther, an orphan of both parents. She was +brought up and educated under the kind care of her cousin Mordecai, a +man of rank among the Jews, who was at that time living in the Capital +of Persia. + +The King, on seeing Esther, was so charmed with her personal +appearance, the elegance of her deportment, and her exquisite beauty, +that he immediately resolved to crown her as the future Queen of +Persia; and accordingly in the seventh year of his reign, the nuptials +were celebrated in great pomp and magnificence. + +Esther now being at the Palace of the Persian Monarch, Mordecai +considered it his duty to be near her, in order to watch over her as +he did in the days of her youth--and for this purpose he took up his +station in one of the King's gates. This enabled him to know all that +was passing, without being particularly observed by those who +frequented the Court. About this time a conspiracy was formed against +the life of the King, by two of his attendants. Mordecai, having +discovered the plot, made known the same to the King; an investigation +took place, and the charge being fully sustained, the criminals were +both executed, and the facts registered in the Persian records; but no +other reward was given to Mordecai for his services. + +The King's Prime Minister, Haman, had contracted a strong antipathy +against Mordecai, who refused to pay homage to him in the manner he +had exacted from all the King's household. Not content to punish +Mordecai alone, for his supposed want of respect to Haman's dignity, +he resolved to extirpate the whole race from off the face of the +earth; and in order to accomplish this atrocious design, Haman +represents to the king that the Jews were a people different from the +rest of the king's subjects, and very disobedient to his laws. The +king relying on the truth of the statement made by his favorite +minister, and he offering to pay into the king's treasury 10,000 +talents of silver to pay necessary expenses, the king gave him the +power to do as he thought proper; and Haman accordingly appointed a +day for the total extermination of the whole Jewish nation. This +affair took place in the twelfth year of the king's reign, and about +five years after Ezra had received his commission to go to Jerusalem. + +Up to this period, none knew, not even the king himself, that queen +Esther was a Jewess, for her cousin Mordecai had particularly enjoined +her not to divulge her kindred, nor her nation. Strictly did Esther +obey her cousin in everything that he conjured her; and the result was +that her obedience to him, who was her second father and her natural +guardian, proved to be the great contributing cause of her becoming +the sole instrument in preventing her nation from being totally +exterminated. + +Mordecai having learned all that had passed in reference to this +decree, sent a message to queen Esther informing her of all that had +occurred, and imploring her to go to the king and petition him to save +her people. The queen, on hearing this sad news felt sorely grieved, +and was at a loss how to act, knowing as she did, that the laws of the +Medes and Persians were unalterable; and that the ordinance had been +passed, prohibiting any person, on pain of death, from approaching the +king without being called to attend him, unless he should condescend +to hold forth his golden sceptre as a signal of his pleasure. The +queen sent a message to her cousin Mordecai, pointing out to him the +danger of such an undertaking; to which he replied, that it was not +her own personal safety that was in question, but the security of a +whole race, who were unjustly condemned to perish by the vile +artifices of an arrogant and ambitious man. Esther, feeling the force +of the appeal made to her by Mordecai, repaired to the palace, at the +risk of her own life, to save her people; and to her great joy and +astonishment, the moment the king beheld her in the court, he kindly +extended the sign of mercy, and gave her a favorable reception. +Esther, encouraged by this pleasing invitation, related to her husband +the intentions and plot of the wicked Haman, who was instantly +condemned to death, and Mordecai was favorably admitted into the +king's household as the relative of the queen. The king, by another +royal edict, published throughout all his dominions, that the Jews +should be empowered on the day named by Haman for their destruction, +to stand on their own defense; and as this decree became known all +over the land to be the real wishes of the sovereign, and Haman being +no more, it proved serviceable to the poor Jews, and fully answered +all that could have been expected; but yet, not without great +slaughter among the people during the various conflicts and battles +which took place on the day appointed. In these conflicts, the Jews +standing only on their own defense, slew upwards of seventy-five +thousand of their enemies, who rose up against them. It is in +commemoration of this signal deliverance from their enemies, that the +feast of Purim is celebrated annually among the Jews throughout the +world. + +Without referring to any particular cause, there is no doubt that the +influence of Esther, and that of Mordecai, who became high in honor, +and a favorite at the court of Persia, must have proved very +beneficial to the Jews in general, and especially those who were in +Jerusalem. Mordecai being now in power, promoted all his kindred to +posts of honor, dignity and emolument; and through his influence, many +of his countrymen became wealthy and prosperous. Here we may observe +how the overruling providence of God is signally displayed. Mordecai +retained his influence with the king, being the next in the +administration; he was beloved and revered by all his brethren, whose +happiness and welfare were his constant study. + +It is stated, that in a place called Amdam, in Persia, the tombs of +both Mordecai and Esther are still to be seen, and are highly prized +by all the Jews living in Persia and the adjacent countries. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Of the state of the Jewish Nation under the Persian and + the Grecian Monarchies. + + +After the death of Nehemiah, Judea became subjected to those whom the +Kings of Persia made Governors of Syria. These governors placed the +regulation of affairs under the control of the high priest, who had +all the sacred authority, as well as civil power, vested in him, but +still he was under the direction of the governor of Syria. This +arrangement, however, was frequently interrupted by the different +governors and princes, from time to time, who occasionally appointed +other persons, not of the family of the priests, to officiate in such +sacred office. + +It is recorded in the book of Nehemiah, that when Johannan, the son of +Jehoiada, had been in possession of the royal priesthood during many +years, Bagoses, the governor of Syria, appointed Jeshua the younger +brother of Johannan to depose him, and take the priesthood to himself. +This caused considerable disturbance and dissatisfaction; a tumult +arose in the inner court of the Temple, and Jeshua was slain there by +his brother. + +Bagoses, the governor of Syria, incensed at such opposition to his +views, immediately entered the inner court of the Temple, in defiance +of the remonstrance of the Jews, who explained to him that he was +unclean, and therefore unfit to enter the holy edifice. In reply, +Bagoses proudly remarked "that he was purer than the dead carcass of +him whom they had slain there;" and as a punishment for this outrage, +he imposed a heavy fine for every lamb that was offered throughout the +year. + +About this period the Jews were most miraculously saved from the +threatened oppression and resentment of Alexander the Great, king of +Macedonia, in Greece, who had marched toward the city of Jerusalem +with a powerful army, determined to punish the people for refusing to +assist him in the siege of Tyre. + +At the time when Alexander declared war against the people of Tyre, +they were so wholly occupied as merchants that they had entirely +neglected all agricultural pursuits, and consequently had to be +supplied with provisions by their immediate neighbors. Judea was at +this time the place from which they were mostly furnished with all +that they required. Alexander was necessarily compelled to seek +provisions from the same source, and accordingly sent his orders to +that effect. The Jews had previously declared their allegiance to +Darius, and considered that they were bound in faith not to +acknowledge any new power during his lifetime, and therefore refused +to obey the command of the proud Macedonian. Alexander, being then in +the zenith of his glory, having been so eminently successful in his +late wars, considered that every nation was bound to submit to him, +and that he durst not be contradicted. The refusal of the Jews in this +respect, greatly incensed Alexander; he marched towards Jerusalem +determined to punish the Jews, as he had the Syrians, for not obeying +his commands. The Jews, fearing the consequences of the Emperor's +power, which was certainly great at that time, felt severely the +dilemma into which they were thus innocently involved; and as usual +with the chosen people of God when in distress, they had no other +course to adopt but to rely on the protection of Him who had at all +times responded to their call, in the hour of trouble. For this +purpose all Jerusalem were assembled together in prayer and +supplication, and offering additional sacrifices in the +Temple--imploring the mercy of God in their great distress. The high +priest then gave instructions that the gates of the city should be +thrown open, and that all the priests should be clad in their official +robes, (he himself being attired in his pontifical habiliments,) and +that all the elders and heads of the nation should go forth to meet +the conqueror in grand procession. On the approach of Alexander to the +city, and beholding this imposing scene, he was smitten with profound +awe and religious veneration. He saluted the high priest and tenderly +embraced him--entered the city in the most friendly manner, declaring +himself the friend and protector of Israel. The Syrians and +Phoenicians, who being the enemies of the Jews, were in expectation +that the Emperor would wreak his vengeance on them and destroy them as +he had those of Tyre, surprised and disappointed at this sudden change +of the Emperor's conduct, naturally enquired into the cause; to which +Alexander replied, that while at Macedonia he had a dream, in which he +saw the figure of the same high priest, dressed in his sacerdotal +robes, encouraging him to pursue his expedition against the Persians, +and promising him success; which was fully realized beyond his most +sanguine expectations. In the person of the present high priest, he +saw the same figure which had appeared to him at Dio, and therefore he +concluded that his success was mainly attributable to the will of God; +and that, in the person of the high priest, he paid adoration to God +in gratitude for the favor thus conferred upon him. + +Alexander, thus pacified, enquired of the Jews what favor they had to +ask of him, which was in his power to grant; to which they replied, +the privilege of being governed by their own laws, and to have no +obstruction in following the religion of their forefathers, which was +more dear to them than all worldly distinctions. This request was +accordingly granted; and further, as a mark of Alexander's favor, they +were to be exempt from paying tribute or taxes during the seventh +year, because in that year they neither sowed nor reaped their land. + +Alexander then requested the high priest to have a golden image of his +likeness placed between the porch and the altar, as a memorial of his +visit. The high priest in reply to the Emperor, explained to him that +according to the Jewish law, it was forbidden to have any image or +likeness set up in the house of God, which was exclusively devoted to +the worship of Him who is the sole ruler of the universe. But, said +the high priest, we will make a greater memorial for you, which shall +descend to ages yet to come; that all the male children which shall be +born unto the priests during the coming year, shall be named after +your imperial majesty, in honor of your illustrious condescension and +clemency on this momentous occasion. + +The king expressed himself highly pleased with this promise of the +high priest, and in token of his approbation presented a considerable +amount of gold for the use of the Temple service. Alexander then +retired, well satisfied with all that had transpired; and on leaving +the Temple, he declared in a very fervent tone, "Blessed be the Lord +God of Israel, the God of this house." + +Alexander, on leaving Palestine, marched into Egypt, over which he +made an easy conquest, as the people having heard of his success, +immediately surrendered; and thus he became master of that country. He +built the city of Alexandria, and peopled it with different nations, +among whom were many Israelites, who enjoyed the same privileges with +the rest of his subjects. + +In the following spring, Alexander became perfect master of the whole +of the Persian Empire; he then made war with India and conquered it. +Elated with success in all his enterprises, he indulged in all the +excesses of life, and within five years from this time he died from +the effects produced by such an extravagant mode of life. A short time +after his death, the Empire was divided among four of Alexander's +generals, and then the Jewish nation fell into the power of Ptolemy +Soter, who became master of Egypt, Arabia, Cael Syria, and Palestine +of Judea, these countries being his share of the division of the +Empire of Alexander. + +The kings of Egypt and Syria being constantly at war with each other, +and desirous of enlarging their dominions, the Jews were at a loss +whose cause to support, as they were called upon by all parties. This +placed them in extreme difficulties, being in danger on both sides, +and consequently badly treated by both parties in power. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Of the affairs of the Jewish Nation under Ptolemy Soter, + Ptolemy Philadelphus, and Ptolemy Philopater, Kings of + Egypt. + + +Ptolemy Soter signified his intention to make Alexandria, in Egypt, +his capital city. He persuaded many of the Israelites to settle there, +with the promise that the same privileges granted them by Alexander, +should be continued to them. This boon induced numbers of Jews to +settle in Alexandria. + +A remarkable story is told of one Mossolam, a Jew, who was one of +those who followed Ptolemy at this time. This Mossolam was one of a +Jewish troop of horse, who were advised by some soothsayer to stand +still at the sight of a bird which appeared in the air, and that the +people should follow the direction of this bird, either to go one way +or the other, as that bird took its flight; to test the truth of +which, this Mossolam shot the bird with his arrow, and the bird fell +dead at his feet. He then declared aloud to the people, "How could +that poor bird foretell our fortune, which knew nothing of its own?" +His object was, in this expression, to expose the superstition of the +heathens, so prevalent in those days. + +Ptolemy Soter established a college of learned men, at Alexandria, in +Egypt, and commenced a library there, which Ptolemy Philadelphus, his +youngest son and successor, improved to one hundred thousand volumes. +It is stated that this prince ordered the Pentateuch to be translated +into the Greek language, that the Gentiles might be enabled to read +it; this was accordingly done, and placed in the great library, as we +shall read hereafter. + +This college of learned men was encouraged, and the library increased +under the several Ptolemys till it contained seven hundred thousand +books. This circumstance made Alexandria the place of residence and +resort for learned men during several ages. It happened, unfortunately +for posterity, that one half of this famous library was burnt by +Julius Cæsar in his Alexandrian war, and the balance was finally +destroyed by the Saracens, in the year 642 of the Christian era. + +Ptolemy gained the favor of the Jews, by paying a ransom of one +hundred thousand of their countrymen, who had been taken captive and +made slaves in Egypt. Having thus ingratiated himself into their good +opinions, he proposed the translation of the Pentateuch above +mentioned, in the following manner: he selected six Elders out of each +tribe, making the number of seventy-two; these he invited to his +court, and engaged them to perform the task, which was accordingly +done and approved by him; and in token of his approbation, he very +liberally rewarded them for their labors. This translation is known by +the name of the Septuagint--so called from the circumstance of there +having been seventy-two learned men employed for that purpose. The +Septuagint is, however, by no means considered a correct translation, +there being many incongruities contained therein; the rendering of +many passages being at variance with the original Hebrew. The +translation of the prophets, etc., into Greek, was made many years +later, in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes; this completed the +translation of the whole of the Old Testament. + +When Ptolemy Philopater reigned over Egypt and Syria, he persisted in +offering up sacrifices in gratitude to the God of Israel, for his +success against Antiochus the Great, the successor of Seleucus, king +of Syria. The Jews naturally opposed this measure, and were +consequently persecuted because of their strict adherence to their +religion. + +The kings of Syria and Egypt, in order to annoy the Jews, would force +themselves into the holy Temple, and burn sacrifices upon the altar. +It is related of Ptolemy Philopater that he insisted on entering even +the holy of holies. The priests and the levites, and all the people, +assembled together in prayer and supplication to the Almighty, to +assist them in preventing the sanctuary from being polluted by the +heathen. It happened that, when the king was about to enter the holy +Temple, he was smitten with such terror and confusion of mind, that +he was removed from the holy place almost lifeless. + +The king, on his recovery from this attack, which he believed was +caused by the prayers of the people, was determined to be revenged on +the whole Jewish nation; for which purpose, he went to Alexandria, and +commanded that all the people should sacrifice to his idols. The +people in general refused to do so, on which account he deprived them +of all the privileges which had been granted to them by Alexander the +Great. He then directed that every Jew should be marked with an ivy +leaf, (the same being the badge of his idol Bacchus,) burned in their +flesh with a hot iron; and further, that all those who resisted this +infliction, should either be made slaves or put to death. Some few of +the poor Jews reluctantly obeyed the king's mandate, in order to +prevent the threatened punishment; but many thousands of them stood +firm in the religion of their fathers, and suffered all the +persecutions of the tyrant, rather than forsake the God who had +wrought so many miracles in their behalf. + +Ptolemy, vexed to find that the people would not sacrifice to his +idols, and that they submitted to every degradation rather than +forsake their God, resolved to be revenged, and threatened to destroy +and annihilate the whole of the nation; and this he attempted to do, +by issuing an order that all the Jews who lived _in_ and _about_ +Egypt, should be brought to Alexandria in chains, and there to be +devoured by his elephants. The Jews were brought to the place of +execution, where the elephants were made drunk with wine and +frankincense, and then let loose among the people; but instead of +falling upon the Jews, they turned their rage upon the spectators who +came to witness the scene, and destroyed great numbers of them, +leaving the Jews unhurt. + +The king on seeing his plans frustrated, began to reflect, and to be +convinced that the God of Israel would protect his people from their +enemies; and fearing that he would become the victim of the vengeance +of a justly offended God, he immediately revoked his cruel decree, and +restored to the people all their former privileges. Those, however, +who had forsaken their God and abandoned their religion by sacrificing +to his idols, were delivered into the hands of their enemies, and many +of them were put to death. + +How just are the dispensations of Providence! and how secure is man +under the most perilous circumstances, while he puts his trust in his +God and remains firm to the true worship of Him who is ever watchful +of the safety of his faithful and trustworthy followers. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Of the Jewish affairs under Antiochus the Greek, + Seleucus, and Antiochus Epiphanes, Kings of Syria. + + +After the death of Ptolemy Philopater, Ptolemy Epiphanes came to the +throne. The Jews, having experienced severe persecutions at the hands +of the Ptolemys, surrendered to the power of Antiochus the Great, King +of Syria; and when he came to Jerusalem, the people went out to meet +him in great procession, and very graciously welcomed him to their +city. + +Antiochus, flattered by this mark of their attention granted them the +same privileges as he had done to their brethren who had settled +themselves in Babylon and Mesopotamia. He had at all times expressed +himself satisfied with the conduct of the people, having found them on +all occasions true and loyal subjects. + +Antiochus, wishing to show his confidence in the Jews, and with a view +of encouraging them, sent many of them from Babylon to Lower Asia, to +guard and protect his forts and garrisons, and allowed them good +settlements; hence many of the Jewish nation peopled that part of the +country. At the death of Antiochus, his son, Seleucus Philopater, +succeeded him. In his day, Simon, a Benjamite, was made Governor of +the Temple. He had some difference with Onias, the high priest, who +was a very good man. Simon, however, not succeeding in his +expectations with the high priest, reported to Appolonius, the +Governor of the Province under Seleucus, that great treasures were +deposited in the Temple; upon which information Heliodorus, the +treasurer, was sent to seize them. + +Heliodorus accordingly repaired to the Temple to make this seizure. +When he entered the Temple he found the priests and all the people +engaged in solemn prayer to Almighty God, imploring his divine +assistance in their present distress. The scene which thus presented +itself to him at that moment so powerfully affected him, that he fell +prostrate before the Lord of Hosts, whose power he publicly +acknowledged, and resolved not to interfere with the people of God, as +he called them, and immediately left the city. + +Antiochus Epiphanes succeeded his brother Seleucus in the kingdom of +Syria. When seated on the throne, Jason, the brother of Onias the high +priest, bribed Antiochus with a large sum of money to deprive Onias of +the priesthood and to banish him to Antioch; at the same time Jason +wished to have the priesthood conferred on him; not, as it is +supposed, that he wished to have it as a religious office, but +because it would invest him likewise with the power of the civil +government. Antiochus received the bribe; banished Onias to Antioch, +and then appointed Jason to the office of high priest. + +When Jason became high priest, he erected a place of exercise at +Jerusalem for training up youth according to the fashion of the +Greeks, and induced many of them to forsake the religious customs and +usages of their forefathers, and to conform in many things to the +customs and ceremonies of the heathens. Some few years after Jason had +been in office, he commissioned his brother Menelaus to go to the +court of Syria to pay the annual tribute money. Menelaus took +advantage of this opportunity, and offered the king a larger bribe +than his brother had given for the priesthood. + +Antiochus made no scruple in the matter, and accepted the money thus +offered by Menelaus; and gave instructions to his secretary to make +out a fresh commission in favor of Menelaus, who returned triumphantly +to Jerusalem, deposed his brother Jason, and placed himself in the +office of the priesthood. + +Menelaus being in office, abused the power and authority vested in +him, and conducted himself in a manner much worse than his brother +whom he had deposed. He stole some of the golden vessels from the +Temple, impoverished the country, and by degrees he managed to enslave +the whole of Judea, and overturned all that was left of her religion +and her freedom. He then visited Antioch, where he met his brother +Onias, who rebuked him for his misconduct both towards him and the +people in general. Menelaus, chagrined at his brother's rebuke, +adopted means by which Onias was put to death. During this time, +Lysimachus, who had been appointed by Menelaus to officiate as his +deputy during his absence, stripped the temple of many of its most +costly vessels. He also committed many other sacrilegious acts; this +occasioned a great tumult and confusion among the people, which ended +in considerable bloodshed, and in which conflict the deputy himself +fell a victim. + +This circumstance led to a false report being industriously +circulated, that Antiochus had fallen in the affray. Jason, availing +himself of this confusion, headed an army of resolute and desperate +men; repaired to Jerusalem which he assaulted; succeeded in putting to +flight his brother Menelaus with his party, and committed great havoc +among those who opposed him. Jason, however, was in the end defeated; +his party routed; he himself perished in some strange land, and it is +supposed even without the usual rites of burial. + +Antiochus hearing of this affair, and imagining that Judea had +revolted, gave immediate orders to his soldiers to repair to Jerusalem +and to kill young and old without any reserve. The soldiers obeyed +their cruel master in so unmerciful a manner, that in less than three +days upwards of forty thousand souls were slain; thousands taken into +captivity, and sold as slaves to the several neighboring nations. + +Antiochus then entered the holy Temple, stripped it of all the sacred +vessels still remaining--the altar of incense--the golden table and +the golden candle-stick. + +He then destroyed all the beautiful decorations of the House of God, +robbed the noble edifice of all its treasures, and impiously polluted +the holy of holies. And to further satiate his cruel revenge, he +sacrificed a sow on the altar of burnt offerings, and scattered its +fragments over every part of the Temple. The tyrant then departed, +leaving the city of Jerusalem overwhelmed in sorrow and in mourning. +The streets were strewed with the dying and the dead. The cries and +lamentations of the orphan and the widow deplored the loss of their +natural protectors and their property, which the tyrant carried away +with him to enrich his unholy possessions. + +Some time after, Antiochus sent his general Appollonius to collect the +annual tribute to which the Jews were subject, and at the same time +commanded him at the head of a thousand men, to attack the city of +Jerusalem on the sabbath day, while the people were all engaged in +their religious worship in the Temple. + +Appollonius fully executed the mandate of his cruel master. He slew +the priests and the Levites while at their sacred duties, together +with numbers of the private citizens; led the women and children into +captivity; destroyed all their houses; built a castle near the Temple, +and placed a troop of men as guards to watch and annoy those few Jews +who still remained in the city. + +Not yet satisfied, the cruel tyrant issued a decree throughout all +his dominions to suppress every religion excepting the worship of the +idols, he himself had set up, and to which alone he paid his +adoration. He forbade the Jews to perform the initiatory rite on their +male children, and prevented them from offering any more sacrifices in +the Temple to the God of Israel. He then set up an image upon the +altar, and sacrificed to it, and called it the Temple of Jupiter +Olympus. He compelled the people to offer up the flesh of swine, and +other unclean beasts, and even to eat of them. He forced the Jews to +profane the sabbath, and cruelly persecuted all such who did not +strictly conform to his wishes; rendering the position of the poor +Jews pitiable in the extreme, and probably unequalled by any other +nation in the annals of the world. Antiochus then ordered all the +books of the law, and other books used for worship, to be destroyed; +and to effectually carry out his cruel edict, officers were appointed +to search every house, and every person was examined on oath as to the +possession of any Hebrew books or tablets. By this means not a copy of +the law was to be seen among the poor Jews. Notwithstanding all these +persecutions, there were found numbers of the people who defied the +power of the merciless king; and putting their trust in the God of +Israel, would not defile themselves with the idolatrous worship then +imposed on them, and break the law of God. Sad to relate, that daily +and hourly these people who adhered to their religion, were put to the +sword and other torments, to compel them to act in obedience to the +king's orders. Their love for their religion was greater than the +pleasures of this world, and in support of that religion they +sacrificed their own lives and those of their wives and children. + +In the next and following chapters we shall inform our readers of the +manner in which the Lord raised up champions in Israel, who valiantly +and bravely resented the injuries inflicted on their countrymen, and +zealously fought the battles of the Lord; the success which ensued, +together with the total defeat of their enemies, and the punishment +which awaited the tyrant Antiochus and his army. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Of the state of the Jewish Nation in the days of + Mattathias the Priest, the father of the valiant + Maccabees. + + +In the days of the tyrant Antiochus, who so frightfully and cruelly +persecuted the Jews, there lived at Modin a very learned, pious, and +noble priest; he was of the family of the Asmoneans, named Mattathias. +This zealous and brave man was one of the first who was determined to +oppose the future progress of Antiochus. Mattathias, who was known to +be a man of considerable influence among his brethren, was highly +complimented by the king's officers, and tempted by them to comply +with the request of the king to renounce the Jewish religion and +embrace that of the heathen. The priest boldly and fearlessly rejected +their entreaties; and in the hearing of all the people he declared +that no consideration whatever should induce him, or any of his +family, to forsake his God and his holy religion; they would continue +to walk in the sacred path of their fathers, and that no king on earth +could be found to compel them to adopt any heathen worship. + +This bold declaration of the valiant priest, created great sensation +among the people--and some of them fearing the torments threatened to +be inflicted on all such who refused to obey the king's orders, +consented to offer sacrifices on the altar set up for heathen worship; +this altar was placed at Modin. The priest, zealous in the cause of +his religion, was determined to be avenged of this outrage committed +by some of his brethren; he exhorted the people in general, not to be +led away by the acts of these apostates, but to remain true to their +holy faith, and that he and his family would pour out their life's +blood for their sacred cause. + +At this time a Jew presented himself at the altar, and sacrificed to +the idol there erected. Mattathias, fired by religious zeal, fell upon +the apostate and slew him on the spot. His sons, actuated by the same +religious spirit, slew the king's chief officer and his men who +enforced his wicked commands. They then destroyed both the altar and +the images, declaring aloud to all their brethren, "Ye who are zealous +for the cause of the Lord and His religion, follow us! Follow, +follow!" The priest then collected together all the members of his +family, and took up his abode in the neighboring mountains. Many of +the Jews followed this example, and fled--some to the deserts, some to +the mountains, and there assembling together, formed themselves into a +little army--bold, resolute, zealous and brave in their just and noble +cause. + +The king's troops pursued them, and attacked them on the Sabbath day. +The people unwilling to profane the Sabbath, made no resistance, +unanimously declaring, "Let us rather die in innocence than triumph in +guilt." The enemy taking advantage of this, slew them in great +numbers. The venerable Mattathias grieved at seeing his brethren so +cruelly and innocently murdered, made a decree, (having previously +consulted his brother priests,) and published it throughout the land, +that it should be lawful, should it be found requisite, for the people +to defend themselves against their enemies, in the event of their +being attacked, on the Sabbath day. This resolution was adopted and +followed in all the subsequent wars, under the direction of their able +and pious champions. + +When Antiochus heard of this bold and daring resolution, so much +beyond his expectations, he perpetrated the most frightful cruelties +on every Jew who would not forsake his religion. On this occasion +happened the martyrdom of the venerable and pious Eleazer, a priest of +great learning, probity and zeal in the cause of religion. At the +advanced age of ninety years, this poor man was led forth to the +scaffold, and was desired to make a public declaration that he would +renounce his religion--that he should eat swine's flesh in the +presence of all the people, as a proof of his conversion. With +resolute firmness, and becoming resentment, the venerable priest +refused to comply with the wishes of the tyrant, and preferred death +rather than forsake the religion of the one true God. + +At this period it occurred, that a mother and her seven sons were +scourged in order to compel them to eat swine's flesh. Both the mother +and her sons publicly declared their resolution to die under the hands +of the executioner, rather than transgress the laws of God. The tyrant +then ordered their limbs to be cut off, their tongues to be cut out, +and the skin of their heads to be stripped off with the hair; all +which was executed in the presence of the mother, who encouraged her +children to suffer their tortures bravely in the cause of their +religion. She soothed their afflictions by the tenderest affections, +beseeching them to fear God, and not the tyrant--and patiently to +endure the torment, in the hope and expectation of a happy and +glorious resurrection, where she would meet them again in mercy, and +under the protection of an all gracious father, who never forsakes the +truly righteous. The mother having witnessed the sufferings of all her +sons, martyrs to the cause of their religion, shared the same sad +fate, and under similar torments was ushered into eternity. + +What a noble example to parents of the present day to watch over the +conduct of their children, and exert all the means in their power to +induce them to walk in the path of virtue; to inculcate in them true +religion, and not suffer them to think so lightly of the precepts of +the Lord--for it must be admitted that the apathy evinced in the +present day by all classes of society, is the sole contributing cause +of the infidelity so prevalent amongst us. If we are asked what is +the cause of this infidelity, the answer is, the Holy Bible is not +studied sufficiently, either privately or publicly; and not being +understood, is consequently rejected by thousands of those who grow up +in ignorance; hence, in the hour of distress, they have nothing to +console them, as in olden times, as exhibited in the history before +us. + +During this time, Mattathias who still remained concealed in the +mountains, encouraged his brethren to remain firm in their cause. He +spoke so emphatically to them that he gained their confidence, in +consequence of which, great numbers declared themselves true to the +noble enterprise before them. Those who more particularly were devoted +to the cause, were such as were called _chasideem_, or pious; of this +sect we shall have to speak in a future chapter, and therefore we +shall proceed with our narrative, in which we shall see the result of +true piety and honest zeal in the defence of upright principles. + +Mattathias and his party then marched, well armed, through all the +towns and villages, destroyed all the altars and places of worship +belonging to the heathens. They then circumcised all the male +children, who had been neglected in this matter in consequence of the +edict passed by the tyrant Antiochus. In this affair they met with +very strong opposition, and in their defence they committed great +slaughter among their enemies. They succeeded on this occasion in +recovering many copies of the law, which had been hid at the time the +mandate was issued to destroy all the copies of the law, or any other +Hebrew manuscripts which might be found among the people. The +venerable and pious priest had now grown grey in the service, and +appeared to be fast approaching the verge of the grave. Sensible of +his position, Mattathias assembled together all his children, together +with his friends, and on his death bed he thus addressed them: + +"My sons, be ye valiant and zealous in the cause I have so long +advocated--expose your lives in its defence, and hereafter you will +share the glorious reward of your perseverance. Let me, says the dying +man, bring to your memory the spirit, the noble spirit and pious zeal +of your ancestors, to animate your hope, and to encourage your steady +reliance on the power and protection of your all-gracious God. Thus +inspired, my dear children, and thus determined to defend your laws, +your liberties, and your religion, you _will_ not, you _cannot_ fail +of success. My son Simon has proved himself a man of wisdom, follow +his advice as a father, and as a counselor. Judas, your brother, is +well known for his courage and valorous conduct, let him be your +general, let him head your army and lead you to the battle-field. My +sons, may God Almighty ever protect you and prosper you in all your +righteous undertakings, and crown all your laudable efforts with +success." + +After this tender and affectionate interview, this, his last +and farewell advice to his sons, Mattathias in a good old age +expired, and was honorably buried at Modin, in the sepulchre of his +ancestors--beloved and esteemed by all who knew him in life, and +revered and lamented by all who attended his mortal remains to the +grave. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The Government of the Jewish nation under the Maccabees, + or as they were otherwise called, the Asmoneans, this + being the family name. + + +Judas, at the dying request of his father, and with the full consent +of his brothers, took upon himself the command of the forces, and at +once erected his standard. Judas is henceforth called Judas Maccabees, +because he chose for the motto of his banner in the field of battle, +the sentence from the song of Moses, Exodus, chap, XV: "Who is like +unto thee, amongst the powers, oh Lord!" In Hebrew the initials of the +words in the sentence form the word "_Mochbee_." Hence it is, that all +those who fought under the banner of Judas, were called "_Maccabees_," +and all of that race were known by that name. + +Judas and his brethren achieved many very valiant deeds, in defending +the cause of the holy law, and the holy religion of the God of Israel, +of which they were the bold champions. Judas was successful in gaining +the many battles he fought with Antiochus; and to encourage his army +to fight bravely, he exhorted them to put their trust in God and that +they would conquer. This inducement held out to the army, appears to +have produced the desired effect. + +The tyrant Antiochus, seeing their repeated success, became resolute +and determined to be avenged of his powerful opponents, the Maccabees. +To effectuate this, he adopted the following stratagem: when he went +into Persia to gather the tribute of the countries round about, he +left Lysias with half his army, with express orders to destroy and +root out all the Jews from their land. + +Lysias proved as cruel as his master; he collected numerous forces and +encamped near Jerusalem; his army consisted of forty thousand foot, +and seven thousand horse. Encouraged by the hope of success on the +part of Lysias, a body of merchants, about a thousand in number, +repaired to the place of action, provided with large quantities of +gold and silver, with the full expectation of buying the captive Jews +for slaves. Whilst the enemy contemplated a complete victory, Judas +and his brethren gathered themselves together unto Mizpah; here they +fasted, put on sackcloth, and prayed to God to help them in their +great distress. They opened the book of the law before God, where the +heathens had polluted it by painting their images which they +worshiped. They then sounded the trumpets and prepared for battle, +resolved to a man to die in defence of their country and their +religion. The result of this zeal and courage on the part of Judas, +proved successful; Judas and his army put to flight and destroyed +several large forces which Lysias had sent against them. They drove +the enemy out of Jerusalem, and almost out of the land of Judea, and +succeeded in possessing themselves of a large booty, both from the +army and the merchants, who expected to become their masters. + +Judas and his party, grateful to heaven for this great and glorious +success over such powerful enemies, immediately repaired to Mount +Sion, where they saw the sanctuary of God made desolate, deserted and +neglected; even the altar was polluted, the gates and walls thrown +down, the courts of the Temple, the beautiful edifice itself bedecked, +not with sweet or odoriferous herbs, but with wild shrubs and grass +which the hand of time had allowed to grow on that sacred spot. What a +heart-rending scene for the pious Judas and his followers! Grieved at +beholding such a devastation of God's holy place, they fell on their +faces, rent their clothes, and made great lamentations; at the same +time imploring the aid of heaven to repair the loss thus sustained. + +Judas and his party diligently applied themselves to repair the +Temple, and to restore the worship of God. They selected some of the +good priests to purify the sanctuary; they removed the altar, which +had been profaned by the heathens, and built a new one as the law +directs. They then made some new vessels for the use of the Temple, +from the gold which they had taken from the enemy in the late battle. +The regular order of divine worship was again introduced, and +sacrifices offered up according to the law of Moses. + +It is somewhat remarkable, and worthy of our attention, that that very +day three years, on which the heathen had profaned the altar by +offering up unclean beasts, the Temple was dedicated with great +rejoicings and grateful acknowledgments to God, which continued during +eight days. It was on this occasion that Judas and his brethren +ordained that this feast of dedication should be celebrated annually +on the return of this period, with mirth and gladness, together with +praises and thanksgiving to God. This feast of dedication is known +among Israelites by the name "_Honucha_," Hebrew word for dedication. +The fact related is, that when Judas and his men had purified the +Temple, a very small lamp of consecrated oil was miraculously found, +capable of furnishing sufficient to supply all the established holy +lights in the Temple during eight days, until a fresh portion could be +procured. This circumstance occurred about two years after Judas had +the chief command, and upwards of three years after the city and the +Temple had been laid desolate by Appollonius. History informs us, that +the holy worship in the Temple continued with little interruption from +the heathen, until the destruction of the Temple by the Romans, though +Jerusalem itself was often in the power of its enemies. + +Notwithstanding the success achieved by Judas and his party, they were +much annoyed by their enemies, from the fact that the fortress built +by Appolonius still remained in the hands of the heathens. It stood on +Mount Acra, a rising ground facing the Temple. The heathens placed +themselves here to annoy the Jews, on their going to, and returning +from the Temple. Judas finding that he could not drive out the enemy +at once, endeavored to prevent these annoyances by building up Mount +Sion with high walls and strong towers. He also placed guards there to +protect the priests and the people when they went to the Temple, with +the view of preventing the Gentiles from invading the sanctuary. + +Though Judas and his men continued the Temple worship, they were still +in constant warfare. The neighboring nations were all jealous of the +success gained by the Jews, and dissatisfied that they had restored +the sacred worship in the Temple of the Lord. To show their +displeasure they attacked the Jews on all sides; war ensued, and +fierce battles were fought, in most of which Judas proved victorious, +sustaining but little loss in his army. + +Judas, encouraged by such success, which he always acknowledged to be +from the hand of God, and not from his own power, led forth his army +against Georgius, a general of Antiochus, as also against the +Idumeans, who had in their turn proved vexatious to the Jews. In these +attacks Judas lost many of his men, but nevertheless proved +victorious. Judas was a noble and valiant general; his policy was at +all times to encourage his men by inducing them to put their trust in +God, who had done so much for their ancestors, and instilling in their +minds the belief that he would continue his protection to them as long +as they were inclined to act righteously to each other. During this +time, Antiochus was visiting Persia in order to receive his tribute +from the people of that country--and plunder the Temple of _Diana_, +erected at _Elymos_, which was said to contain great riches in gold +and silver, and a very valuable armory. The people of Persia having +gained intelligence of the king's intention, boldly defended the +Temple of their idol, and succeeded in totally defeating the enemy. + +Antiochus enraged at this discomfiture, and at the reports he had +received of the defeat of his generals in Judea, resolved to march +toward Jerusalem, and threatened to make the whole city as one grave, +in which to bury all the Jews then in the Holy Land. How far this +wicked man succeeded in his cruel resolve, the following facts will +show; they need no comment on our part, to prove that it was the +finger of God that was directing all that befel Antiochus, and other +persecutors of mankind. It is generally supposed by historians, that +the same disaster which befel the tyrant Antiochus, was visited on +many persecutors of God's people, both in former and latter +times--hence supporting our views on the subject, that Heaven ordained +all that had happened. Whilst on his journey, Antiochus was smitten +with an incurable plague; his chariot was upset, and he was seriously +hurt. He was then carried to a small town on the road side, put to +bed, in which he lingered for some time, suffering the most +excruciating agonies of body, and torments of mind, until he died. On +his death-bed, Antiochus showed great contrition of mind for the +crimes which he had perpetrated against God and man. The heathens +declared that it was a punishment inflicted for his intended sacrilege +of the Temple of Diana; but the Jewish historians acquaint us, that +the tyrant himself imputed his sufferings as a punishment for the +cruelties towards Israel, and the impieties he practised against the +Lord and his holy Temple. Thus ended the life of this great and +relentless tyrant. + +The pleasing tidings of the death of the tyrant having reached the +ears of Judas, he was encouraged to besiege the garrison of the +Syrians, in the town of Acra, in which enterprise he succeeded by a +stratagem which will be hereafter related. + +At the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, his son Antiochus Eupator became +his successor. He proved to be no better than his father, whose +footsteps he followed by persecuting the Jews wherever found +throughout his empire. Antiochus Eupator commenced his career by +bringing a vast army against Judas, consisting of one hundred thousand +foot, twenty thousand horse, thirty-two elephants, and three hundred +armed chariots of war. Judas's army being so small, compared with that +of the enemy, encouraged his men by the watchword which he issued +among them: "Victory is of the Lord." Animated by the hope of success, +they managed to surprise the enemy at night, and slew upwards of four +thousand of them, and then made a safe retreat to Jerusalem. In this +encounter, Eleazer, one of the brothers of Judas, evinced great +courage; he saw one of the elephants raised much higher than the rest. +Supposing that the king himself must be mounted thereon, he ran +through the camp, made his way to the beast, and thrust him through +with his spear. The wound proving mortal, the beast with his heavy +burthen fell down and crushed Eleazer to death. + +Antiochus Eupator's army then marched to Jerusalem under the command +of Lysias, and besieged the sanctuary. During this siege, the Jews +suffered much from the want of provisions. They were on the point of +surrendering to the enemy, when, by the providence of the Almighty, +they were strangely released from the impending danger. It happened +that Lysias, the general, heard that the city of Antioch was seized by +one Philip, a favorite of the late king, who had taken upon himself +the government of Syria; Lysias, on this account, persuaded the +present king to declare peace with the Jews, to which proposal he +readily consented. + +About this time Demetrius, the cousin of Antiochus, became king in his +place, under the following circumstances: Demetrius was the son of +Seleucus Philopater, the eldest brother of Antiochus Epiphanes; at his +death, Seleucus endeavored to persuade the Romans to assist him in +obtaining the kingdom of Syria, but without success. Being +disappointed in his expectations, Demetrius went to Syria and there +induced the people to believe that the Romans had sent him. On the +strength of this report, Antiochus Eupator, and his general, Lysias, +were seized by their own soldiers, and put to death by order of +Demetrius. + +Demetrius being seated on the throne, one Alcimus, a descendant of the +tribe of Aaron, applied to him to be assisted in procuring the +appointment of high priest, to which office he had been raised by the +late king, Antiochus Eupator. Alcimus had been refused by the Jews, he +having complied with the heathen superstition in the time of the +persecution, in order to gain favor with the king and his generals. +Judas and his party, now, as before, strenuously opposed the +appointment of Alcimus, though strongly recommended by Demetrius. This +opposition to his wishes, induced Demetrius to send one Bacchides to +enforce the command of the king, but to no purpose. Demetrius then +selected Nicanor, who was master of his elephants, as the future +governor of Judea, with instructions to kill Judas, and bring the +people under still greater subjection. Nicanor was at first unwilling +to make war against Judas, but being urged on by the king, he pursued +it with fresh fury; he boldly declared his intention to demolish the +Temple at Jerusalem, and build one on the same spot in honor of the +idol Bacchus. Nicanor was slain in the battle, and his army entirely +routed by Judas and his party. Judas, desirous of making an example of +this wicked man, for his blasphemous words which he uttered against +the Temple of the Lord, cut off the head and right hand of Nicanor, +and placed them in a conspicuous situation on one of the towers in +Jerusalem. Judas then gave orders that a day should be annually +appointed as a day of thanksgiving, in memory of this victory, which +was called Nicanor's day. This day is not however celebrated as a +holiday among the Jews in the present generation; it has been +discontinued for many ages past. + +At this period the Romans were growing great and powerful; Judas, +aware of the danger likely to result from such power, deemed it +advisable for the good of his country to propose a league with the +Romans, to which they readily consented, and acknowledged the Jews as +their friends and allies. Demetrius then received orders not to +interfere with the Jews any more. Unhappily for Judas and his people, +before the orders had reached Demetrius, he had already despatched +Bacchides a second time to avenge the course of Nicanor, who had been +slain, and to insist on establishing Alcimus in the priesthood. This +circumstance proved very unfortunate for both Judas and his +countrymen. Judas having but three thousand men with him, was +overpowered by the strong forces of Bacchides; so little chance was +there of success on the part of Judas, that many of his men deserted +him through fear and fright. Judas, brave and valiant to the last in +defence of his country's cause, and scorning to flee even for his +life, fell a victim to the fury of the enemy. + +The death of Judas created great excitement among the people, and +sorely depressed their spirits. They became absorbed in sorrow and in +grief for the loss of their noble chieftain. The people had fallen +into such a state of lethargy, that they became an easy prey to the +tyrant Bacchides, who, taking advantage of this state of things, +committed great havoc among the people, and put to the sword all of +Judas's friends and companions on whom he could lay hand. + +Alcimus also availed himself of this opportunity, and exercised his +authority in the office of the priesthood. He introduced into the +worship of the Temple, imitations of heathen idolatry, and gave orders +that the sanctuary should be thrown open, with equal freedom and +liberty, both to Gentiles and to Jews. Alcimus, however, did not long +prosper in his wicked career; in a very short time he was struck with +palsy, deprived of his speech, and ultimately died in great anguish of +mind and torment of body. + +After the death of Judas Maccabees, his brother Jonathan was +unanimously appointed by the people as their leader. Jonathan was ably +assisted by his brother Simon; they both bravely resisted the many +inroads made upon them by their enemies. Bacchides finding himself so +powerfully opposed, sued for peace, which was granted on condition +that he should restore all the captive Jews, depart from Judea +forever, and in no way molest the people of that country. These +conditions were cheerfully accepted by Bacchides, who left Judea in +peace and in tranquility. + +Jonathan, happy in having restored peace, commenced to govern his +people under the old Jewish polity; he resumed all the rites and +ceremonies of the Jewish religion, and succeeded in obtaining the +confidence of his people by the zeal which he evinced in the +performance of the duties of his office. + +After the death of Alcimus, the office of high priest remained vacant +seven years, when a man calling himself Alexander, appeared, and +declared that he was a son of Antiochus Epiphanes. He seized the +kingdom of Africa, and solicited Jonathan to join him against +Demetrius, who had proved himself a formidable enemy of the Jews. As +an inducement to Jonathan, Alexander made the following proposals to +him: That Jonathan should be constituted both the Governor and the +High Priest of the Jews, and be called the king's friend and +counselor. + +Jonathan considering these proposals likely to prove beneficial to his +people, and there not being any one else for the priesthood, consulted +them on the subject, and with their unanimous consent he accepted the +offer made by Alexander. + +At the following Feast of Tabernacles, Jonathan was duly installed in +his new office, and vested with the sacerdotal robes usually worn by +the high priests. Being thus dignified, he joined Alexander, and +proceeded to battle against Demetrius, whose army was totally routed, +and he himself, slain on the battle field. + +It is said that from this time forward the high priesthood continued +in the family of the Asmoneans or Maccabees, till the days of Herod, +who changed it from an office of inheritance to an arbitrary +appointment. Herod appointed those whom he pleased, without reference +to merit or ability. This practice was continued until the total +extinction of the priesthood at the final destruction of the Temple by +the Romans. + +Jonathan succeeded by his judicious conduct, in securing for his +people their possessions, with free scope to exercise all their +religious rites, without any interruption from their neighbors. He +occasionally extended his assistance to those of the nations who +proved kind to him, by which means the bond of friendship became +strongly cemented between both parties. + +Like most great men, Jonathan had his enemies: among them was one +Tryphon, who sought to possess the kingdom of Syria, and by whose +treachery, Jonathan was made prisoner in Ptolemais, and was afterwards +cruelly murdered, together with his two sons. + +The death of Jonathan and his two sons caused great lamentations among +the people. Being in constant fear of their enemies, and now without a +leader, they were at a loss what to do. In this dilemma they applied +to Simon, the only surviving brother of Judas, to become their chief. +Simon consenting to become their general, a council of war was called, +at which meeting he was unanimously appointed and vested with power +equal to his predecessors. Simon having been regularly installed into +his new office, commenced his career by addressing his brethren in the +following manner: + +"You, my countrymen, are not ignorant how bravely my father, brothers, +and myself, have fought in defence of our laws and our religion, our +Temple and our people. They have sacrificed their lives in that +glorious cause; I, only I, survive to maintain it. God forbid I should +value my life at a higher price than they did theirs. Behold me then +as they were, to glory in this undertaking, to die in defence of our +nation, our Temple, our wives and our children." "Take courage my +friends; the Lord is with us, and success will crown our righteous +intentions." + +Simon at the request of the people, then assumed the sacred office of +the priesthood. + +Having now entered into his new office, he procured the dead bodies of +his brother Jonathan and his two sons, and buried them with great +honors in the sepulchre of his fathers at Modin, and erected a stately +monument to their memory. + +Simon then repaired the fortresses and the walls of the city, which +had been destroyed by their enemies, built for himself a very splendid +mansion, and made Jerusalem his place of residence, where he held his +court. The Jews were still annoyed by the garrison on the tower of +Acra, when they went to and returned from the Temple. Simon succeeded +in shutting up the enemy so closely in the tower that many perished +from famine, which made the survivors surrender the tower. Simon being +in possession of the tower, he, with the sanction of the people, +pulled it down, and lowered the mount in such a way so that it could +no more be made available for the purpose of annoying the people when +assembled at their worship in the Temple. + +Simon now turned his attention to the repairs of the sanctuary. He +enforced a rigid observance of the laws of God, and successfully +introduced peace and unanimity of feeling among the people. The nation +at large, sensible of the good conduct of their leader, convened a +general meeting of all the elders, priests and magistrates at +Jerusalem. + +At this meeting it was unanimously resolved, that the office of +Governor of the nation, and that of the high-priesthood, should be +henceforth vested permanently in Simon and his posterity after him, so +that the said office should be hereditary in his family for ever. It +was further decreed that an account of the noble deeds of Simon and +his family should be engraven on a tablet, and placed in the Temple as +an everlasting memorial, and that a copy of the same should be placed +on the records in Judea. This excellent priest was held in such high +estimation by all the surrounding nations, that the Romans sought his +friendship, entered into a covenant with him, and conferred on him +many honors. + +The king of Syria followed the example of the Romans, and entered into +a similar covenant with Simon. + +The king of Syria, however, was not true to his covenant, he having +after a time invaded Judea. Simon assisted by his two eldest sons, +bravely defended themselves, and drove the enemy away with great +discomfiture. + +Simon continued to maintain a high reputation in his office for about +eight years. He was at all times employed in providing for the comfort +and welfare of his people. Simon now set out to examine into the +affairs of his country, accompanied by his two sons, Judas and +Mattathias. Having arrived at Jericho, they were invited by Ptolemeus, +the son-in-law of Simon, to a banquet which he had prepared for them. +Simon readily accepted this polite invitation of his relative, not +suspecting in the least any treachery on the part of Ptolemeus, who +had already concerted his plans with the court of Syria to destroy his +father-in-law and his two sons who were then with him. While the +guests were indulging at the banquet, Simon and his two sons were +inhumanly murdered by order of Ptolemeus. He then dispatched a party +to the residence of John, another son of Simon, who was captain of the +forces at Judea, with orders to murder him also. John fortunately +gained intelligence of all that had occurred at Jericho to his father +and brothers, as also the plot laid for him. He courageously and +bravely defended himself, and cut to pieces the enemy. + +John then fled to Jerusalem for safety. Ptolemeus followed him, and +arriving at the same time, they both presented themselves at different +gates. From the respect the people had for Simon and his ancestors, +John was received by the people with open arms, whilst the murderer of +Simon and his two sons, was repulsed with all his followers. John was +then unanimously appointed to succeed his father, both in the +government and the priesthood. He was then surnamed Hyrcanus, and +henceforward known by the name of John Hyrcanus. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Of the Jewish affairs under the conduct of the posterity + and successors of Simon the Maccabee. + + +Antiochus Sidetes, being informed of the death of Simon, and being +invited by Ptolemeus, invaded Judea again, besieged Jerusalem, and +reduced Hyrcanus and the Jews to the last extremity of famine. +Hyrcanus then sued for peace, which was granted on the condition of +paying certain tributes to the king, and removing the fortifications +of Jerusalem. A few years after, Antiochus died, which occasioned +great confusion among the surrounding nations; Hyrcanus took advantage +of this to enlarge his territories, by seizing some neighboring towns +round about Judea, and renounced all further dependence on the kings +of Syria. Hyrcanus then renewed the friendship originally made by his +father with the Romans, who assisted him in being released from the +tribute paid to the Syrians; at the same time he received a +compensation from them for former injuries done by them to the Jews. + +It was at this time that the Edomites, or Idumeans, lived on the +south side of Judea. Hyrcanus proposed to them either to embrace +Judaism or leave the country. The Edomites readily acquiesced, and +became Jews. They ultimately became so incorporated among the Jews, +that in less than two centuries scarcely any trace or character was +left to signalize the Edomite nation. + +Hyrcanus's power being thus increased by the addition of these +Edomites, he turned his attention to the Samaritans. He marched with +his army and took Shechem, which was then the chief seat of the +Samaritan sect; he destroyed their Temple which Sanballat had built +for them on Mount Gerizim. The Samaritans, however, continued to keep +the altar there, and to offer sacrifices thereon. + +Hyrcanus became master of Samaria, ruled in Judea, in Galilee, and in +some of the adjacent towns; he proved himself one of the noble princes +of his age; he, with great perseverance, preserved both the Jewish +church and the state from the power of their enemies, throughout a +long and tedious government. He was so highly esteemed among the +people, that they believed him to be a prophet, from the fact that he +had predicted one or two things which eventually came to pass. He +built the castle _Baris_ on a rock about fifty cubits high, outside +the square of the Temple; this was used as the palace of the Asmonean +princes in Jerusalem, and here the sacred robes of the high priest +were deposited when they were not in use. + +Toward the close of his life, Hyrcanus experienced severe troubles; +his claim to the priesthood was questioned by a bold and daring man, +one of the Pharisees, of whom we shall speak hereafter in the course +of the work, as also of the different other sects which sprang up in +those days. + +Hyrcanus, supposing that this bold man represented the whole body of +the Pharisees, without even inquiring into the matter, immediately +renounced the Pharisees, and rashly joined the sect called Sadducees. +This hasty conclusion of Hyrcanus, considerably lessened that love and +esteem in which the people had previously held him. The Pharisees felt +indignant at the conduct of Hyrcanus in this instance; and forgetting +all former favors received at his hands, proved very ungrateful toward +him. They became arrogant and mutinous, which caused Hyrcanus entirely +to desert their party, and even refused to meet them any more. Many +civil broils and troubles ensued, which sorely embittered the +declining life of Hyrcanus, and he died during the following year. + +Hyrcanus had been in office nearly thirty years, during which time his +wisdom and counsel at home, and his bravery and conquests abroad, +marked his reign one of glory and happiness. The commonwealth +recovered more of its glory during his government, than at any other +period since the return from Babylon. It is generally supposed that +his death was hastened by the troubles which began to surround him. + +Hyrcanus had five sons; the eldest, named Aristobulus, succeeded his +father as high priest and governor in Judea. He then took upon himself +the title of king, which had fallen into disuse since the Babylonish +captivity. + +Aristobulus did not follow the good example of his noble father. We +are informed how he became the murderer of his mother; it having been +reported that she laid claim to the government. Three of his brothers +he put into close confinement, and the fourth, who was even his +favorite, he had put to death owing to a false report being raised +that he would oppose him in the government. + +Aristobulus now fixed his household and other affairs, according to +his own wishes. He then put himself at the head of his army, attacked +and subdued the Itureans who lived on the north-east of the land of +Galilee. Having the people thus in his power, he compelled them to +embrace the Jewish religion, which they did out of fear, and thus +became mixed among the people of Israel. In the midst of all these +victories, Aristobulus was taken sick and brought to Jerusalem. +Antigonus, one of his brothers, acted in his stead. + +Aristobulus continued dangerously sick, and there appeared but little +hope of his recovery. This being apparent to the king's courtiers, who +were jealous of Antigonus, they endeavored to persuade the king that +his brother was not faithful to him. In this intrigue they were +supported by the queen. + +On the return of Antigonus to Jerusalem, he repaired to the Temple, +there to return thanks to God for his success, and to pray for the +recovery of his sick brother. Whilst thus piously engaged, it was +represented to the king that his brother was attempting to usurp the +government, which the king too readily received as truth, from the +statements previously made to him, and gave orders for his brother to +appear in the sick chamber. Antigonus obeyed, and attended in full +uniform. The king then desired him to unrobe. This command was given +in such a tone, as to assure him that a refusal would be considered as +treason, and punished accordingly. + +Antigonus retired, much degraded and sorely perplexed as to the cause. +The queen, who, we have already noticed was in the conspiracy, then +wrote to him that the king had changed his mind and that he wished to +see him in his uniform, having been told of the beauty of his armour. +Antigonus accordingly repaired in full dress to the palace, and on his +way to the king's chamber, he was slain by the guard. This +assassination of Antigonus, caused the king to reflect with keen +remorse, both on account of this murder, as well as that of his +mother. His mind became sorely agitated, which brought on a vomiting +of blood, so that he died in great agony of both body and mind. + +Thus ended the life of him, who is handed down to posterity as one of +the most wretched beings recorded in the annals of Jewish history; and +it is worthy of notice how God punishes the wicked. He who had shed so +much innocent blood, that his own blood was made to flow from him +until he breathed his last; an example as well as a warning to those +who were in the service of this wicked man, and who were following the +same sinful career as their cruel master. + +Aristobulus was succeeded by his brother Alexander; he began his reign +by putting his brother to death, because of some attempt to supplant +him in the government. Alexander immediately set about arranging all +matters relating to the home department, and then commenced to attack +his neighbors around him without any reserve. + +At this time Ptolemy Lathyrus was heir to the crown of Egypt; +Alexander behaved very deceitfully toward him, which caused much +enmity and ill feeling to exist on both sides; and the result was, a +very severe battle between them, near the river Jordan. Alexander and +his army were completely routed, with the loss of about thirty +thousand men. + +There is a very cruel and barbarous action charged to Lathyrus on this +occasion. On the evening after the victory, he marched his men from +the field of battle to take up quarters in the adjacent villages, +which were all crowded with the wives and children of the vanquished +army. He gave orders to kill all of them, without any distinction; +their bodies to be cut in pieces and boiled in cauldrons. It is +supposed that he did this with a view of creating terror among all the +surrounding nations, and to cause a belief that his men fed on human +flesh. After this, Lathyrus ranged at liberty all over the country, +plundering and destroying it in a very lamentable manner; for +Alexander after this battle, was not in a condition to resist him. + +In this dilemma, Alexander fortunately met with assistance from +Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. Cleopatra, fearing lest Lathyrus, her +eldest son, should become possessed of Judea, and might be induced to +take Egypt out of her hands, agreed with her youngest son to support +Alexander. + +Alexander, encouraged by such offers of support, resumed his courage, +besieged many places, and gained the fortress of Gadara and Anathus, +toward Galilee, together with much treasure; but he was surprised by +Theodorus, prince of Philadelphia, who had laid up that treasure +there, with the loss of ten thousand men. Yet being a man of courage +and diligence, Alexander assembled his men and succeeded in taking the +city of Gaza from the Philistines, who were entirely defeated by his +army. He took possession of the chief cities, and made them part of +his own dominions. The Philistines being thus subdued, were glad to +embrace Judaism as a protection from further inroads. It appears to +have now become a custom with the Asmonean princes to impose their +religion on all the conquered, leaving them no other choice but to +become proselytes or to be banished. + +Alexander was not, however, well supported by his own people, many of +them being opposed to him. These were chiefly of the Pharisees, who +were very numerous and influential, and were supported by a large body +of their class, who were excited to such a degree, that they insulted +Alexander, while at the altar performing the duties devolving upon him +as high priest. + +Alexander, enraged at such conduct by his own people, sought to be +revenged, and appointed his own body guard from the heathen nations, +fearing to trust himself in the hands of his own people. This act +brought on a civil war which lasted six years; it was the cause of +much grief and calamity throughout the land, and occasioned the death +of about fifty thousand people. Though Alexander gained many victories +over his enemies, yet he became much weakened from their continual +attacks: he at length sued for peace, offering the people to grant +them whatever they would reasonably desire. But so embittered were the +people against him, that they declared nothing would satisfy them but +his life. This reply on their part, aggravated the cause, and the war +was continued still more rigorously on both sides. As all mundane +affairs must have an end, Alexander after having encountered many +severe conflicts, at last gained one great battle, which concluded +this protracted war. Numbers of his enemies fell victims to his fury, +while others were driven to the city of Bethome, and there were +besieged. Alexander having taken the place, he had eight hundred of +the people carried to Jerusalem, and there had them all slain in one +day, together with their wives and children. This act of Alexander's +terrified the Jews to such an extent that they never again attempted +any insurrection. We cannot however refrain from observing here, that +however provoked Alexander might have been, he justly merited by this +cruel conduct the reproach of after ages; such conduct being +incompatible with his dignified station as high priest, in whose heart +nought but peace and humanity should ever find place. + +Alexander, like most cruel monarchs after having satiated their lust +for blood, gave himself up to very inordinate luxuries, which in the +end produced an attack of ague, very severe in its character. This +disease ultimately proved fatal to Alexander, who died in the camp +while he was besieging a castle of the Gerasenes beyond Jordan. +Alexander reigned twenty-seven years; he left two sons, Hyrcanus and +Aristobulus; he bequeathed the government to his wife Alexandra, +during her life time, and to be disposed of at her death to which of +her sons she pleased. Alexandra in a flood of tears, expressed to her +dying husband her justly apprehended dread of the Pharisees, who had +grown into a powerful party at that time in Jerusalem. Alexander +listened to his wife with considerable emotion, while he employed his +last moments in contriving an expedient for the removal of her fears. +The dying man then addressed his wife in the following words: + +"Alexandra, you are not unacquainted with the cause of our mutual +enmity. I am well convinced that your security and happiness, when I +am dead, must rise or fall, as you make them your friends or your +foes. I advise you, therefore, to keep my death a secret from the +army, till they have taken the fort, then lead them in triumph to +Jerusalem; carry my body with you, and as soon as you arrive assemble +the heads and the leaders of that party, and lay it before them; tell +them you submit it wholly to them, after the injuries it had done +them, to give it burial, or cast it ignominiously on the highway; as +for your part, you are devoted to them, they shall always be your +first advisers, at the head of your council; you will do nothing +without their consent and approbation; begin instantly to show them +some marks of your favor and friendship, upon which they will order my +body a royal burial, and they will support you and your sons in the +peaceful enjoyment of the kingdom." + +Alexandra followed the advice of her husband, and kept his death a +secret from the world, till the castle was taken. She then led the +army back to Jerusalem, and gave the body of her deceased husband to +the Pharisees, to act with it as they pleased, at the same time +declared herself ready to be guided by them in the management of all +the affairs of the government. This declaration on the part of +Alexandra, gained for her the confidence of the Pharisees, who granted +to her late husband an honorable funeral. + +Alexandra thus enjoying the good opinion of the Pharisees, assumed +the government, enlisted herself under their banner, and became firmly +and peaceably settled on the throne; she then invested Hyrcanus, her +eldest son, with the office of high priest. Alexandra, at the request +of a party of the Pharisees, gave her consent to punish all the +persons who had counselled her late husband to behave so cruelly to +the mass of the people; these men were in their turn put to death by +the Pharisees. The queen was induced to adopt this medium in order to +prevent any further civil wars; the evil consequences of which she had +so sadly experienced, and which, therefore, she was so desirous to +avoid. + +Alexandra having reigned nine years, died in the seventy-third year of +her age; leaving by her will, the whole of the government to her +eldest son, Hyrcanus, who was then the high priest. He is known in +history by Hyrcanus the second. He was bred and trained in the schools +of the Pharisees, and consequently influenced by their tutorage. + +Hyrcanus did not long enjoy his new office. Aristobulus, his younger +brother, perceiving that the people and the army were weary of the +administration of the Pharisees, raised an army against his brother +Hyrcanus, and marched them on to the plains of Jericho. A desperate +battle was fought, Hyrcanus was put to flight, and the remainder of +his forces joined those of Aristobulus. Hyrcanus in this dilemma, went +to Jerusalem, shut himself up with a small party in the citadel, and +appeared happy to accept any terms in order to procure peace. + +Aristobulus then deprived his brother of both the regal and pontifical +dignities, commanding the same to be resigned to him, which having +been done, Hyrcanus was expelled the capital, and compelled to retire +into private life. Hyrcanus, being of a peaceful disposition, made no +resistance, although he had enjoyed his regal honors but three months. + +Aristobulus then ascended the throne of his father, but he did not +prove so happy on it as he had anticipated, as we shall learn from the +following circumstance. An Idumean named Antipater, who was brought up +in the court of Alexander with Hyrcanus, advised him to seek +assistance at the hands of Aretas, the king of Arabia, and not quietly +suffer himself to be so easily vanquished. Hyrcanus, acting on the +advice of Antipater, applied to Aretas, who immediately headed an army +to espouse the cause of Hyrcanus. An obstinate battle took place in +which Aristobulus was totally defeated, driven into the mountains, and +there sorely besieged. + +At this time there lived at Jerusalem, a very pious man named Onias. +He was so much esteemed and beloved by the people for his true piety +and virtue, that it was generally believed, that at the instance of +this good man's prayers, the Almighty had sent rain from heaven in a +season of great drought. The people imagining that he possessed a +similar power in cursing as well as blessing, prayed to him to curse +Aristobulus and all his party. This good man weary of their +importunities, and anxious if possible to satisfy their wishes, raised +his hands towards heaven in prayer, of which the following is said to +be a copy: + +"O God of the universe, since those that are with us are thy people, +and they that are besieged in the Temple are thy priests, I pray that +thou wouldst hear the prayers of neither of them against each other." + +The multitude, disappointed at the good man's prayer, cruelly murdered +him on the spot. + +This circumstance tended to increase the enmity between both parties, +and provoked a warfare between the two brothers and their parties. + +The two brothers ultimately agreed with each other to lay the matter +before Pompey, the Roman general, for his decision. The mass of the +people, however, were not satisfied with this plan of appealing to the +Roman general, and declared that they would not be ruled by princes, +but by God's priests. The appeal was made to Pompey, who did not feel +disposed to give an immediate decision. Aristobulus availed himself of +this opportunity, and prepared himself for a fresh war. Pompey hearing +this, immediately seized Aristobulus in one of his castles, and +confined him in prison. He then marched his army in front of +Jerusalem; a division within weakened its power, the two opposite +parties contending. At length Hyrcanus's party prevailed and threw +open the gates of the city. The adherents to Aristobulus retreated and +fortified themselves in the Temple, and on Mount Moriah. Pompey and +his army marched through the city, and laid close siege to the +Temple. The Jews held out for three months; at length a huge tower was +thrown down, and a breach was made large enough for an assault; the +place was taken sword in hand, and so fierce was the battle, that more +than twelve thousand persons were slain. + +It has been remarked by historians, "how is it possible that so strong +a place could have been taken in so short a time?" The cause of this +easy victory on the part of the Romans was, in consequence of the Jews +having suffered the enemy to prepare their war machines on the Sabbath +day undisturbed, notwithstanding the agreement made in the days of +Judas Maccabees, that they should defend themselves if attacked on the +Sabbath day. + +Pompey then entered the holy edifice, and being overawed by some +religious prepossession, refrained from defiling any of the sacred +vessels, nor did he attempt to touch about two thousand talents of +gold, which were laid up for the service of God's Holy Temple. On the +contrary, Pompey ordered the Temple to be purified, and on the very +next day, its usual services were resumed. Thus an end was put to the +very serious quarrel and contention between the two brothers. + +It may be worthy of notice, that though this Roman general was not +disposed to plunder the sacred property of the Temple on this +occasion, yet it escaped not the avarice and covetousness of another +Roman general. Crassus, when he became Governor of Judea instead of +Gabinius, plundered the Temple, and carried off the solid beams of +gold, magnificent vessels, utensils and golden tables, and all the +beautiful hangings, which adorned the Holy of Holies. This wicked +man's sacrilege did not pass unpunished, for when he was in an +engagement with the Parthians, he was defeated, and met with his +death, and as a mark of infamy, his head was cut off, and molten gold +was poured down his throat, to show to the people how much benefit the +gold was to him which he took from the holy Temple. + +Pompey now demolished the walls of Jerusalem, slew many of the chief +supporters of Aristobulus, and restored Hyrcanus to the office of high +priest, and made him also the Governor, but under tribute to the +Romans. + +Aristobulus and his sons were carried prisoners to Rome, whence they +escaped after a time, and made several attempts to regain their former +position, but without success. + +It may fairly be concluded that in consequence of the civil broils +between Aristobulus and his brother Hyrcanus, the Jewish nationality +became very much shaken, and ultimately produced the total ruin of +both Jerusalem and the whole of Judea. At this time the regal power +was arrested, and enjoyed by the Romans. The sovereign authority had +hitherto descended with the priesthood; although at different periods +already mentioned, the Jews were subject to the several strange powers +who had become their masters. + +The enemies of the Jews did not seem to be satisfied with their +already degraded state; but every exertion must be made to crush them +still more, by even preventing them from attending and praying to the +God of their fathers. This infliction appears to have been far more +grievous to the nation at large, than all the worldly persecutions +which could possibly have been invented against them. + +After a short time, Gabinius, a Roman general, passed through Judea on +an expedition. He took upon himself to reduce the power of Hyrcanus, +and made new arrangements relating to the Sanhedrim or Jewish Senate. + +All these differences were however, very happily settled in a short +time by Julius Cæsar, who, when Emperor of Rome, listened to the +petition of Hyrcanus, and granted him permission to rebuild the walls +of Jerusalem. This enabled Hyrcanus to resume the former friendship +between the Jews and the Romans, who passed a unanimous decree in +their favor. + +During this time, Antipater, who had encouraged Hyrcanus in the +recovery of the government of Judea, was in the employ of Julius +Cæsar. Antipater was appointed Lieutenant of Judea, by Julius Cæsar, +under Hyrcanus, who was now in full power both in the government and +the priesthood. The eldest son of Antipater was made Governor of +Jerusalem, while his second son Herod, was made Governor of Judea. +This Herod became after a time, great in power, as we shall hereafter +read of him. He was called Herod the Great, and became King of Judea. +Antipater did not long enjoy his office. Malichus, who envied him his +position, had Antipater poisoned. Herod having discovered this, +obtained permission of the Roman general to have Malichus captured and +put to death as a murderer. + +Pacorus, the Parthian general, was at this time at war with the +Romans. By some treachery or other, Hyrcanus, and his eldest son +Phasael, came into the custody of Pacorus; Jerusalem was taken, and +Antigonus appointed Ruler in Judea. Hyrcanus and his son were +delivered over to him in chains and made prisoners. Herod, however, +had made his escape. Phasael, weary of his existence in prison, put an +end to his own life. Hyrcanus had both his ears lopped off, in order +to disqualify him for the priesthood; he was then banished the country +to prevent him appearing against Antigonus. + +Herod, in the mean time, repaired to Rome, to lodge his complaint, and +fully to report all that had happened. Herod was well received by Mark +Antony and Octavius, who governed Rome at that time, owing to the +death of Julius Cæsar, who was slain in the Senate House at Rome. + +Herod's report having been properly accredited, he was immediately +appointed King of Judea, by full consent of the Roman Senate. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Of the Government of Herod the Great and his posterity + over Israel. + + +Herod, having received his appointment, returned to Judea. The first +thing which engaged his attention, was the releasing of his mother, +who had been imprisoned by Antigonus. Herod now declared war against +Antigonus, and with the assistance of the Roman legions, he besieged +Antigonus in Jerusalem. + +While preparations were being made to carry on the siege, Herod went +to Samaria, and there married Mariamne, the grand-daughter of Hyrcanus +the second, a descendant of the valiant and noble race of the +Asmoneans. Mariamne was a lady of exquisite beauty and great virtue, +and thus highly calculated to dignify the lofty position she was about +to fill as a queen in Israel. She inherited all the piety and goodness +of her ancestors, who were justly esteemed ornaments to the Jewish +nation. Herod, sensible of this, was the more anxious for the +alliance, in the hope of endearing himself to the great body of the +people. + +Herod, successful in his suit, returned to the siege at Jerusalem, +and took it by storm after six months' hard struggle. Antigonus was +taken prisoner by the Romans, who sent him to Antioch; he was +afterwards put to death by Mark Antony, at the instance of Herod the +Great. + +The death of Antigonus concluded the race of the Maccabees, who had +held the government about one hundred and twenty years. + +The possession of Jerusalem, together with the death of Antigonus, +established Herod upon the Jewish throne. + +Herod commenced his reign in bloodshed, as the only way open to +establish himself. The partizans of Antigonus fell easy victims to +Herod's cruelty. These were all the counselors of the great Sanhedrim, +excepting the two celebrated and learned divines and disputants, +Hillel and Shamai. These two influential men induced the people to +receive Herod as their King, not for the love they entertained for +him, but, because they foresaw the mischief which would have resulted +from any opposition on their part. Herod now appointed one Ananelus, a +descendant of the house of Aaron as the high priest. He was not of +very high rank, but rather of obscure origin, trained far off in +Babylon; he was therefore suited for Herod, as not likely to oppose +any of his designs which he might form in Judea. + +Mariamne, the wife of Herod, considering that the priesthood belonged +to her family, prevailed on her husband to remove Ananelus, and place +her brother in his stead. The queen's brother was at this time only +seventeen years of age; still, he was appointed high priest by Herod, +because of his wife's importunities, though much against his own will. + +Hyrcanus, who was in banishment among the Parthians during many years, +hearing of the advancement of Herod, and his marriage with his +grand-daughter, felt a desire to return to Jerusalem, anticipating a +kind welcome at the hands of Herod, on account of the family alliance +which now so closely united them. + +Hyrcanus, arriving at Jerusalem, was received by Herod with all the +appearance of pleasure and satisfaction. But a short time after, Herod +fancied that Hyrcanus, being of the Asmonean family, might one day or +other, take the kingdom from him, although Hyrcanus was now upwards of +eighty years old! Herod therefore invented some pretext, and had the +old Hyrcanus put to death. + +About this season, a very alarming earthquake shook the whole country +of Judea, and destroyed about thirty thousand of the inhabitants, +together with their houses and their property. Shortly after, a very +destructive pestilence infested Judea, and swept away many of the +people. A few years later a grievous famine pervaded the land, on +which occasion Herod behaved very liberally to the people, in order to +gain their affections; but in this he was disappointed. + +It was just at this period that Mark Antony and Octavius, the two +brave Romans, fell into a disagreement with each other. The result +proved in favor of Octavius, by whom Mark Antony was vanquished and +entirely ruined. + +Mark Antony was the true and tried friend of Herod, who being now +fearful of the power of Octavius, sought to appease him by making a +servile submission to him. Herod accordingly waited on Octavius in +humble attire, having laid aside his royal diadem, and with a free and +open countenance, confessed his sincere regard and friendship for Mark +Antony in former days; but now he wished to declare his perfect +obedience to the will and wishes of Octavius, if such trust would be +reposed in him at his hands. + +Octavius, allured by the flattery and cringing tone of Herod, received +his declaration of obedience in the most polite manner, and requested +him immediately to return, resume the crown, and ascend the throne. He +then fully established Herod in his kingdom, and remained his friend +during his life-time. + +The history of Herod's life will be found overshadowed by crimes of +the blackest dye. Avarice, envy, jealousy and pride; these had so +great an effect upon his wicked mind and cruel heart, that no +redeeming quality existed in the breast of this hateful tyrant. + +Herod was now visited by severe domestic troubles, which disturbed his +peace of mind, and produced in him great irritability of temper, +violent grief and rage throughout the remainder of his life. + +It will be recollected that Mariamne was one of the most beautiful +women in Judea. Herod, fearful lest at his death any other man should +possess so great a beauty as his queen, and lest any branch of the +Asmonean family should become master of Judea, and thus deprive his +own lawful heirs of their right to the crown, gave secret +instructions, that if his death should be before that of Mariamne, +that both she and her mother should be immediately put to death. + +This cruel and inhuman decree of Herod reached the ears of the Queen, +who from that very day rejected him for ever, and upbraided him with +the murder of her relations, and that by such means alone he had +obtained the crown. She further resented his wicked designs, by +heaping bitter reproaches on his mother and sister, in reference to +the obscurity of their birth and parentage. Herod's conscience +becoming tormented, he implored his Queen by all kind and affectionate +importunities, but without effect. Mariamne seemed resolved to punish +Herod for his wicked intentions. She would not yield to his +entreaties, and positively determined to discard him for ever. This +conduct of the Queen so enraged Herod, that acting on the advice of +his mother and sister Salome, he slew his beautiful and innocent +Mariamne, and to palliate this outrageous cruelty, alleged that she +had attempted to poison him, and that he only acted in self defense. +It was not long before the mother shared the same fate as her daughter +at the hands of her relentless son-in-law. The death of Mariamne was +not easily forgotten by Herod. It preyed on his mind so violently, +that he became one of the most miserable wretches in existence. His +love for his Queen whom he had so atrociously put to death, produced +extreme grief and vexation of spirit which rendered him truly +wretched. He became more arbitrary and despotic in his government; he +appointed those whom he wished to favor, as high priests, and deposed +them as frequently, to satisfy his unruly passions and caprice of +temper. + +He introduced innovations into the religious observances of the +Temple, in direct opposition to the will of the people, who +remonstrated with him on the mischief which would result therefrom. + +Notwithstanding all the arguments advanced to dissuade him from such +wicked and impious conduct, Herod obstinately adopted the practices +and customs of the heathen nations, under the false pretext of +pleasing and gratifying the wishes of Cæsar. + +Herod's conduct in this respect, brought upon him the hatred of the +people; who being jealous at all times lest their ancient and holy +religion should in any way be infringed upon, regarded him with +suspicious distrust. Herod becoming sensible at last of the disrepute +into which he had fallen, and fearful of the consequences thereof, +sought to protect himself by building several strong towers in and +about Jerusalem. He then built temples in the different places and +dedicated them to Cæsar, who was at that time his great friend. + +Herod finding that the hatred of the people toward him did not abate, +then sought to appease them, by proposing to pull down the old Temple +and build up a new one in its stead, far superior in every degree to +the one then in existence. In order to induce the people to second his +views, he pointed out the necessity of a new Temple, since the old one +had undergone many repairs, owing to the frequent outrages which had +been committed against it. + +The people were, however, not disposed to listen to Herod's proposal +to remove the old Temple until he had assured them that it should +remain untouched till all the requisites for the new building should +be ready and prepared to be set up. Herod, being on this occasion, +earnest in his intentions, executed all that the people requested of +him, at an enormous outlay of both labor and material. To carry out +his plans he employed nearly ten thousand of the best mechanics under +the direction of about one thousand priests. At the expiration of two +years, the new Temple rose in all its glory and splendor, at an +immense labor and cost, as fully described by the faithful historian +Josephus, who says it was one of the most magnificent and beautiful +structures that ever adorned the country of Judea. + +When completed, the Temple was dedicated for divine worship on the +anniversary day of Herod's ascension to the throne. The occasion was +celebrated with a large number of sacrifices after the ancient custom, +and amidst great rejoicings and public festivities. + +It has been asked why this new Temple, built by Herod, was not called +the third Temple? The reply is, that though it was built anew from +the foundation, yet it was only by way of reparation, it not having +been destroyed by the enemy as in the days of Nebuchadnezzar; nor did +it lay in ashes, and remain desolate, as the first Temple. It is +therefore still designated by the name of the second Temple. + +Herod having completed this work to the satisfaction of the people, +was anxious to further secure their good opinion; he therefore +procured for such of his people who were scattered in Greece and Asia +Minor, a renewal of their privileges, and permission to live in other +countries, according to their own laws and religion, which had been +granted them before by the kings of Syria, and by the Romans. + +Herod was not permitted to enjoy that peace of mind which he +anticipated; he was visited with domestic troubles which he little +expected, but which he richly deserved. Aristobulus and Alexander, the +two eldest sons of Mariamne, who were educated at Rome, now returned +to Jerusalem. These youths deeply lamented the loss of their mother, +and often reflected with sorrow on her untimely death, and they gave +vent to their feelings by public demonstrations of their resentment +for the death of their injured parent. These expressions being +repeatedly and loudly declared, were very disagreeable to the ears of +Salome, the sister of Herod, who was instrumental in the death of +Mariamne. Salome being wickedly disposed, and probably fearing the +vengeance of the two youths, endeavored to rouse the jealousy and +anger of Herod against his sons, by persuading him that they were +plotting against his life. This intelligence created disputes and +quarrels between the father and the two sons, which lasted many years, +and caused Herod much annoyance and fear during the remainder of his +old age. Salome, by her crafty design, ultimately succeeded in +effecting the execution of the two sons by an edict from Herod, and +the sanction to the same at the hands of Augustus Cæsar. It must be +observed that Herod had been already married to one Doris, previous to +his alliance with Mariamne. By this wife he had a son named Antipater, +who had been actively engaged with Salome in procuring the death of +the two sons of this said Herod. + +When Herod was displeased with his two sons, he placed Antipater in +some post of honor; and now that they were dead, he intended that +Antipater should succeed in the kingdom. Antipater eager to obtain the +crown, conspired to poison his father. This being detected, he was +sentenced and condemned to be executed, by and under the directions of +Augustus Cæsar, and with Herod's approbation. This was the third son +whom Herod put to death. In the seventieth year of his age, and five +days after the death of Antipater, Herod himself died by a dreadful +complication of diseases. He was attacked by fever and ulcerated +bowels, in which excruciating pain he lingered for some time, till he +died. No doubt the extreme pains which he suffered, were inflicted as +a punishment for his enormous cruelties, and the multiplied iniquities +of his whole life. + +On his death-bed, Herod, considering that the extreme hatred the +people had for him would prevent them from lamenting his loss, and +that his death would no doubt cause much rejoicing in the land, was +determined even in his last moments to be wicked and cruel. To effect +this, he convened a meeting of all the principal Jews, from all parts +of the kingdom, on pain of death, to appear at Jericho where he then +lay. He ordered them all to be shut up prisoners, and then commanded +his sister Salome and her husband, his chief confidants, that they +should have them all put to the sword by the soldiery, for this, said +he, "will provide mourners for my funeral all over the land." + +Herod died, but his orders were not attended to, for Salome, although +wicked, hesitated to commit so horrid a deed as the murder of so many +innocent persons, and therefore as soon as Herod was dead, she +released all the prisoners. + +At Herod's death, his son Archelaus succeeded him in the government of +Judea, nearly ten years, during which time he was guilty of many acts +of cruelty and tyranny, for which he was ultimately deposed by the +Roman emperor, and banished to an obscure place in France. The Romans +being so displeased with the evil practices and bad government of +Archelaus, they reduced Judea to a Roman province, to be ruled by a +Roman procurator or governor, who was sent thither and removed +therefrom at pleasure. It was now that the power of life and death +was taken out of the hands of the Jews, and placed in that of the +Roman governor; and from that time all taxes were gathered by the +publicans, and paid directly to the Roman emperor. + +This new regulation very much annoyed the people; for the Pharisees, +and all those under their influence, considering it unlawful to +acknowledge a heathen for their king or governor, looked upon their +tax-gatherers with greater detestation than any of those kings or +governors of former days, appointed to rule over them, and who were of +their own nation or religion. True, Herod was an Idumean by birth, yet +all the Idumeans having embraced the Jewish religion, he was so far +counted a lawful governor, that the people did not scruple to pay him +their taxes. The Romans followed the plan adopted by Herod in the +appointment of the high priests, and the removing of them as often as +they pleased, to answer their own purposes. + +In this way the affairs of the Jews were carried on for some years, +when about this period christianity was ushered into the world; which +caused much rage and persecution to take place among the Jews, until +at last they were driven to such extremities, and thus exposed to the +furious and formidable army of the Romans, who were then great in +power; and the Jews were thus so weakened by the continued inroads +made upon them, that they fell an easy prey to the enemy. The city of +Jerusalem was utterly demolished, the beautiful Temple desecrated and +finally destroyed, and about eleven hundred of the people perished in +the conflict. The country all round became desolate; the streets +overflowing with human blood, terrified the few of the poor Jews who +still survived, so that they fled for their lives, and were scattered +all over the face of the globe. Thus ended the Jewish polity; from +that time up to the present, the Jewish nation has been dispersed +throughout the known world; seeking protection under those governments +where they may chance to fix their residence. In concluding this +portion of the work, we venture the following few remarks: + +From the time when the Jews returned from the Babylonish captivity, +both the Temple service and the general affairs of the nation at +large, appear to have been in an unsettled state. Oppressed and +persecuted by the various powers near and about Judea; the continued +civil broils among themselves; the tyranny and cruelty of their own +kings and priests, all tended to keep them in a state of confusion and +disorder: yet worse still, was the neglect of God's holy laws, and the +introduction of heathen rites and customs, by which the pure religion +of their ancestors became polluted. Add to this the innovations which +were permitted to creep in upon the sacred worship of God, and the +party feeling which strengthened such on the one hand, and the furious +opposition on the other--this had the effect of preventing the nation +from possessing that peace of mind and happiness which they would have +otherwise enjoyed, owing to those glorious prophetic predictions +which made such an impression on them, and which promised nought but +real comfort and divine peace on their release from Babylonish +captivity. + +It is therefore to be concluded that there is a period yet to come, +which shall bring together again all the scattered flock of Israel, to +the Holy Land of their fathers. Then will they be convinced of their +past errors, and the sins committed by their fathers of old, whose +wickedness brought down upon them the just vengeance of an offended +God. Then will all the blessings reserved for the righteous, be +conferred upon them in that day, as foretold by the prophet Zephaniah: + +"At that time will I bring you _again_, even in the time that I gather +you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the people of +the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the +Lord." + + +END OF PART I. + + + + +Part Second. + +AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL SECTS WHICH SPRANG UP AMONG THE JEWS BEFORE +AND AFTER THE DAYS OF THE MACCABEES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +The Assideans. + + +After the spirit of prophecy had ceased among the Jews, and there +being no inspired persons to whom they could apply as formerly, they +fell into religious doubts and disputes. This caused different +opinions to exist among them, and divided them into sects and parties; +such as the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes, who were the +principal, and supposed to have arisen out of the Assideans. + +The Assideans are called by some "Chasidim," or _pious_. They were a +religious society among the Jews, whose chief and distinguishing +character appears to have been to support the honor of the Temple, and +observe punctually the traditions of the Elders. In the apocryphal +books of the Maccabees, we meet with the word "asidaioi," which no +doubt is derived from the Hebrew word _chasidim_. This sect is +supposed to date their origin either during the captivity, or shortly +after the restoration of the nation. Being of a pious and religious +character, they were the first who adhered to Mattathias, and +afterwards to his son Judas Maccabees, in defense of their religion +and the Law of God. They proved themselves zealous in their cause, as +stated in the following passage: "There came to Mattathias, a company +of Assideans, who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were +voluntarily devoted unto the law." They were not however, considered a +distinct religious sect from the rest of their brethren; but they were +devoted to their ancient religion and the service of the Temple, the +supporting of the sacrifices, the relief of the poor, and the general +benefit of all their co-religionists. Our views on the subject may be +considered correct, as Josephus, who wrote in those times, and +concerning those affairs, does not mention any such sect being +distinctly marked from the general body of the people. We may +therefore safely adopt the opinions of those who consider the +appellation given them in the book of the Maccabees, to be no more +than used in our days to pious and religious men, who are designated +saints or holy men. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +The Pharisees. + + +This sect derived their name from the Hebrew word "Perusheem," which +signifies separation, and so called because of their being separated +from the body of the people in point of their religious conduct. They +considered themselves more than ordinarily holy, and more strict in +the observance of their religious precepts and ceremonies. It is not +quite certain at what time the Pharisees first made their appearance; +yet there is no doubt, that like all the other sects among the Jews, +they were not known in any way, until some time after the death of +Malachi, the last of the prophets, when the spirit of prophecy ceased +to exist among Israel. Josephus, who was himself of this sect, speaks +of it as flourishing in the days of Johnathan the high priest. In the +days of John Hyrcanus, a high priest of the Asmonean race, they became +very numerous and influential. It is generally admitted that the +Pharisees were more devout than their brethren, and appear to have +excelled in the knowledge of the law, and to have been more skillful +in their interpretation of the same. + +The principal doctrines of this sect were as follows: + +They held sacred all the traditions of the elders in those days, and +considered the laws of the Rabbins, as contained in the said +traditions, equally binding upon them as the written law. They were of +the belief that the written law could not be properly understood +without the explanation of the oral law, which removed the apparent +difficult passages in the written law. They were guided by the +conviction that both were derived from the same fountain, as handed +down by the tradition from father to son. They further believed, that +when Moses was with God on the mount during forty days, he received +from him both laws--the one in writing, the other traditionary, which +contained the sense and explanation of the former. That Moses having +returned to his tent, taught the same to Aaron, then to his sons, +afterwards to the seventy elders, and lastly to all the people. That +the same was further continued throughout every generation until their +day, and that consequently they considered their system the only true +one, in order to the understanding of the law and the performance of +its precepts. This sect became the most numerous of all the others, +since their doctrines were supported by the scribes and expounders of +the law, who were the most competent judges in those days, and hence +the best calculated to guide the people in all their religious +duties. + +The Pharisees were, therefore, much respected and highly esteemed by +the general class of the people, who followed their example in the +performance of all their religious observances, and because they would +not encourage any innovations to be made in their religion or temple +worship. They were very particular in the performance of all the +ceremonial part of their religion, considering form and custom to be +the great contributing cause to the cementing more firmly the +principles upon which the Jewish religion is based, and that frequent +changes in religious affairs tend materially to weaken, but not to +strengthen, the cause. + +They maintained the belief in the resurrection of the body--at least +of the good--and the future rewards and punishments to all men in an +eternal state of retribution, believing that every soul is immortal. +They ascribed some things to fate, but held that other things were +left in man's own power; that all things were decreed by divine power, +yet not so as to take away the freedom of man in the discharge of +those duties which he is expected to perform in this life, in order to +obtain the promised happiness of an hereafter. + +The religion of the Jew in the present day, is that which was +practised by the sect called Pharisees, and is in general use among +all the descendants of Israel, wherever they may be dispersed +throughout the earth. There are some few exceptions, in those who have +seceded, and have set up a standard for themselves; but they are few +in number, and not very significant in the scale of Judaism. The +principle which they so strenuously advocate is a mere change in the +formulæ of prayer, and the mode of synagogue worship, under the idea +of conciliating the Gentiles, by whom they are surrounded. The belief +in the coming of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead, as +also the restoration of Israel to the promised land, is not in the +least invalidated. The Jews in general look forward with anxious hope +for the forthcoming of that period in which all this shall come to +pass, as so frequently foretold by the prophets in the various ages in +which they flourished. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +The Sadducees. + + +The Sadducees derive their name from the Hebrew word "Tzaddukeem," so +called from Zadok, who was a pupil of Antigonus, the son of Socho, +president of the Sanhedrim, upwards of two thousand years ago. This +sect arose from the following circumstance. + +Antigonus taught in his school the doctrine that "Man ought to serve +God from pure love, and not in a servile manner, either out of fear of +punishment or the hope of reward." + +Zadok, not comprehending the spiritual idea of this doctrine, +concluded that there would not be any future state of reward or +punishment; and, accordingly, taught and propagated this false +doctrine after the death of his preceptor, Antigonus. + +This sect believed in the written law as handed down from the time of +Moses; but not in the oral or traditional law. They rejected all the +traditions maintained among the Pharisees. They not only denied the +resurrection of the body, but even the existence of the soul after +its departure from the body here on earth. They ignored the idea +entertained of divine decrees, and held the belief that man is +absolute master of his own actions, with the full privilege of acting +as he pleases, either for good or evil. That God does not in anywise +influence his creatures in the doing the one or the other; that man's +prosperity or adversity in life depends entirely on his own acts, and +that both are respectively the result of either his wisdom or his +folly. The Sadducees received the Pentateuch as divine; but not the +other books of the old testament. In the days of Josephus, the +celebrated Jewish historian, the Sadducees were not very numerous, but +supposed to have been the most wealthy among the people; and the more +opulent joined them. We can easily reconcile this to our minds, as we +observe in our times that the rich and the great are apt to prefer the +pleasures and enjoyments of this life to any expectancy in a future +state of existence. Hence they are found ready and willing to embrace +such a system of religion as enables them to follow their own +inclinations. + +These men do not wish to tax their minds with any uneasy reflections +on the subject of retribution, or of the world to come, when they +shall be called to account for their past conduct in this life. + +The Sadduccees were, however, not tolerated among the mass of the +people, in consequence of their assertions, precepts, and doctrines, +which were held by the community at large as impious, and, therefore, +injurious to the happiness of society. + +At the destruction of Jerusalem, this sect became very +insignificant--their name became nearly forgotten for many years--and +subsequently the name was applied to the sect called Karaites, whom we +shall notice hereafter, in reproach and disgrace. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Samaritans. + + +The Samaritans were originally heathens, consisting of persons from +the several nations, to whom the king of Assyria gave the lands and +cities of the Israelites when they were made captives by the said +monarch. + +This sect was called Samaritans from the fact of their having been +settled in the city of Samaria, the metropolis of the kingdom of +Israel. When these people were first carried to Samaria, they adopted +the idolatrous worship and customs of the surrounding nations from +among whom they came. + +History informs us that Samaria was infested with lions, which the +people supposed to be a judgment from heaven for their idolatrous and +superstitious practices. + +The king of Assyria being of the same opinion with the rest of the +people, sent a Jewish priest to instruct them in the Jewish religion, +and to put away their idolatry. + +Notwithstanding the instruction they received from the Jewish priest, +these people could not easily be weaned from their old practices; and, +therefore, to conciliate all parties, as they supposed, they made up +among themselves a system embracing the principles of both the Jewish +and the heathen religion. + +At the return of the Jewish nation from the Babylonish captivity--and +after the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem--the religion of the +Samaritans underwent a revision, and an alteration in many points, +under the following extraordinary circumstances. + +One of the sons of Jehoiada, the high priest, married the daughter of +Sanballat, the Horonite, contrary to the Mosaical law, which prohibits +the inter-marriage of the Israelite with any of the other nations. + +Nehemiah in his day zealously endeavored to reform the people among +whom this innovation had spread itself to an alarming extent. He +compelled all those men who had married strange women to repudiate +them. + +Manasseh, unwilling to obey the order of Nehemiah, together with many +others who acted in concert with him, left Jerusalem with their wives, +and settled themselves under the protection of Sanballat, the governor +of Samaria. + +From that time onward, the worship of the Samaritans came much nearer +to that of the Jews. At a later date, they obtained permission from +Alexander the Great, to build a temple on Mount Gerizim, near the city +of Samaria, in imitation of the temple at Jerusalem, where they +followed the same system of worship, with some few exceptions. + +This sect bears some affinity to the Sadducees--it being the +prevailing opinion among the learned, that they rejected all other +sacred writings excepting the five books of Moses. + +This circumstance created a strong hatred between the Samaritans and +the original Jews. It was considered in those days a great reproach +among the Jews to be designated a Samaritan. So violent was the +animosity on both sides, that the one would not in any way associate +with the other, nor even perform any acts of civility to each other, +and thus all friendly intercourse ceased among them. + +The Samaritans, as well as the Sadducees, are sometimes called by the +Jewish Rabbins, "Cutheem." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +The Essenes. + + +This sect is supposed to have first appeared a short time before the +days of the Maccabees, when the faithful among the Jews, at least +those who were the most scrupulously religious, had to flee from the +power of their cruel enemies, and take up their abode in the deserts +and in caves. Living in such retreats, many of them became so +habituated to retirement, that they preferred to remain so even in +later days, when they might have again appeared in public. In this way +it was, that they formed themselves into recluses. + +Although this sect has not been noticed in the scripture history of +the Jews, still they formed a considerable party among them, as +mentioned by Josephus. The Essenes appear to have been rather peculiar +in their mode of living. They loved to be in solitude and retirement, +and were devoted to a contemplative life. They were singular in their +piety, humility, and devotion. It is supposed by some of the ancient +writers, that among this sect it was that the Hebrew philosophy and +metaphysics chiefly flourished, because they showed but little regard +for worldly pleasures--as wealth, honors, or vain-glories. They were +remarkable for their patience, moral conduct, and for their strict +observance of the Sabbath according to the law of Moses. + +They were exemplary in their manner of worship, for they would not +speak of any worldly affairs after the sun had risen, until they had +performed their religious duties as customary in those days. In the +present day, nothing is known of this sect; the probability is, that +in the lapse of time, they became mixed up among the rest of their +brethren in their various dispersions throughout the world. + +From the account given of the doctrines of this sect by Philo and +Josephus, that they believed in the immortality of the soul; that they +held the scripture in great reverence; they offered no sacrifices, but +sent presents for the support of the temple at Jerusalem. + +Their quiet, pious habits, rendered them remarkable. They remained +neutral amidst all the political changes, and were thus respected by +all parties of their own nation, as well as those of the heathens. +They lived chiefly in Palestine and in Egypt. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The Herodians. + + +The Herodians were considered by some to be a political party, and by +others, a religious sect. Josephus appears to have passed over this +sect in silence, which leads us to suppose that he did not consider +them very formidable. The opinion, however, of most ecclesiastics, is, +that they derived their name from Herod the Great, and that they were +distinguished from the Pharisees, and other Jews, by their agreeing +with Herod's scheme in putting himself and his dominions under the +power of the Romans, and complying with many of the heathen usages and +customs. + +In their zeal for the Roman authority, they were directly opposite to +the Pharisees, who considered it unlawful to submit to, or to pay +taxes to, the Roman emperor. The Pharisees encouraged this opinion, +because they were forbidden by the law of Moses to set over them a +stranger to be their king. The Herodians were also distinguished, +having adopted some of the idolatrous worship of the heathens, which +had been introduced among them by Herod the Great, when he built a +temple in honor of Cæsar, near the head of the river Jordan; and +erected a magnificent theatre at Jerusalem, in which he introduced the +pagan games, and placed the figure of a golden eagle over the gate of +the holy temple. + +Herod also furnished the temples, which he reared in the several +places out of Judea, with images for idolatrous worship, in order to +gain favor with the emperor of Rome; though, at the same time, to the +Jews he pretended to do it in opposition to his own will, but in +obedience to the imperial ordinance. In all these schemes the +Herodians acquiesced, and encouraged their master in his work of +iniquity. + +It is also probable, from some account in ancient history, that the +Herodians were chiefly of the sect of the Sadducees, who were very lax +in the performance of their religious duties. This sect was, however, +after a very few years, lost in oblivion, and up to the present day, +nothing more is known of them. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Galileans, or Gaulonites. + + +A sect among the ancient Jews, so called from their founder or leader, +Judas of Galilee. It is supposed that this party seceded from the +Pharisees, and formed themselves into a new sect. + +This Judas, considering it to be improper for his countrymen to pay +tribute to strangers, excited them to oppose the edict of the emperor, +Augustus, who had decreed that a census should be taken of all his +subjects. + +He declared his reason for this opposition to be, that God alone +should be honored as the supreme master, and not any earthly monarch. +This Judas was in company with one Zadoc, a Sadducee, and they +publicly taught that such taxation was forbidden by the law of Moses. +The tumults which they excited were, however, for a time suppressed; +but their disciples were active in propagating this doctrine. This +caused a secession from the body of the Pharisees, declaring it to be +unlawful to pay for infidel princes. In all other respects, they held +the same doctrine as the original Pharisees; but apart from them, +they performed the duties of sacrifices, and all other forms of +worship peculiar among them in those days. + +It is generally supposed that this sect of Galileans ultimately +embodied among themselves most of the other sects which appeared at +that time; and it is even credited, that the zealots, particularly +mentioned at the siege of Jerusalem, were of this faction. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +The Karayeem, or Karaites. + + +The Karaites trace their pedigree from the ten tribes who were carried +away captive by Salmanassar, and settled themselves in Tartary. They +derive their name from the word Kara, which signifies scripture, they +having adhered to the scripture only as the rule of their faith and +religion. Hence they were called Karayeem. They reject the Talmud and +the Mishna, as also all other traditions, and confine themselves +strictly to the written law--the word of God, as they term it--and +content themselves with the literal sense of the text, which admits of +no comment, according to their opinions. The translation of the bible +in use among them, is in the Turkish language, which in all +probability proceeds from their constant intercourse with the +Mahomedans. + +During the time of the celebrated Hillel, and his cotemporary, +Shammai, who were the president and vice president of the Sanhedrin of +those days, the disciples of these two eminent divines became +divided, and formed two parties. They were in constant disputes, +owing to the different opinions entertained by each party on the +several religious subjects. Those who were of the same opinion as the +Karaites, agreed with the school of Shammai; whilst those who were +zealous advocates for tradition, joined the school of Hillel. Though +the name Karaites be thus modern, this sect boasts of their high +antiquity; for they say they are the true followers of Moses and the +prophets, as they undoubtedly are, on account of their adhering so +closely to the scripture. + +This sect differs from the rest of the Jews in this respect--they +expound the scripture, after its having been read in the synagogue in +Hebrew, in the language of the country in which they dwell; and they +read most of their prayers after the same manner, both in private and +in public. At Constantinople, where many of them are living, their +translation is in modern Greek; whereas, in Caffa, it is in the +Turkish language. They are found chiefly in the Crimea, Lithuania, and +Persia, at Damascus, Constantinople, and Egypt. + +They are proverbial for honesty and integrity, and said to be men of +great learning, piety, and true religious principles. + +Their doctrines chiefly are as follow: + +They believe in the immortality of the soul, and in rewards and +punishments hereafter. They believe, also, with the rest of Israel, +that the Messiah is yet to come, with the same hope and fervency of +spirit as all Jews of the present day. + +They are exemplary in their observance of the Sabbath, and the +festivals, according to the strict letter of the law, as contained in +the bible. + +The celebrated traveler, Benjamin of Tudela, who made himself famous +in the twelfth century, visited all the synagogues in the east, where +he became acquainted with all the customs, manners, and ceremonies of +the different parties. He relates that he met some Karaites at +Damascus, in Syria, and in Egypt; that they all appear to have adopted +one uniform mode of worship and religious practices; that they met +with great encouragement in the Ottoman empire, owing to their +unanimity of feeling in synagogue worship, and their general conduct +in religious affairs. In Constantinople, where they are pretty +numerous, they hold an equal position. It was here that Elijah ben +Moses composed his astronomical tables for the capital of the Ottoman +empire. It was here, also, that the learned Rabbi, Judah Alpoka, the +noted Karaite, published his work, the "Gate of Judah," in which he +deplores the unfortunate state of his sect, which, he says, had lost, +by plunder and other persecution, about three hundred volumes of +books, composed in Arabic by their doctors, and translated into +Hebrew. + +This historian further informs us, that this sect is to be found in +Syria, and as far to the east as Nineveh, from which place, some years +ago, one of the Karaites came to Frankfort, in Germany. He brought +with him some books, which he valued at a very high price. He then +visited Poland, Muscovy, and Lithuania, where many of them are +residing at this day. This proves to us the folly of the vulgar +notion, that this sect are extinct in the west. Doubtless, there are +still many Karaites in these countries who trace their origin from the +Tartars. + +Our historian further informs us that, in the course of his travels, +he met in Damascus two hundred Karaites, four hundred Samaritans, and +about three thousand Pharisees, and that none of these sects would +intermarry; and consequently, they remain to this day distinct and +separate, so far as regards their religious intercourse and forms of +worship. In all other respects, however, they are friendly with each +other, and mix together in society as citizens of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Of the Synagogues among the Jews. + + +The term synagogue signifies simply an assemblage of persons, which +name was applied to places or houses in which the people met for +religious worship. Among the Israelites of old, the word synagogue was +used in its primary sense; as when they speak of the great synagogue, +or the court of the seventy elders, which was instituted in the days +of Moses, the legislator, to superintend the political affairs of the +nation. The number of seventy became, in later days, increased to one +hundred and twenty. + +Synagogues were originally instituted as chapels of ease, for the +convenience of those persons who lived far distant from the temple, +and could not, therefore, attend regularly to divine service. In the +later ages of the Jewish state, synagogues became very numerous, even +in Jerusalem, where the temple stood. + +The silence of the old testament respecting synagogues, and the +absence of any other authentic account, have induced most historians +to conclude that synagogues were not generally in use before the +Babylonish captivity. + +It appears to be the current opinion of many who have written on the +subject, that synagogues were first built during the days of Ezra and +Nehemiah. They directed that in every town and city throughout the +land, where ten men could be assembled, synagogues should be erected +for divine worship, which consisted of prayers and praises, reading +the scripture, and expounding the same, in the language of the country +in which the people lived. + +The Israelites having, during their long captivity in Babylon, +neglected the study of the Hebrew language, which was their +vernacular, the result proved that the bible became less understood by +them. It was on this account that Ezra read the law to the people in +Hebrew, and the meaning of the text was given in Chaldee by the +Levites; and thus it was, that the people were enabled to comprehend +the true and proper meaning of that portion of the law when read +publicly every Sabbath in the synagogue. Hence the origin of preaching +in the synagogue, which was considered one of the objects for which +the synagogue was instituted. + +After the Babylonish captivity, the erection of synagogues among the +Israelites proved of great utility to the people in general, as the +frequent public reading of the law was the only means of preserving +the true religion of the Jew, and of diffusing the knowledge of the +holy law of God. It cannot be denied, that it had been partially +forgotten during the long and severe captivity; that many of the rites +and ceremonies had fallen into disuse, in consequence of the many +cruel persecutions which were inflicted upon the people, which +unfitted them for the performance of God's holy law. + +The regulations for divine service were as follow. Two days in each +week, besides the Sabbath and other festivals, were appointed for this +service in the synagogue, viz: Mondays and Thursdays. The hours for +the daily prayers were at the time of the morning and evening +sacrifices. These hours were devoted to prayer in the temple as well +as in the synagogues, as also to private devotion in the respective +homes of the people. + +In addition to these two seasons of prayer, the ancient Hebrews prayed +at the beginning of the first night watch, while the evening sacrifice +was still burning on the altar; as we find recorded of king David in +the book of psalms, who prayed morning, noon, and evening. It is also +mentioned of Daniel, that he prayed three times a day. + +The priests and the Levites were devoted to the service of the temple; +but in the service of the various synagogues, persons of any tribe +were appointed, if found competent, by the elders who were the rulers +of the synagogue. + +The synagogues were also used in olden times as courts of justice, +more especially in ecclesiastical affairs. The great council of the +nation, called the Sanhedrin, whose department was in the temple at +Jerusalem, was vested with the power of deciding between life and +death. Its authority extended over all the synagogues in Judea, as +also over all other places, where the people resided near Jerusalem. +The great synagogue consisted of one hundred and twenty elders, among +whom were the three later prophets, Hagai, Zacharia, and Malachi. This +conclave continued in succession till the days of Simon, the just, the +high priest in Jerusalem, who was the last of this school. He was +designated the just, because of his devotion and unfeigned piety to +his God, and his upright conduct towards his fellow creatures. This +conclave were zealously engaged in restoring the holy religion of +Israel to its former excellence, which had undergone many corruptions +during the captivity and other persecutions which the people endured +subsequent to that period. They published correct copies of the bible, +and taught the same to the people, in order that they should +understand the religion which they professed to follow. + +Then it was that the worship of the synagogue consisted of three +parts--the reading of the scripture, prayer, and preaching. By the +scripture, is understood the pentateuch, portions from the prophets, +and Hagiographa. The pentateuch is divided into fifty-two portions, +for the fifty-two weeks in the year; one of these portions is read +every Sabbath till the whole pentateuch is finished; in addition to +the reading of the law, a chapter from the prophets is read, which +dates its origin to the following fact. + +In those days, when Antiochus Epiphanes destroyed all the books in the +possession of the Jews, he prohibited also the reading of the weekly +portions of the law on the Sabbath. The elders then, as a substitute, +selected chapters from the prophets, corresponding, in some measure, +with the context of the weekly portions of the law. This practice was +continued until Judas Maccabees had conquered Antiochus, when the +reading of the law was resumed. To commemorate this event, the +practice of reading the said portions of the prophets, on Sabbaths and +festivals, has been continued among the Jews, and is now in use in all +Jewish orthodox synagogues. + +Under the head of synagogues, we must notice that the Jews had schools +wherein the children were taught to read the law; as, also, academies, +in which the rabbins and doctors made comments on the law, and taught +the traditions to their pupils. These academies were furnished with +many tutors, of whom one was appointed as president, and under whose +name the academy was denominated. Of this character, were the two +famous schools of Hillel and Shammai, as also the school of the +celebrated rabbi, Gamliel, whom we shall have to introduce to the +notice of the reader hereafter, when we speak of the compilers of the +Mishna and the Talmud. The subject of prayer will form the contents of +the next chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +Of the origin and introduction of Prayer among the Jews. + + +The bible informs us that, even in the earliest ages of the world, +there existed in the human breast a spontaneous bursting forth of +grateful feeling towards God, the benefactor of mankind. + +The first specimen we meet with is in the days of Seth, the third son +of Adam. "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." The same +expression is used in the history of the patriarch Abraham, who built +altars and prayed to God. His example was followed by Isaac and Jacob, +and their immediate descendants. This "calling on the name of the +Lord," is what we now understand by the term prayer. + +From the several verses in Genesis, which speak of the prayers offered +up by the patriarchs, the Talmud infers that the morning prayer was +first introduced by Abraham, afternoon prayer by Isaac, and that of +the evening by Jacob; and, therefore, it is concluded that prayer was, +from the earliest period, held as a regular and stated duty. + +After the release of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, they were +initiated into a holy communion by divine revelation on Mount Sinai. +The mode of worship then, consisted of regular daily sacrifices, as +described in the bible; additional offerings for festivals, or +propitiatory, as those offered for sins and transgressions. These last +were always accompanied with suitable prayers and confessions. + +In this manner, the sinner had to make confession when he brought an +offering in expiation of his sins. On the day of atonement, when the +high priest presented the offering to the Lord, he had to make +confession on behalf of himself and the congregation. + +In Deuteronomy, chapter the twenty-sixth, fifth verse, we find a +particular form of thanksgiving and confession to be used by the +people, when they offered up the first ripe fruits to the Lord in the +temple at Jerusalem. + +All other addresses to the Almighty appear to have arisen as occasions +required. Of this class, we find several instances, such as Moses, +Joshua, Hannah, Hezekiah, and others. + +Nothing, however, more clearly points out the fact where prayer become +an established custom, than the devout and emphatic prayer to the +Almighty by king Solomon, at the dedication of the temple at +Jerusalem, which he had raised to the honor and glory of the God of +Israel. + +The language used by the royal sage on that occasion, so strongly +proves the assertion that prayer became an established custom, that we +cannot refrain from introducing to the reader the following extract. + +"That thine eyes may be open toward this house, night and day, even +toward the place of which thou hast said, my name shall be there; that +thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make +toward this place. And hearken thou to the supplication of this +servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this +place; and hear thou in heaven, thy dwelling place, and when thou +hearest, forgive." + +The royal sage then proceeds to particularize the nature of prayers +most likely to be used; as private injuries, national subjugation, +want of rain, famine, or pestilence, even the prayer of a stranger not +of the people of Israel, &c. Surely, a specimen such as this, must +prove an established custom among them to consider it a duty to pray +to God for favors conferred, and solicit his protection in the hour of +trouble and distress. + +The temple at Jerusalem was certainly the consecrated place of regular +prayer and sacrifices, for all Israelites who were within its reach; +yet, as many lived at too great a distance from this sacred spot, +private devotion was no doubt regularly practiced among them. We can +trace, in history, many accounts of the existence of places purposely +devoted to daily prayer and regular worship. The prophets, of whom we +read, at Damascus, Shiloh, Bethel, and Jericho, had, no doubt, a +regular form of prayer; for, at Jericho, there was an assemblage +called the sons of the prophets. + +After the destruction of the first temple, the Jewish nation was +driven to Babylon, and from there they became scattered about the +neighboring heathen countries. The occasions for prayer and +supplication must have increased in such a state of slavery and +persecution. Hence their addresses to the Almighty must have become +more sincere and more constant. The reflection on their former state +in society, compared with that in which they were now placed, must +have caused in the people a strong feeling of devotion, leading on to +the use of regular and earnest prayer. Then it was, that prayer was +the sole solace of the people, while under such persecution. + +The prophet Daniel suffered himself to be cast into the lions' den, +because he persisted in praying three times a day towards Jerusalem, +in defiance of the king's edict, which prohibited any person from +worshipping any other God but the idol set up by the king. + +In the days of Daniel, it is found that the pure Hebrew used by the +Israelites had become much corrupted by the intermixture of the +Chaldee and other languages, with which they became conversant by +their being so closely united with the strange nations. This caused +the holy tongue to be in a great measure forgotten. Nehemiah complains +of this, and says: "Their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, +and could not speak in the language of the Jew, but according to the +language of the several people." + +Ezra, the scribe, who lived in those days, looked on this matter with +considerable grief. He was fearful that the people would entirely +neglect their holy worship on account of the want of a proper +knowledge of the sacred language. And he further saw the consequences +would be, that when the people did pray, they would fail to select +proper expressions to convey their feelings and sentiments. Ezra, +therefore, in conjunction with his conclave, collected, composed, and +compiled the prayers in the pure and original Hebrew. They were so +arranged as to be suitable for any occasion of private and public +devotion, both for the morning and the afternoon, in reference to the +regular daily sacrifices offered up in the temple. Also, an additional +form of prayer, called "Moosoph" in Hebrew, for those days on which +the additional sacrifices had been offered; such as Sabbaths, +festivals, and the new moon; also, for the evening sacrifice which +burned all night on the altar; likewise, the Nengelah, or concluding +prayer of the day of atonement. These are the prayers which have been +handed down to the posterity of the Jews throughout the known world. + +Ezra and his conclave, who performed this great work, were called "the +men of the great assembly or synagogue." The Talmud, Maimonides, and +other eminent Jewish authorities, inform us that this synod was +composed of one hundred and twenty persons of great piety and +learning, among whom were the prophets, Hagai, Zacharia, Malachi, +Ezra, Nehemiah, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaria, together with many +other great men, whom we shall notice hereafter. + +These prayers were in daily use among the people during the second +temple; for in the Mishna, when speaking of the order observed in the +daily sacrifices in the temple, it is stated that the prefect who gave +the instructions, regularly said to the officiating priests, "repeat +ye one blessing," which they did; then the ten commandments, and the +shemang. He again said, "repeat ye with the people these blessings," +which they did, many of which are in daily use among all orthodox +Jews. Besides, as we have before noticed, many Israelites lived at +great distances from the temple, and, therefore, it is not reasonable +to suppose that God's chosen people should be altogether without some +regular formulæ of prayer. + +Any person who examines the prayers in daily use among the Israelites, +must become sensible of their excellence, and the grateful expressions +and high wrought admiration in which they are composed. They are +adapted to every situation in life, whether in sorrow or in joy, in +grief or in mirth. No one who views the wondrous creation; no one +possessed of the slightest spark of gratitude for favors bestowed; nor +he who looks forward with hope for relief in the hour of distress, or +sickness, can possibly have any language better suited to his +feelings, under any circumstances, and on every occasion. + +Nothing, perhaps, has tended so much to keep Israel distinct from +every other nation in the world, as their religious customs and +observances; but more especially so, their language, the sacred +original, in which the Lord of hosts manifested himself to his +favorite creature; the language in which they pray, and which, in +truth, is the only relic of their former glory and paternal heritage. +It is the continuance of praying in the Hebrew, which forms, as it +were, a communion for their dispersed brethren, from whatever country +or clime they may migrate, and constitute themselves into a +congregation; a language peculiarly their own--venerable for its +antiquity, and sacred from its first promulgation, as being the true +channel of divine revelation. + +The reader will please understand that our observations, as well as +the historical accounts, can only have reference to those prayers and +supplications which were composed for the Jew by the men of the great +synagogue, as already explained. Alas! that any innovation should have +been suffered to mar the beauty of those holy compositions! + +There are many more of a sacred character, such as known by the name +of "Peyutem," or poetical compositions, which are read in the +synagogue on the festivals and other special days. These are of much +later date, and have been introduced, from time to time, into the +Jewish liturgy, by men eminent for their learning, piety, and +devotion. They were written under peculiar circumstances of distress +and persecution, during the varied dispersion of the nation, more +especially in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. + +It was then that the Jews found consolation in the dark storm of +persecution, in pouring out their souls in prayer and religious +devotion, which they did spontaneously on the different occasions +which presented themselves. Their extempore effusions were so +characteristic of their pitiful situation, that they made an indelible +impression upon the minds, not only of their composers, but also upon +those to whom they were recited. To commemorate such events, these +compositions were committed to writing. In honor to the authors, the +several congregations among whom these pious men lived, introduced +them into the festival prayers, and other marked days. These have +become embodied in the regular festival and Sabbath prayer book, and +have been in constant use among the German and Polish Jews up to the +present day. The Portuguese Jews, however, have an entire different +formula. Theirs is more ancient than either the German or Polish. It +is worth notice, though strange, indeed, that the German Jews, who, in +a great measure, omit the recital of these Peyutem, were the very +people among whom they were principally composed. It is, however, not +our province to discuss here the expediency of such proceedings: we +have only to treat of facts; the reader can judge for himself. + +Some few exceptions, however, exist. Many of the Peyutem, above +mentioned, claim a much earlier date, and are from the pen of some of +the most holy men of the ancient race of Israel. These compositions +will be found in the additional service of new year and day of +atonement; also, those prayers called propitiatory--as the +_Selechous_, recited previously to and during the penitential days. +They have in all ages been admired for their beauty of diction, and +sublimity of language, and are highly calculated to inspire the reader +with profound awe and veneration, when addressing them to his creator. + +It remains now only for the Hebrew language to become a primary object +of study among all classes, so that they may learn to appreciate the +beauty of God's own language, and thus to be prepared with devotion +whenever engaged in prayer, either in private or in public. If such +were the case, those who labor in the good cause would be fully +repaid, when, by their exertions, they should succeed in awakening the +dormant feelings of the negligent to such a duty of prayer as may be +acceptable to the creator of mankind. Then will the intelligent mind +become sensible of the excellence of the ancient and holy liturgy of +the chosen people of God. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Of the Ureem and Thumeem. + + +"And thou shalt put in the breast-plate of judgment the Ureem and +Thumeem." Exodus, 28, 30. What the Ureem and Thumeem were is not +distinctly explained in the bible. + +That they were not the twelve precious stones contained in the +breast-plate, as some have erroneously imagined, is quite clear; for +we do not find that God directed Moses to make the Ureem and Thumeem, +as he did when he said, "And thou shalt make the breast-plate," &c., +&c. + +It is plain from the text itself, that they were something in addition +to the breast-plate, and put therein, after it was finished, by Moses +himself; and therefore God says, "And thou shalt put into the +breast-plate of judgment the Ureem and Thumeem." + +From this fact, it is evident that there was something additional +placed in the breast-plate by Moses; and for this reason, it is +supposed that it was made double, that it might the more conveniently +hold them. It now remains to inquire what the Ureem and Thumeem in +reality were, and what the particular use of them. As to the former, +there are various opinions among the learned. Many celebrated +Christian divines have ventured many erroneous definitions on the +subject. According to the opinions of the most erudite and pious +Hebrew doctors and rabbins, the following appears to be the most +reasonable view of the case. + +It was, say the rabbins, the Tetragrammaton, or ineffable name of the +Deity, which Moses was commanded to place in the breast-plate, and was +consecrated to holy purposes. It was vested with divine power to give +an oracular reply from God to any counsel being asked of him by the +high priest, during the time in which he wore it. Now, as the answer +came immediately from God, it was therefore properly designated +"asking counsel of God." As to the Ureem and Thumeem, it was +especially to ask counsel of God on such momentous occasions only, in +relation to the Jewish nation. + +In the Mishna of _Yoomah_ are explained three express conditions +necessary to be observed in the asking of counsel by the Ureem and +Thumeem. + +FIRST.--Concerning the person inquiring. He must not be a private +person. He must be either the king, the president of the Sanhedrin, +who presided over the whole nation, the general of the army, or some +other noble prince, or governor in Israel. + +SECOND.--Concerning the nature of the question. It must not be +respecting the affairs of private persons; but such only as relate to +the public interest of the whole nation, either of church or state. + +THIRD.--Concerning the person who presents the question. He must be +the high priest, clothed in his pontifical robes, and his breast-plate +with the Ureem and Thumeem. + +The learned Maimonides observes in his celebrated work, "Moreh +Nevoocheem," or a "_guide to the perplexed_," part second, chapter +forty-five, that the Ureem and Thumeem was a degree of the divine +inspiration. Speaking of the different degrees or orders of prophecy, +he says: "And thus every high priest who inquired by the Ureem and +Thumeem was of this order, as already mentioned." + +The divine presence rested on him, and he spoke by the holy spirit, +that is, he delivered his answers with the assistance of the holy +inspiration. According to this opinion, it was but one degree below +the spirit of prophecy. All the learned and eminent men among the Jews +say, that the manner of asking counsel, and receiving the answer +thereto, was as follows. + +The person who inquired did not make the request in an audible tone; +but in such a way as one who is at his devotion pronounces the words, +sufficiently loud to be heard by none but himself. + +The question being made, the priest looked into the breast-plate, and +on perceiving some letters on the stone of the same glistening, he, by +combining them together, obtained the answer. We shall best exemplify +the foregoing by the following passage from the book of Judges. + +"Now, after the death of Joshua, it came to pass that the children of +Israel asked the Lord, saying, who shall go up for us against the +Canaanites first, to fight against them." The reply was: "_Yehuda +Yangaleh_" or "Judah shall go up;" for as soon as the question was +propounded, the priest looked into the breast-plate, and seeing the +name of Judah appear prominent, he was assured that Judah was the +tribe. The priest looked again, and beheld the _Yod_ shine, the +_Ngain_ from the name of _Simeon_; then the Lamed from another name, +and the _Heh_ from another; these four letters being put together made +the word "_Yangaleh_" which signifies, "_He shall go up_." When the +priest found that no more letters glistened, he knew immediately that +the answer was completed. Hence the reason why they are called +_Ureem_, which signifies _Light_, from the shining of the letters; and +_Thumeem_, or perfection, as the answer was thus complete and +perfected. + +This fact distinguished the Jewish oracles from the pretended heathen +oracles, which were always delivered in an enigmatical and ambiguous +manner. The Jewish oracles were always clear and explicit, never +falling short of perfection, either in the manifestation or the +certainty of the truth thereof. + +During the existence of the second temple, the Ureem and Thumeem were +not consulted; for when the ark and coverlid, the cherubim and the two +tables of stone, disappeared at the destruction of the first temple, +the breast-plate with the _Ureem_ and _Thumeem_ shared the same fate. +Notwithstanding that on the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, they had +the pontifical robes, with the breast-plate with four rows of stones, +engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel; yet no question was +ever asked, and consequently no communication ever received from the +_Ureem_ and _Thumeem_. Two reasons are assigned for this. + +FIRST.--Because the said _Ureem_ and _Thumeem_ were instituted to ask +counsel of the Lord of such things which concerned _all_ the tribes of +Israel, and the common interest of the whole nation. Now, there being +at that time the tribes of Judah and Benjamin only, these oracles +could not _be_ consulted, the common interest of the nation having +then ceased. + +SECONDLY--And possibly the principal reason, was, that the +_Tetragrammaton_, or ineffable name of the Deity, which Moses put +between the folds of the breast-plate, was wanting. This being the +most important part, and the very essence of the whole--when the cause +ceased, the effect also ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Of the Mishna, or Oral Law. + + +The Pentateuch, or written law, was communicated by God to Moses, and +by him to the people of Israel at different times, and adapted to the +various seasons, places and circumstances during the forty years' +sojournment in the wilderness. + +The mode adopted in instructing the Israelites in the wilderness in +the divine law was as follows: Every passage or chapter of the written +law, whether historical or preceptive, was written by Moses, as +received from God himself, which he placed before his council or +senate, called, afterwards, Sanhedrin, as well as before the whole +body of the people. This council consisted of seventy elders, or +senators, the most learned and pious among the nation, of whom Moses +was the president. Every chapter of the law was explained by Moses +according to the oral tradition, which he received coeval with the +written law. The agreement of these two was proved in such a way as to +show that the oral law is the true and genuine spirit and sense of the +Pentateuch; that they are so intimately and inseparably connected +with each other as to be considered as one and indivisible. + +Aaron, the high priest, was honored with the appointment of repeating, +for the instruction of the people, all the learning taught by his +brother Moses. Aaron was succeeded by his sons. Then came the elders +who gathered together all the Israelites and placed them in their +several academies for the study of the law. Every individual of Israel +was permitted to make memoranda of the oral law, in order to assist +the memory, for personal and private convenience, but the public +instruction was taught orally. This oral tradition was transmitted +from Moses down to the days of the celebrated Rabbi, Judah the Prince, +son of the learned Simon the Just, about a hundred and fifty years +after the destruction of the second temple. After the death of Moses, +Joshua the son of Nun, his successor, taught the said law in his +Sanhedrin, and delivered it to the elders who succeeded him; and in +like manner the tradition of the Mishna was successively transferred +from generation to generation, and was concluded by Rabbi Judah, above +named, who flourished in the reign of the Emperor Antoninus, by whom +he was honored with the title of Prince, and invested with a supremacy +of power for his office. It was generally believed in those days that +there never rose up in Israel any man like unto him, in whom so much +piety, wealth and glory were united. + +It was in consequence of his extreme piety and devotion to spiritual +purposes only, and divesting himself of all worldly cares and +pleasures, that he was designated Rabbinu Hakodesh, or the Holy Rabbi. +This pious man, acting as president of the Sanhedrin, consulted his +colleagues, who, perceiving the decline of literature, such as +contained in the oral law at that period, and fearful of the +consequences thereof to the nation at large, took into their serious +consideration the necessity of adopting some plan by which such +tradition should not be entirely forgotten. They saw and felt that the +many sufferings and persecutions inflicted upon their co-religionists +would ultimately be the cause of the loss of that knowledge which was +so dear to them as God's own people. That it would be impossible for +future generations to understand the practical part of the divine +precepts as embodied in the Pentateuch. It was therefore with holy +zeal that they judged it proper to collect and compile all the oral +tradition explanatory of the written law and commit the same to +writing, in order that it should be handed down to posterity. This is +the same Mishna now in existence among the Jews at this day. It is +written in short sentences and aphorisms, and generally considered to +be in pure Hebrew, with some few exceptions. It contains full +elucidations of the Pentateuch, as admitted by the most eminent Jewish +doctors of all ages, who testify that without such elucidations the +written law would have remained a sealed book to the world at large. + +In the following chapter we shall treat of the Gemara, or Completion, +usually called the Talmud, the same being a commentary on the Mishna. + +For the present, we shall content ourselves by laying before our +readers a succinct account of the contents of the Mishna. + +The Mishna is divided into six general heads, called in Hebrew, +Sedoreem, orders or classes. The first is styled Zeroeëm, which +signifies _seeds_, and is subdivided into eleven sections. + +FIRST--BEROCHOUT, OR BLESSINGS.--This section treats of the laws +directing the order of prayers and thanksgivings for the produce of +the earth, and for all other benefits conferred on man by the +beneficent creator; with the consideration as to time and place when +they are to be said or repeated. + +SECOND--PYOH, OR CORNER.--This section treats of those laws which +direct the leaving of the corner of the field, as the portion for the +benefit of the poor, as commanded in the book of Leviticus. + +THIRD--DEMAI, OR DOUBTFUL.--This treats of such things of which there +exists some doubt, as to tithes having been paid for them, the +Israelites not being allowed to eat of anything until it had been +tithed. + +FOURTH--TERUMOUS, OR OBLATIONS.--This section points out such things +of which a portion was to be set apart as devoted to the use of the +priests. + +FIFTH--SHEVINGIS, OR SEVENTH.--This section explains the laws of the +seventh year, called the Sabbatical year, during which period the land +was to remain at rest, and lie fallow; and during which time all +debts were remitted and obligations canceled. + +SIXTH--KILLAYIM, OR MIXTURES.--This portion lays down the laws which +prohibit the mixing or joining of things together of an opposite or +different nature or species; as, the sowing of various kinds of seeds +in one and the same spot of ground; or suffering cattle of different +kinds to engender; or the grafting a scion of one species of plant on +the stock of another of a different character. + +SEVENTH--MANGSIRE REESHOUN, OR FIRST TITHE. This section signifies the +first tithes, and treats of the laws of the said tithes which shall be +apportioned to the Levites. + +EIGHTH--MANGSIRE SHYNEE, OR SECOND TITHES. This treats of the laws of +the second tithes, which were to be taken up to Jerusalem, and there +to be eaten, or to be redeemed, and the produce expended at Jerusalem +in peace offerings. + +FIFTH--CHALAH, LOAF, OR CAKE.--This section speaks of the laws +relative to setting apart a cake of dough for the priests; of the +description of dough the cake should be, and what kind of dough was +prohibited from being used for the purpose. + +TENTH--ORLAH, OR UNCIRCUMCISED.--This section explains the law +touching the illegality of eating the fruit of any tree until the +fifth year of its growth. As follows: During the first three years of +its bearing fruit, it must not be eaten; the fourth year it was holy +to the Lord; and on the fifth year, it was permitted to be eaten by +the owner thereof. + +ELEVENTH--BICKUREEM, OR FIRST RIPE FRUITS. This section treats of the +manner in which the first ripe fruits were to be offered up in the +holy temple at Jerusalem. + +The second general head or class is called _Seder Moed_, or order of +festivals. It is so denominated because it treats of all those laws +which were made concerning festivals and days of solemn observance. +This second class is divided into twelve sections. + +FIRST--SABBATH, OR REST.--This is so called because it treats of all +the laws respecting the Sabbath. This division contains twenty-four +chapters. + +SECOND--EYRUVEEN, OR MIXTURES, OR ASSOCIATIONS.--This section shows in +what manner food might be conveyed from house to house on the Sabbath +day. All the inhabitants of the court or place in which the +association was formed, were allowed so to do. It also explains the +rules laid down for any journey to be made on the Sabbath. + +THIRD--PESOCHIM, OR PASSOVER.--This portion treats of all the laws, +customs, and ceremonies, to be observed at the offering up of the +paschal lamb on the eve of the festival of Passover. + +FOURTH--SHEKOLEEM, OR SHEKELS.--This treats of the half shekels, which +every Israelite, whether rich or poor, was bound to pay every year +towards defraying the expenses of the daily sacrifices offered up on +the altar in Jerusalem. + +FIFTH--YOUMOH, OR DAY.--This section treats of the great and solemn +day of atonement; pointing out the ceremonies of the day, and the +duties of the high priest on that holy occasion. It also speaks of +the sacrifices which were to be offered up as expiations for the sins +of the people. + +SIXTH--SUCCOH, OR TABERNACLE.--This portion treats of the feast of +tabernacles. It points out in what manner the tabernacle should be +built; the use of the palm tree, the citron, the myrtle, and the +willow of the brook, which were ordered to be taken and used on the +said festival. + +SEVENTH--YOUM TOUV, OR FESTIVAL.--It is called, also, Bytsoh, or Egg, +being the word with which it commences. This section contains the laws +and regulations for the due observance of the festivals of the Lord. +It points out what work may, or may not, be lawfully done on any of +the festivals which are called holy days of convocation, on which all +manual labor or traffic is prohibited. + +EIGHTH--ROUSH HASHONO, OR NEW YEAR.--This treats of the laws and +solemnities of the sacred day of the new year; such as the sounding of +the _shouphar_ or _cornet_; of the prayers and regular service of that +holy occasion. It describes, also, the ceremony for the observance at +the appearance of the new moon, by which all the holy days were +regulated by the Sanhedrin during the existence of the second temple. + +NINTH--TANGANEES, OR FAST.--This division treats of the different +fasts held throughout the year, and the manner in which they are to be +observed by every Israelite. These fasts are held on different +occasions for various reasons, and purposes; such as days of +repentance, humiliation, and of calamity and misfortune which befel +the nation in the several ages of persecution. + +TENTH--MEGILLOH, OR ROLL OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.--This section treats +of the feast of Purim, and directs how the roll shall be written and +read on this festival. It speaks of many other rules and regulations +to be observed on this feast, which commemorates the miraculous +deliverance of the Jewish people from the hands of the wicked Haman, +who contemplated the destruction of the whole nation. It also treats +of the laws concerning the synagogue, and the reading of the holy law +on the several days of solemn and religious observance throughout the +year. + +ELEVENTH--MOED KOTON, OR LESSER FESTIVALS. This treats of such work as +may or may not be done during the middle days of the passover and +tabernacle holidays. It is, therefore, called Moed Koton, as the +middle days of the said festivals are considered less holy than the +first and last two days. It contains, also, the laws regulating the +conduct of mourners. + +TWELFTH--HAGIGAH, OR FESTIVAL OFFERINGS. This section specifies the +laws relating to the offerings made on the different festivals; the +description of the persons; how they are to be qualified, and in what +manner they are to appear before the Lord on the three great festivals +in every year, when all the Israelites that possibly could, were +expected to be in attendance at the holy city of Jerusalem. + +The third general head, or class, is called Nosheem, or women. This is +subdivided into seven sections. + +FIRST--YEVOMOUS, OR MARRIAGE.--This section is so called, as it treats +of the laws by which one brother is expected to marry the relict of +his deceased brother. It shows how, and when, the obligation shall +take place; the duties and the ceremonies to be observed at the +performance of the same. + +SECOND--KESUVOUS, OR DOCUMENTS.--This speaks of the laws relating to +marriage contracts, and dowries, and of estates, whether real or +personal, which may fall to some married women; how the same shall be +disposed of, by, or allotted to, the said party or parties. + +THIRD--NEDOREEM, OR VOWS.--This treats of such vows which, when made, +become binding, and by what persons such vows shall be made; how vows +are considered null and void, since the husband has the power of +confirming or annulling the vows of his wife. This law is very +particularly specified, as to how such may be done; and the class of +vows which fall under the control of the husband, and those which do +not. + +FOURTH--NOZEER, OR NAZARITE.--This section treats of those laws which +guide the different classes of Nazarites who take upon themselves the +vows of abstinence. + +FIFTH--SOTAH, OR TO TURN ASIDE.--This treats of the enactments +relating to trials occasioned through jealousy between man and wife; +the nature of the punishment inflicted on the woman, if it be proved +that she had been guilty of the crime of adultery. + +SIXTH--GITTEN, OR LETTER OF DIVORCE.--This treats of the laws of +divorce. It explains when, and under what circumstances, a divorce may +be granted. It directs also all the formulæ to be used and observed in +all cases of divorce. + +SEVENTH--KEDUSHEEN, OR BETROTHING.--This treats of the laws, customs, +and ceremony of betrothing; the forms, rites, and regulations to be +observed at the solemnization of the marriage according to the laws of +Moses and Israel. + +The fourth general head, or class, is called Nezeekeen, or Damages. +This class is divided into eight sections; the first of which is again +subdivided into three separate sections, as follow. + +FIRST--BOVOH KAMMA, OR FIRST GATE.--This first section treats of all +such damages, which may be recovered for injuries done, either by man +or beast. + +SECOND--BOVOH MEZIAH, OR MIDDLE GATE.--This treats of the laws of +usury. It explains what is, and what is not, considered an act of +usury. It speaks also on matters of special trust; of letting or hire, +and such like transactions between man and man. + +THIRD--BOVOH BOSROH, OR LAST GATE.--This treats of the laws relating +to commerce, copartnership, buying and selling; also, the laws of +inheritance, and the right of succession. + +The above three sections are called by the Talmud and Mishna, gates, +because, in the East, the courts of law were held within the gates of +the city. + +SECOND--SANHEDREEN, OR SENATE.--This speaks of the great senate, as +also of the minor courts of judicature; of the causes for trial, and +the nature of the punishment inflicted for the several crimes; the +four kinds of death, as the penalty for capital offenses. It +describes, also, very minutely, the mode to be adopted by the Judges +in the examination of witnesses. + +THIRD--MACCOUS, OR PUNISHMENT.--This portion treats more especially of +that which may constitute false testimony, or inadmissible evidence; +the laws relative to the forty stripes inflicted on the delinquent; +the reason why the rabbins directed that only thirty-nine stripes +should be inflicted instead of forty, as stated in the bible; also, +the manner in which the said punishment should be administered. It +relates, likewise, the regulations to be observed by such persons who +were compelled to seek shelter in the cities of refuge. + +FOURTH--SHEVUNGOUS, OR OATHS.--This section explains the laws to be +observed in the administration of an oath; in what cases an oath shall +or shall not be submitted to the contending parties; who shall or who +shall not be considered qualified to take the oath. + +FIFTH--ADOYOUS, TESTIMONIES OR EVIDENCES. This treats of the decisions +of the many important cases, collected from the evidence and testimony +of the most eminent and learned rabbins and doctors of the great +Sanhedrin of olden times. + +SIXTH--AVOUDOH ZOROH, OR IDOLATRY.--This section is so called, as it +treats of all manner of idolatry. It is also entitled the "_the +worship of the planets_." It explains the manner and form of the +different modes of worship, as practised by the idolatrous nations, +with the view of preventing the Israelite from becoming contaminated +by them. + +SEVENTH--OVOUS, OR FATHERS.--This section contains the history of +those holy fathers who, in their respective ages, successively +received by tradition the oral law; from the days of Moses, the great +lawgiver, down to the period when it was compiled and committed to +writing by the celebrated rabbinu Hakodesh. It contains, also, many of +the wise sayings, aphorisms, and moral maxims of the learned men, and +is therefore called the "Ethics of the fathers." + +EIGHTH--HOUROYOUS, OR PRECEPTS.--This section is so called, because it +treats of the punishment and penalty to be inflicted on those who +should presumptuously act against, or teach anything in opposition to, +the decrees and decisions of the great Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. + +The fifth general head, or class, is called Kodosheem, or holy things. +It is subdivided into eleven sections. + +FIRST--ZEVOCHEEM, OR SACRIFICES.--This section treats of the order to +be observed in offering up the cattle for sacrifices, and points out +their nature and quality. It also relates the time and the place; and +specifies by whom they were to be killed and brought up as an offering +upon the altar of the Lord. + +SECOND--MINOCHOUS, OR MEAT OFFERINGS.--This portion treats of the +oblations of oil, flour, and wine, proper for each offering; and of +the two waive loaves, which were to be made of fine flour, such as +were offered up, on the festival of pentecost. + +THIRD--CHOOLIN, OR PROFANE.--This section points out that which is +clean, and that which is unclean; what may and what may not be +lawfully eaten; and the law which prohibits the killing of the dam and +its young, both in one day. It also shows the law prohibiting the +eating of the "sinew which shrank;" and the law forbidding the taking +of the dam with its young. It, moreover, embraces the laws +appertaining to the killing of cattle and fowl for domestic use; and +who may, and who may not, be permitted to kill the animals for food to +be eaten by Israelites. + +FOURTH--BECHOUROUS, OR FIRST BORN.--This section treats of the laws +relating to the first born of both man and cattle; pointing out in +what manner, and at which period, they were to be redeemed, either +with money, or brought up as an offering to the Lord. It speaks also +of the tithes of all manner of cattle. + +FIFTH--EYRACHIN, OR VALUATION, OR ESTIMATION.--This section treats of +the manner in which things devoted to the Almighty are valued, so that +they may be redeemed and applied to ordinary purposes; as also how +the priest shall value a field, devoted or sacrificed to the Lord by +its owner. + +SIXTH--TEMUROH, OR EXCHANGE.--This portion explains how far it may be +lawful to exchange one sacred thing for another; as, whether an animal +which had been consecrated as an offering to be sacrificed to the Lord +might be exchanged. In most cases, where an animal had been +consecrated to the Lord, and then exchanged, both the animal and its +substitute became sacred. + +SEVENTH--KERISUS, OR EXCISIONS.--This section relates to offenses +which, if wantonly committed, were punished by the offender being cut +off from among the people, called _Kohrice_. It points out, at the +same time, what offenders were liable to this punishment. It likewise +explains how those who had offended through accident, had to bring a +sin or trespass offering. + +EIGHTH--MENGELOH, OR TRESPASS.--This portion treats of the nature of +the trespass made by converting such things which have been +consecrated and devoted to holy purposes, to profane or unholy +matters. + +NINTH--TOMEED, OR CONTINUAL OFFERINGS.--Herein are specified the daily +sacrifices, and the description as to how, and in what manner, they +were to be offered upon the altar of the Lord. + +TENTH--MIDDOUS, OR DIMENSIONS.--This book is so called, because it +speaks of the dimensions and proportions of the temple. It describes +the mount on which the temple stood, and the full extent of the outer +court. This was considered requisite to be known; for whoever had +become unclean, from any circumstance whatever, was prohibited from +entering the temple on pain of excision. + +ELEVENTH--KONEEM, OR NESTS.--This section speaks of the birds, such as +pigeons or turtle-doves, which were brought as offerings by the poor, +instead of the more expensive, which they were unable to bring. The +smaller value was equally acceptable to the God of mercy and kindness. + +The sixth general head, or class, is entitled Taharous, or +purifications. It is divided into twelve sections. + +FIRST--KYLEEM, OR VESSELS, UTENSILS.--This book is so called, because +it treats of the pollutions incident to vessels, and how they are to +be purified from such uncleanness. It treats also of the manner in +which garments of every description may be purified, in the event of +their becoming polluted or defiled by uncleanness of any kind. + +SECOND--OHOLOUS, OR TENTS.--This section treats of the manner in which +houses become polluted; the nature of such pollutions; and how far +those who enter such dwellings may thereby become contaminated, and +how they may be purified. + +THIRD--NEGOIM, OR PLAGUES, OR DISEASES.--This book explains all the +laws relative to the plague of leprosy; whether on man or beast, +dwellings or garments. It shows how and in what manner infection took +place; and how the things or persons so afflicted may become +purified. + +FOURTH--POROH, OR HEIFER.--This section speaks of the laws relating to +the red heifer; how the said heifer should be burned to ashes, in +order to make the water for purification; and in what manner all +defilements, contracted by the touch or contact of a dead body, could +be purified by means of the ashes of the red heifer. + +FIFTH--TAHAROUS, OR PURIFICATIONS.--This portion treats of all those +laws pertaining to such defilements which may be contracted otherwise +than by the touch of a dead body; and of the manner purification may, +and can take place. + +SIXTH--MIKVOOUS, OR BATHS.--This section treats of the laws and +regulations for baths to be used for purification by ablutions; of all +persons who may have from any cause whatever become unclean. Herein is +also specified the manner in which the bath should be constructed, and +the quantity of water required for every ablution. + +SEVENTH--NIDDOH, OR SEPARATION.--This portion explains all the laws +relating to the pollutions and purifications of women after +child-birth, and on every occasion of uncleanness. + +EIGHTH--MACHSHEREEN.--This section explains in what manner seed or +fruit became susceptible of defilement or pollution through the +admixture of liquids. + +NINTH--ZOBEEM, OR ISSUES.--This portion treats of the laws relating to +the impurities arising from the issues of the body; and points out how +and when they are deemed unclean; and how and in what manner either +persons or things may become affected by their pollution. + +TENTH--TIBBUL YOUM, OR PURIFICATION OF A DAY.--This portion speaks of +persons who may become unclean, and require ablution to purify them; +which purification cannot be considered complete until the setting of +the sun on the same day when the purification shall take place. + +ELEVENTH--YODOYEEM, OR HANDS.--This section treats of the laws and +regulations for cleansing the hands from any uncleanness; and the +custom and ceremony to be observed in washing the hands on the +different occasions. + +TWELFTH--UKTSEEM, OR STALKS.--This last section is so called, because +it explains how the touching of the stalks of any sort of fruit may +convey pollution to the fruit itself. + + +SYNOPSIS OF THE FOREGOING MISHNA. + + No. 1.--Seder Zeroeem contains 11 sections. + No. 2.--Seder Moed contains 12 sections. + No. 3.--Seder Nosheem contains 7 sections. + No. 4.--Seder Nezekeen contains 10 sections. + No. 5.--Seder Kodosheem contains 11 sections. + No. 6.--Seder Taharous contains 12 sections. + -- + Total 63 sections. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +Of the Gemara, or Completion, which is usually styled Talmud. + + +In the foregoing chapter we described the manner in which the Mishna +was compiled, together with its contents, from its first delivery by +Moses till the time of its being committed to writing by Rabbi Judah +the Prince. We shall now proceed in regular order to explain what the +Talmud is, and how it was composed by the several learned men among +the Jews both in Jerusalem and in Babylon. + +The compilation of the Talmud ranks among the most ancient Hebrew +writings. It consists of two distinct heads--the Mishna and the +Gemara, and both together form the Talmud. + +The Mishna, as already explained, chiefly contains the oral or +traditional laws transmitted down to posterity from the time of Moses +the Lawgiver, to that of Rabbi Judah the Prince or Nassi. + +The Gemara consists of expositions and comments on the Mishna, as also +various other subjects connected with Jewish literature, and more +especially Jewish theology. It contains also treatises on moral +philosophy, ethics, mathematics, astronomy and chronology, and many +other branches of the different sciences known in those days. The +Gemara or expositions on the Mishna was commenced in the days of the +Rabbins, Gamaliel and Simeon, the two sons of Rabbi Judah the Holy, +about the year 3980 of the creation, and was completed and compiled +into one body by Rav Ashi, President, and Raviny, Vice President, who +are considered the actual compilers of the Babylonian Talmud. This +took place about the year 4260. + +The authors of the Talmud in general are styled Amooroim, dictators, +as they dictated the several explications of the Mishna, as discussed +in the different schools, and which are all found in the Talmud. The +comments and expositions are known by the name of Gemara, which +signifies completion, because therein is fully explained all the +traditional doctrines of the Jewish law and its religion. The Mishna +is the text, the Gemara the comment, or glossary, and both together +form the Talmud. + +There are two Talmudim. The first is styled Talmud Yerushalmi, or +Jerusalem Talmud. This was compiled by Rabbi Jochanan in five sedorim +or divisions. This Talmud does not contain the whole of the Mishna. It +was completed about the year 4060. The second Talmud is called Talmud +Bably, or Babylonian Talmud, which was completed about two hundred +years after the other Talmud. The Talmud Yerushalmi is the least +esteemed of the two, and consequently less studied and quoted by the +learned among Israel. It is the Babylonian Talmud which is usually +studied and consulted in all points of jurisprudence, as connected +with all religious affairs, both in, and out, of the synagogue. It is +therefore to be understood, that whenever the Talmud is simply +notified, it means the Babylonian Talmud; as the other Talmud is never +quoted, unless particularly and expressly mentioned. + +The Talmud Bably is arranged in the following order. The Mishna forms +the text, and the Gemara is annexed as the comment or glossary. The +same order is observed as with the Mishna, although it must be +observed that the Gemara appears only on thirty-six sections, whereas +the whole of the Mishna contains sixty-three sections, as explained in +the foregoing chapter. The order of the Talmud is as follows: + + No. 1.--Seder Zeroeem contains 1 section. + No. 2.--Seder Moed contains 11 sections. + No. 3.--Seder Nosheem contains 7 sections. + No. 4.--Seder Nezekeen contains 8 sections. + No. 5.--Seder Kodosheem contains 8 sections. + No. 6.--Seder Taharous contains 1 section. + -- + Total 36 sections. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +APPENDIX. + + +Having given a brief description of the Mishna and the Talmud, and +their contents, we now direct the attention of the reader to the +following observations, as a summary to the preceding two chapters. + +The Pentateuch, or Five Books of Moses, is generally understood by the +term "written law," and the Talmud as the oral or traditional law. The +oral law was handed down from Moses to Joshua, from the elders to the +prophets, and from them to the Great Synod, which consisted of one +hundred and twenty of the most learned men of the age, and in like +manner from time to time, until the days of Rabbi Judah, already +mentioned. This great man, seriously contemplating the state of his +nation as regarded their religious affairs, and perceiving that those +who were learned in the law were gradually diminishing in number, +feared that the knowledge of the oral law might ultimately be +forgotten, and with it the essential portion of the law of Moses. In +the true spirit of devotion and piety, this Rabbi collected all the +doctrines and precepts which had been taught orally, down to that +period, and with the assistance of his pious colleagues, committed +them to writing, and arranged them in the order of the Mishna, as +already described. After the Mishna had been written, and presented to +the nation at large, it was received by them with a general and +unanimous consent. It was universally approved, and was held by them +as an authentic document, delivered to Moses by the Almighty, while on +the mount, as an explanation of the written law. The prevailing +opinion among the people then was, that the Mishna had been handed +down by tradition, and they were confirmed in such opinion by the +conviction that the same had been taught to them in their youth in the +various schools and academies which were established for such +purposes. It was then considered expedient by the learned in those +days, that some further explanation should be given, in order to +render the Mishna more intelligible to the general class of readers. + +With this view, some of the most eminent among the Jewish doctors, +taught in the schools the oral law together with the signification +thereof, and in this way they illustrated all the most abstruse and +difficult passages by useful and instructive commentaries. These +illustrations and glossaries increased from time to time, which formed +the Talmud, such as it is at present in the possession of the +Israelites. It abounds with aphorisms and ethics, which were +introduced by the Rabbins and Doctors who composed the Talmud, in the +course of their discussions. It was in this manner, that they +supported the opinions advanced by them on the various subjects upon +which they treated. These subjects were frequently illustrated by +moral tales and allegories, such being the tutelar system prevalent +among most of the oriental nations in those days. + +In the said Talmud the Rabbins taught also the various arts and +sciences, such as known in those times, although it may be conceded +that they may not have reached to such perfection as in the present +enlightened age; nevertheless the principle was known by the +Israelites of old, and practically applied by them as far as necessity +demanded. It is well known that astronomy, geometry, architecture, +physics, natural philosophy, as well as many of the other sciences, +were in high cultivation both before and after the Babylonian +captivity. + +The building of the tabernacle in the wilderness--the beautiful temple +of Solomon,--the superb edifice erected by Herod the Great, may +certainly be advanced as specimens of the science of architecture, in +which must naturally be included that of geometry. It cannot be denied +that the Jews were also famous in hydraulics, aqueducts, etc., +military tactics and war implements, engineering, agriculture, etc. + +That astronomy was successfully cultivated by the Israelites of old, +is proved by the perpetual chronological calendar which was formed and +brought to perfection in the days of the Talmudical doctors. This +calendar is composed both of the lunar and solar revolutions. Though +it may not be strictly the province of this chapter to treat upon this +subject, the reader will excuse the digression, in order to introduce +a short extract of this calculation to show the basis upon which the +same is founded, and prove that a knowledge of astronomy existed in +those days, by the teachers of the Talmud. According to the Mosaic +Law, the Israelites are directed to calculate the year and compute +their holy days according to the lunar year. Twelve lunar, _synodical +revolutions_, _i.e._ 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds, +compose one simple year. Thus we make sometimes 353, 354, 355 days, +allowing for fractions. Yet the _Epactem_ of 10 days, 21 hours, 11 +minutes and 20 seconds, in which the solar year exceeds the lunar, +might be the cause, that the holy days would be removed from their +respective seasons,--which would be the case, when calculating by the +lunar only. So that in a period of seventeen years the feast of +Passover would be in the autumn instead of the spring, and the feast +of tabernacle in spring instead of the autumn. On this account it was +that the Jewish chronologists took care to remedy this defect, by +forming alternately, sometimes to compose the year of thirteen lunar +months, as 383, 384, 385 days, for which reason they adopted a period +of 19 years, in which they formed seven complete years,--as the 3, 6, +8, 11, 14, 17, 19, complete of thirteen lunar months, and the interval +twelve years, _simple_, of twelve lunar months only; and in this +periodical calculation of 19 years, according to the above rotation +of twelve _simple_ and seven _complete_ years, the _lunar_ and _solar_ +years then agree, without any variation whatever.[A] Hence it is that +the Jewish calculation is very exactly and astronomically contrived, +for it has never failed since its first introduction, now nearly +fifteen centuries. This is a sufficient proof that the science of +astronomy was known to the ancient Israelites. + +We have already stated, that the Talmud contains many allegories, +aphorisms, ethics, etc., which, it must be observed, are not to be +interpreted in their literal sense, but as being intended to convey +some moral and instructive lesson,--such being the system peculiar to +oriental nations. This system not having been clearly understood by +many of the Jews and Gentiles in both ancient and modern times, has +led to the belief that the whole of the Talmud, as it now exists, is +of divine origin. Now in justice to the authors of the Talmud, it must +be stated, that they never intended to convey any such idea; their +object was simply to render their discussions and dissertations +intelligible to their coreligionists of those days, and that it should +be carefully handed down to posterity. With this view it was, that the +compilers of the Talmud left the work in its original and genuine +state, with all the arguments and disputations as given by the authors +in the various ages, so that they might not be charged with having +interpolated it with ideas of their own, foreign to the views and +intentions of the original authors of the work. This is sufficient to +show that the _whole_ of the Talmud never was considered by the +learned, as having a divine origin; but _those_ portions of the +Mishna, illustrative of the written law, as already explained, were +received as divine, having been successively transmitted by oral +tradition, from Moses to Rabbi Judah, the Prince, and by him placed +before the world and handed down unalloyed to succeeding generations. +In coming ages, the learned among Israel, desirous that the study of +the Talmud should not be entirely lost, have added comments and +glossaries, in order to render the work as easy as possible to the +comprehension of the student. The Talmud contains, not, as has been +said, the narrow-minded sentiments of bigots, but the devout and +conscientious discussions of men deeply impressed with the love of +divine providence, and anxious to inculcate that love in others by +precept and observation. + +It was wisely remarked by the celebrated Luzzato, "that the ancient +Rabbies were the incorrupt reporters of the ceremonials and rites of +the Jews, and _no innovators!_ that they did not attempt to grasp a +subject they could not comprehend, nor seek to hide by sophistical +arguments, eloquently clothed, a truth that was apparent." _No!_ for, +says the Venetian sage, they spoke of things to the study of which +their whole lives had been devoted, and their piety gave weight to +their opinions. + +We are aware, however, that we are open to severe criticisms; but we +trust that our remarks may neither shock the ear of the more +enlightened portion of the Jewish nation, nor incur the displeasure of +those, who still believe it to be a crime to urge a word respecting +this time honored production. Much has been said on this subject. +Whilst some have labored incessantly to enforce the divinity of the +Talmud--others again, either from prejudice or other unholy motives, +have set at nought the entire composition, and condemned it as useless +in the present age. How far the latter may be justified in the +promulgation of such sentiments, may be easily ascertained by a glance +at Judaism at the present, in view of the strife and contention +between the Orthodox and the Reform, with but little benefit to +Judaism in general. The reader will look "on this picture and on that" +and decide for himself. + +We might quote many authorities of high standing among the Jewish +literati, such as existed formerly in the schools of Jamnia, Tiberias, +Surah, Pombeditha, etc.; and in subsequent ages, those unrivalled +Luminaries that appeared in Spain and France, Germany and Poland, who +have recommended the study of the Talmud as a guide to the perfect +understanding of the holy writings. On the present occasion we prefer +citing that which has been said of its merits by other divines, +differing from the Jew in faith. + +A celebrated Christian divine of the Catholic church who flourished in +the fourth century, Aurelio Augustino, in a work called "The City of +God," makes the following remarks: + +"For, indeed, that nation, that people, that state, that republic, the +Israelites, to whom was given the eloquence of God, in no way +confounded the pseudo-prophets with their true prophets. But by a +unanimous consent, and differing in nothing among themselves, they +recognized the latter as the depositaries of the sacred writings, and +considered them the authors. These true prophets were philosophers, +that is, lovers of wisdom: being themselves wise men, they were +theologians, prophets, and teachers of probity and piety. Whoever +therefore lives and grows wise according to their doctrines, lives and +grows wise not according to the doctrines of men, but according to the +_doctrines of God_, who spoke through them." + +"He further states, that as the love of virtue, with which these +philosophers were deeply imbued, is the foundation of true belief, and +the basis of all religion, so their works, coming from so pure, so +enlightened, and so pious a source, are entitled to be received, not +only by Jews, but by men of all creeds, as guides to the true +knowledge of God and to that state of spiritual bliss, which it should +be our sole aim in this life to attain," for which reason, in his +first book, "_De Arcanis Catholicæ Veritatis_," he strongly urged the +propriety of having the Talmud translated into Latin, that it might be +studied in the schools of Italy. + +Peter Galatino, a learned Franciscan monk, who flourished in the early +part of the sixteenth century, was known to be a great persecutor of +the Jews. Yet in speaking of the sacred writings and Jewish +literature in general, he expressed himself nearly in the following +terms: That he regarded the Talmud as a divine work, and that he +considered every part of it as perfect, and adorned with excellent +moral instruction, adapted both for the guidance of our active and +contemplative life, and entitled on account of its inspired authors, +to be regarded as a work of extreme piety and goodness. + +The above quotations are worthy of consideration. Let those Jews then, +who would attempt to cast a slur upon the Talmud, look for one moment +at these remarks, and pause while reflecting, that they were made by +Catholics, ere they proceed in their attacks upon a work which could +command such expressions from those whose religion was so widely +different, but whose reason could not refuse to yield to the cogent +proofs the divine book in itself contained. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[A] See the end of the book for an explanation of the Jewish months and +years. + + + + +OF THE JEWISH MONTHS AND YEARS. + + +Time is the duration of things; it is divided into years, months, +weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. A year is the space of +twelve months, which is the time the sun takes in passing through the +twelve signs of the Zodiac. The Zodiac is a circle showing the earth's +yearly path through the heavens. On this circle are marked the twelve +signs, which are numbers of stars, reduced by the fancy of men into +the form of animals, and from these forms they take their name. A +month is the time the moon occupies in going round the earth. There +are two kinds of months, Lunar and Solar. Lunar months are calculated +by the moon; solar months are reckoned by the sun. The Hebrews make +use of lunar months which consist alternately of twenty-nine and +thirty days. The sacred volume directs them to make their computations +by lunar months. The plan adopted by them at this day is that which +was so admirably arranged by the celebrated and learned Rabbi Hillel, +the Prince. The difference between the solar and the lunar months +would occasion, in a period of seventeen years, the passover to occur +in the autumn month called Tishree, instead of Neson, the spring +month; and thus the feast of tabernacles would be in Neson instead of +Tishree. To avoid such imperfections in their calculations, the +Rabbins have arranged that every third year shall consist of thirteen +lunar months instead of twelve. This additional month is called an +intercalary month, and the year in which it occurs is called leap +year. By this arrangement it will be found that, in the course of +nineteen years, there are seven leap years, as follow: + +The third, sixth, eighth, eleventh, fourteenth, seventeenth, and +nineteenth. The moon was more regarded by the Jews than the sun, +because by the new moon all their festivals and fasts were regulated. +The new moon was always the beginning of the month. Persons were +appointed to watch its first appearance and represent the same to the +Sanhedrin, who immediately made it known to the whole of the nation. +The new moon was celebrated by the sound of trumpets, and an extra +sacrifice was offered in the holy temple. + +The ancient Jews had originally no particular names for their months. +It is found occasionally in the Bible that names were given to some of +the months. These names were made use of as descriptive of the season +in which such month occurred; as we find by Moses the legislator, who +called the name of the first month Abib, it being the spring time of +the year. The present names of the Hebrew months are Chaldaic, and are +said to have first been made use of by the nation during the +captivity of Babylon. History informs us that these names were used +both by the Chaldeans and the Persians. The Jews always reckon their +day from evening to evening, because, in the account of the creation +of the world the evening is mentioned before the morning; and thus it +is that the Sabbaths, festivals and fasts commence from the previous +evening. They have no particular names in Hebrew for the days of the +week; they are called first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and +the seventh is called _Sabbath_. + +The term week owes its derivation to the Hebrew word _Shovuang_, which +signifies seventh, on which day God rested from his labors. In former +times the Jews had three sorts of weeks: + +First--Weeks of Days, which were reckoned from Sabbath to Sabbath. +Second--Weeks of Years, which were reckoned from one sabbatical year +to another. The sabbatical year happened every seventh year. This year +was called _Shemittah_, or year of release. Third--Weeks of seven +times seven years, or forty-nine years, and the fiftieth year was +called the year of _Youvile_, or Jubilee. The Jubilee was celebrated +on the day of atonement, and was proclaimed by the sounding of rams' +horns and seven trumpets. The Jubilee allowed the same privileges as +the sabbatical year. On both these occasions the ground was not +cultivated, but suffered to lie at rest, in order to recruit its +fruitful powers. All Hebrew slaves were set at liberty, and all lands +or houses, that may have been sold or pledged, returned to the +original owners. + +It is thus plainly shown that the sabbatical year was evidently +appointed to inculcate humanity, fellow-feeling, and brotherly love. +At these periods the sovereignty of the Almighty was publicly +acknowledged by the restoration of all property to its original and +proper owner! Brotherly love was exercised by setting at liberty all +bondsmen: thus showing that all men are equal in the eyes of the the +Lord; and humanity was promoted by the care which was taken of the +poor and the stranger. + + + + +PRAYER IN BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. + + +The following prayer is read in the Synagogue in Lodge street, +Cincinnati, on Sabbaths and festivals, the same having been composed +by the Rev. H. A. Henry, Minister of the said Synagogue, at the request +of the Board of Trustees of the congregation, as a substitute for the +Hebrew prayer formerly used by them, in accordance with the custom and +practice of the various European congregations. + + +PRAYER. + +Almighty God and Supreme Governor of the Universe. Thou who art +enthroned on high, and condescendest to look down, on earth, O! bless +and prosper in thine abundant goodness, this _happy_ country--this land +of _freedom_--which thou hast destined to be our resting-place--_the +United States of America_. Grant, O Lord, that virtue, truth, charity +and mercy may flourish in these States. O! bless the inhabitants of +this land! Grant that nought but peace and happiness may surround them +both at home and abroad. Deliver them from all dangers and +misfortunes! Endue them with the spirit of love and affection for each +other, that they may live as brethren, as the children of the Universal +Father of all mankind for ever and ever. + +Pour forth, O Lord, thy blessings toward their excellencies the +President and the Vice-President of the United States. May they be +favored with health and vigor, and may all their efforts for the +well-doing of the people prove prosperous. May righteousness and +justice flourish in their days. O! banish all errors from their minds, +and fashion their hearts according to thy infinite and gracious +providence. + +O! shed thy grace, O God, upon the Governor of this State, and the +Mayor and Common Council of this City. Teach them to judge the people +truly. Instruct them in the path they should tread, that their +administration may prove wise, steady and prosperous. + +Send forth thy salvation, O Lord, into this City, and unto all its +inhabitants. O! spread over them thy pavillion of peace, and remove +from them all sorrows--all troubles--protect them and shield them from +all harm. Incline their hearts unto wisdom and piety, that they may +serve thee in holiness of life and purity of soul. + +And we, thy chosen people, Israel! O! satisfy us with thy goodness! +Let us also rejoice in thy salvation! Guide us, O Lord, by thy +unerring Providence, that we may find grace in thy sight, and favor in +the eyes of the world. O may our daily supplications ascend thy throne +of Grace, that we may live in peace with all mankind, and seek the +welfare of the land where thou in thy mercy hast directed our course. +In their days, and in our days, may Judah be saved, Israel dwell in +comfort, and the Redeemer come unto Zion! O! may such be thy Divine +Will, and let us say--Amen. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page 91: seige replaced with siege | + | Page 99: recived replaced with received | + | Page 128: seige replaced with siege | + | Page 129: CHAPER replaced with CHAPTER | + | Page 144: learing replaced with learning | + | Page 161: ceromony replaced with ceremony | + | Page 177: succeding replaced with succeeding | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40671 *** |